Head-to-head · 12 cross-admits
When applicants got into both, 92% chose 'Nova. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 12 self-reported decisions and ABA 509 filings.
Choice, not ranking
These are decisions, not opinions. Scholarship offers, location, intended practice, and personal fit are all priced into the split.
Cross-admit decision
Chose PSU
Median scholarship (chose PSU)
Median scholarship (chose 'Nova)
Admissions
Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield 2024 ABA 509
Financial
Sticker price and scholarship aid 2024 ABA 509
Employment & outcomes
Post-graduation placement and bar passage 2023 ABA Employment
Cross-admit by cycle
How preferences shifted over recent cyclesRelated comparisons
Other popular cross-admit matchups
Villanova University
12
Overview
About PSU vs 'Nova
Across 12 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 8% enrolled at Pennsylvania State - Penn State Law and 92% at Villanova University.
These numbers reflect every factor that goes into a real decision: scholarship offers, geographic preference, intended practice area, and fit. Choosing one school doesn't mean it's "better" — it means the pool of cross-admits, weighing their options, ended up there more often. Pair this with the scholarship distribution and employment outcomes above for full context.
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Detailed comparison narrative
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 #49 compared to #62 — a gap of 13 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 $159,000 compared to $140,000, a difference of $19,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.
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