Head-to-head · 14 cross-admits
When applicants got into both, 64% chose USD. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 14 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 Santa
Median scholarship (chose Santa)
Median scholarship (chose USD)
View all-time (65 cross-admits)
Trend · Santa's share
Lowest cycle
Highest cycle
Admissions
Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield 2025 ABA 509
Financial
Sticker price and scholarship aid 2025 ABA 509
Employment & outcomes
Post-graduation placement and bar passage 2025 ABA Employment
Cross-admit by cycle
How preferences shifted over recent cyclesRelated comparisons
Other popular cross-admit matchups
Overview
About Santa vs USD
Across 14 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 36% enrolled at Santa Clara University and 64% at University of San Diego. The split has shifted -33 points across the tracked cycles.
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 Santa Clara University and University of San Diego across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes using official ABA 509 disclosures.
In the U.S. News rankings, University of San Diego is ranked #54 compared to #150 — a gap of 96 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.
There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: University of San Diego has a median LSAT of 163 compared to 159, a gap of 4 points. This suggests applicants to University of San Diego face a more competitive admissions pool.
University of San Diego is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 23.5% compared to Santa Clara University's 52.6%.
Both schools are located in California — Santa Clara University in Santa Clara and University of San Diego in San Diego — meaning graduates often compete in the same regional legal market.
On cost, Santa Clara University has lower tuition at - per year compared to $66,950. Combined with employment rates of 80.8% (Santa) and 99.2% (USD), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.
Among cross-admitted applicants, Santa Clara University offered a median scholarship of $117,500 compared to $90,000, a difference of $27,500 that may factor into enrollment decisions.
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