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Pepperdine University vs University of California—Davis
Side-by-side comparison of admissions, costs, and outcomes
Cross-Admit Decision Data
Of 17 applicants admitted to both schools:
Based on 17 self-reported cross-admit decisions from the last 5 cycles
View all-time data (55 cross-admits)
55 total cross-admit decisions (all cycles)
Pepperdine University is 75+ · UCD is #43 in the LSD rankings
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About this comparison
This page compares Pepperdine University and University of California—Davis across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes using official ABA 509 disclosures.
In the U.S. News rankings, Pepperdine University is ranked #46 compared to #52 — a gap of 6 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.
Both schools are located in California — Pepperdine University in Malibu and University of California—Davis in Davis — meaning graduates often compete in the same regional legal market.
Employment outcomes differ substantially: University of California—Davis places 26.3% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 11.7% for the other school. This 15 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.
On cost, University of California—Davis has lower tuition at $57,460 per year compared to $72,920. Combined with employment rates of 93.9% (Pepperdine University) and 89.3% (UCD), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.
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Admissions Comparison
2025 ABA 509How these schools compare on LSAT, GPA, selectivity, and class composition.
| Metric | Pepperdine University | UCD |
|---|---|---|
| USN Rank | #46 ▲ | #52 |
| LSD Rank | 75+ (0.002) | #43 (0.009) ▲ |
| LSAT 25th | 161 ▲ | 160 |
| LSAT Median | 164 | 165 ▲ |
| LSAT 75th | 167 | 167 |
| GPA Median | 3.85 ▲ | 3.70 |
| Acceptance Rate | 23.4% | 16.0% ▲ |
| Class Size | 227 | 209 |
| Yield Rate | 22.3% | 33.0% ▲ |
Financial Comparison
2025 ABA 509Tuition, scholarships, and debt burden at each school.
| Metric | Pepperdine University | UCD |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition (In-State) | $72,920 | $57,460 ▲ |
| Tuition (Out-of-State) | $72,920 | $69,705 ▲ |
| Median Grant | $30,000 ▲ | $25,000 |
| % Receiving Grants | 77.0% | 99.0% ▲ |
| Avg. Debt at Graduation | - | - |
Employment Outcomes
2024 ABA 509Post-graduation employment placement, salaries, and bar passage.
| Metric | Pepperdine University | UCD |
|---|---|---|
| BigLaw (501+) | 11.7% | 26.3% ▲ |
| Judicial Clerkships | 7.1% ▲ | 5.3% |
| Median Salary (Private) | - | $200,000 |
| Employment Rate | 93.9% ▲ | 89.3% |
| Bar Pass Rate | 86.8% | 88.9% ▲ |
Cross-Admit Decisions by Cycle
How cross-admit preferences have shifted over recent application cycles.
Pepperdine University
UCD
| Cycle | Split | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-2025 |
0%
|
6 |
| 2020-2021 |
13%
|
8 |
| 2014-2015 |
20%
|
5 |
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