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Southwestern Law School vs University of California (Hastings)
Side-by-side comparison of admissions, costs, and outcomes
Cross-Admit Decision Data
Of 12 applicants admitted to both schools:
Based on 12 self-reported cross-admit decisions from the last 5 cycles
View all-time data (24 cross-admits)
24 total cross-admit decisions (all cycles)
Southwestern Law is 75+ · UCHastings is Top 75 in the LSD rankings
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About this comparison
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 #88 compared to #154 — a gap of 66 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.
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.
On cost, University of California (Hastings) has lower tuition at $49,383 per year compared to $63,160. Combined with employment rates of 77.2% (Southwestern Law) and 51.3% (UCHastings), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.
Among cross-admitted applicants, Southwestern Law School offered a median scholarship of $112,500 compared to $45,000, a difference of $67,500 that may factor into enrollment decisions.
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Admissions Comparison
2025 ABA 509How these schools compare on LSAT, GPA, selectivity, and class composition.
| Metric | Southwestern Law | UCHastings |
|---|---|---|
| USN Rank | #154 | #88 ▲ |
| LSD Rank | 75+ (0.001) | Top 75 (0.005) ▲ |
| LSAT 25th | 154 | 157 ▲ |
| LSAT Median | 157 | 160 ▲ |
| LSAT 75th | 160 | 162 ▲ |
| GPA Median | 3.51 | 3.63 ▲ |
| Acceptance Rate | 36.5% ▲ | 37.5% |
| Class Size | 459 | 390 |
| Yield Rate | 35.0% ▲ | 27.8% |
Financial Comparison
2025 ABA 509Tuition, scholarships, and debt burden at each school.
| Metric | Southwestern Law | UCHastings |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition (In-State) | $63,160 | $49,383 ▲ |
| Tuition (Out-of-State) | $63,160 | $56,871 ▲ |
| Median Grant | $29,166 | - |
| % Receiving Grants | 72.0% | - |
| Avg. Debt at Graduation | - | - |
Employment Outcomes
2024 ABA 509Post-graduation employment placement, salaries, and bar passage.
| Metric | Southwestern Law | UCHastings |
|---|---|---|
| BigLaw (501+) | 6.9% | - |
| Judicial Clerkships | 1.4% | 2.2% ▲ |
| Median Salary (Private) | - | $130,000 |
| Employment Rate | 77.2% ▲ | 51.3% |
| Bar Pass Rate | 64.9% | - |
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