Head-to-head · 11 cross-admits
When applicants got into both, 91% chose UCHastings. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 11 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 Southwestern Law
Typical aid · ABA 509 · 2025
per yearCross-admits who enrolled · self-reported, 3-yr award
View all-time (25 cross-admits)
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
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Loyola Marymount University—Los Angeles
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University of California (Hastings)
10
Overview
About Southwestern Law vs UCHastings
Across 11 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 9% enrolled at Southwestern Law School and 91% at University of California (Hastings).
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 Southwestern Law School and University of California (Hastings) across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes using official ABA 509 disclosures.
In the U.S. News rankings, University of California (Hastings) is ranked #85 compared to #161 — a gap of 76 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.
There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: University of California (Hastings) has a median LSAT of 161 compared to 157, a gap of 4 points. This suggests applicants to University of California (Hastings) face a more competitive admissions pool.
Both schools are located in California — Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles and University of California (Hastings) in San Francisco — meaning graduates often compete in the same regional legal market.
Employment outcomes differ substantially: University of California (Hastings) places 22.9% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 4.1% for the other school. This 19 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.
On cost, University of California (Hastings) has lower tuition at $53,087 per year compared to $63,160. Combined with employment rates of 86.6% (Southwestern Law) and 94.9% (UCHastings), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.
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