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Pennsylvania State - Penn State Law vs Villanova University

Side-by-side comparison of admissions, costs, and outcomes

Cross-Admit Decision Data

Of 16 applicants admitted to both schools:

6%
94%
Median scholarship: $154,500 Median scholarship: $140,000

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.

Compare Another Pair

Pennsylvania State - Penn State Law
vs
Villanova University

Admissions Comparison

2024 ABA 509

How 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 509

Tuition, 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 509

Post-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%

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