This page compares Santa Clara University and University of California—Davis across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 28 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 28 applicants admitted to both schools, 93% chose to attend University of California—Davis. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, University of California—Davis is ranked #52 compared to #150 — a gap of 98 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: University of California—Davis has a median LSAT of 165 compared to 159, a gap of 6 points. This suggests applicants to University of California—Davis face a more competitive admissions pool.

University of California—Davis is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 16.0% compared to Santa Clara University's 52.6%.

Both schools are located in California — Santa Clara University in Santa Clara and University of California—Davis in Davis — meaning graduates often compete in the same regional legal market.

On cost, Santa Clara University has lower tuition at - per year compared to $57,460. Combined with employment rates of 80.8% (Santa) and 95.6% (UCD), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, Santa Clara University offered a median scholarship of $135,000 compared to $75,000, a difference of $60,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.