Pennsylvania State - Dickinson Law vs Villanova University

This page compares Pennsylvania State - Dickinson Law and Villanova University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes using official ABA 509 disclosures.

In the U.S. News rankings, Villanova University is ranked #48 compared to #59 — a gap of 11 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: Villanova University has a median LSAT of 164 compared to 159, a gap of 5 points. This suggests applicants to Villanova University face a more competitive admissions pool.

Villanova University is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 25.9% compared to Pennsylvania State - Dickinson Law's 43.0%.

Both schools are located in Pennsylvania — Pennsylvania State - Dickinson Law in Carlisle and Villanova University in Villanova — meaning graduates often compete in the same regional legal market.

Employment outcomes differ substantially: Villanova University places 20.1% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 8.3% for the other school. This 12 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

Among cross-admitted applicants, Pennsylvania State - Dickinson Law offered a median scholarship of $158,000 compared to $130,500, a difference of $27,500 that may factor into enrollment decisions.