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Side-by-side comparison of admissions, costs, and outcomes
Cross-Admit Decision Data
Of 11 applicants admitted to both schools:
Based on 11 self-reported cross-admit decisions from the last 5 cycles
Tulane University is Top 75 · South Carolina is Top 75 in the LSD rankings
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About this comparison
This page compares Tulane University and University of South Carolina across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes using official ABA 509 disclosures.
In the U.S. News rankings, University of South Carolina is ranked #63 compared to #71 — a gap of 8 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.
Tulane University is located in New Orleans, Louisiana, while University of South Carolina is in Columbia, South Carolina. Regional placement matters: graduates tend to find employment near their law school, so location should factor into your decision alongside rankings and cost.
Employment outcomes differ substantially: Tulane University places 18.8% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 7.9% for the other school. This 11 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.
On cost, University of South Carolina has lower tuition at $20,322 per year compared to $69,578. Combined with employment rates of 89.0% (Tulane University) and 92.1% (South Carolina), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.
Among cross-admitted applicants, Tulane University offered a median scholarship of $142,500 compared to $55,686, a difference of $86,814 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 | Tulane University | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| USN Rank | #71 | #63 ▲ |
| LSD Rank | Top 75 (0.006) ▲ | Top 75 (0.004) |
| LSAT 25th | 159 | 160 ▲ |
| LSAT Median | 161 | 162 ▲ |
| LSAT 75th | 164 | 164 |
| GPA Median | 3.67 | 3.67 |
| Acceptance Rate | 40.0% | 29.9% ▲ |
| Class Size | 241 | 221 |
| Yield Rate | 29.0% | 34.0% ▲ |
Financial Comparison
2025 ABA 509Tuition, scholarships, and debt burden at each school.
| Metric | Tulane University | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition (In-State) | $69,578 | $20,322 ▲ |
| Tuition (Out-of-State) | - ▲ | $38,100 |
| Median Grant | $37,500 ▲ | $12,562 |
| % Receiving Grants | 87.0% | 90.0% ▲ |
| Avg. Debt at Graduation | - | - |
Employment Outcomes
2024 ABA 509Post-graduation employment placement, salaries, and bar passage.
| Metric | Tulane University | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| BigLaw (501+) | 18.8% ▲ | 7.9% |
| Judicial Clerkships | 6.0% | 19.3% ▲ |
| Median Salary (Private) | - | $90,000 |
| Employment Rate | 89.0% | 92.1% ▲ |
| Bar Pass Rate | 77.7% | 83.3% ▲ |
Cross-Admit Decisions by Cycle
How cross-admit preferences have shifted over recent application cycles.
| Cycle | Split | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 2022-2023 |
80%
|
5 |
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