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Pennsylvania State - Dickinson Law vs University of Pittsburgh
Side-by-side comparison of admissions, costs, and outcomes
Cross-Admit Decision Data
Of 16 applicants admitted to both schools:
Based on 16 self-reported cross-admit decisions from the last 5 cycles
View all-time data (59 cross-admits)
59 total cross-admit decisions (all cycles)
PSU-Dickinson is Top 75 · Pittsburgh is Top 75 in the LSD rankings
See full LSD.Law school rankings →About this comparison
This page compares Pennsylvania State - Dickinson Law and University of Pittsburgh across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes using official ABA 509 disclosures.
In the U.S. News rankings, Pennsylvania State - Dickinson Law is ranked #59 compared to #79 — a gap of 20 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.
Both schools are located in Pennsylvania — Pennsylvania State - Dickinson Law in Carlisle and University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh — meaning graduates often compete in the same regional legal market.
On cost, University of Pittsburgh has lower tuition at $39,936 per year compared to $60,048. Combined with employment rates of 93.0% (PSU-Dickinson) and 88.3% (Pittsburgh), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.
Among cross-admitted applicants, Pennsylvania State - Dickinson Law offered a median scholarship of $158,000 compared to $108,231, a difference of $49,769 that may factor into enrollment decisions.
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Admissions Comparison
2025 ABA 509How these schools compare on LSAT, GPA, selectivity, and class composition.
| Metric | PSU-Dickinson | Pittsburgh |
|---|---|---|
| USN Rank | #59 ▲ | #79 |
| LSD Rank | Top 75 (0.006) | Top 75 (0.005) |
| LSAT 25th | 157 | 158 ▲ |
| LSAT Median | 159 | 160 ▲ |
| LSAT 75th | 161 | 163 ▲ |
| GPA Median | 3.71 ▲ | 3.54 |
| Acceptance Rate | 43.0% | 34.9% ▲ |
| Class Size | 215 | 155 |
| Yield Rate | 25.3% | 27.7% ▲ |
Financial Comparison
2025 ABA 509Tuition, scholarships, and debt burden at each school.
| Metric | PSU-Dickinson | Pittsburgh |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition (In-State) | $60,048 | $39,936 ▲ |
| Tuition (Out-of-State) | $60,048 | $53,434 ▲ |
| Median Grant | $36,000 ▲ | $30,000 |
| % Receiving Grants | 100.0% ▲ | 82.0% |
| Avg. Debt at Graduation | - | - |
Employment Outcomes
2024 ABA 509Post-graduation employment placement, salaries, and bar passage.
| Metric | PSU-Dickinson | Pittsburgh |
|---|---|---|
| BigLaw (501+) | 8.3% | 14.5% ▲ |
| Judicial Clerkships | 7.0% | 12.4% ▲ |
| Median Salary (Private) | - | - |
| Employment Rate | 93.0% ▲ | 88.3% |
| Bar Pass Rate | 87.0% ▲ | 86.3% |
Cross-Admit Decisions by Cycle
How cross-admit preferences have shifted over recent application cycles.
PSU-Dickinson
Pittsburgh
| Cycle | Split | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-2025 |
0%
|
6 |
| 2008-2009 |
44%
|
9 |
| 2005-2006 |
0%
|
5 |
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