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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
PSU is Top 100 · 'Nova is #36 in the LSD rankings
See full LSD.Law school rankings →About this comparison
This page compares Pennsylvania State - Penn State 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 #68 — a gap of 20 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 155, a gap of 9 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 - Penn State Law's 51.4%.
Both schools are located in Pennsylvania — Pennsylvania State - Penn State Law in State College and Villanova University in Villanova — meaning graduates often compete in the same regional legal market.
Among cross-admitted applicants, Pennsylvania State - Penn State Law offered a median scholarship of $154,500 compared to $140,000, a difference of $14,500 that may factor into enrollment decisions.
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Admissions Comparison
2024 ABA 509How these schools compare on LSAT, GPA, selectivity, and class composition.
| Metric | PSU | 'Nova |
|---|---|---|
| USN Rank | #68 | #48 ▲ |
| LSD Rank | Top 100 (0.004) | #36 (0.016) ▲ |
| LSAT 25th | 152 | 159 ▲ |
| LSAT Median | 155 | 164 ▲ |
| LSAT 75th | 158 | 166 ▲ |
| GPA Median | 3.71 | 3.80 ▲ |
| Acceptance Rate | 51.4% | 25.9% ▲ |
| Class Size | 128 | 232 |
| Yield Rate | 17.6% | 30.8% ▲ |
Financial Comparison
2024 ABA 509Tuition, scholarships, and debt burden at each school.
| Metric | PSU | 'Nova |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition (In-State) | $56,928 ▲ | $59,800 |
| Tuition (Out-of-State) | $56,928 ▲ | $59,800 |
| Median Grant | $55,824 ▲ | $40,000 |
| % Receiving Grants | 100.0% ▲ | 87.0% |
| Avg. Debt at Graduation | - | - |
Employment Outcomes
2023 ABA 509Post-graduation employment placement, salaries, and bar passage.
| Metric | PSU | 'Nova |
|---|---|---|
| BigLaw (501+) | 12.4% | 20.1% ▲ |
| Judicial Clerkships | 14.3% ▲ | 12.6% |
| Median Salary (Private) | - | $110,000 |
| Employment Rate | 92.9% ▲ | 92.5% |
| Bar Pass Rate | 86.8% | 91.3% ▲ |
Cross-Admit Decisions by Cycle
How cross-admit preferences have shifted over recent application cycles.
| Cycle | Split | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 2020-2021 |
0%
|
5 |
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