Head-to-head · 12 cross-admits
When applicants got into both, 92% chose Tulane University. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 12 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
Median scholarship (chose Tulane University)
Median scholarship (chose South Carolina)
Admissions
Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield 2025 ABA 509Financial
Sticker price, scholarships, and debt burden 2025 ABA 509Employment & outcomes
Post-graduation placement and bar passage 2024 ABA EmploymentCross-admit by cycle
How preferences shifted over recent cyclesOverview
About Tulane University vs South Carolina
Across 12 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 92% enrolled at Tulane University and 8% at University of South Carolina.
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 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 #62 compared to #70 — 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 $131,250 compared to $48,000, a difference of $83,250 that may factor into enrollment decisions.