University of California—Berkeley vs University of Southern California

This page compares University of California—Berkeley and University of Southern California across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 48 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 48 applicants admitted to both schools, 98% chose to attend University of California—Berkeley. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, University of California—Berkeley is ranked #13 compared to #26 — a gap of 13 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

Both schools are located in California — University of California—Berkeley in Berkeley and University of Southern California in Los Angeles — meaning graduates often compete in the same regional legal market.

On cost, University of California—Berkeley has lower tuition at $62,532 per year compared to $84,034. Combined with employment rates of 93.6% (UCBerkeley) and 95.5% (USC), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, University of Southern California offered a median scholarship of $150,000 compared to $120,000, a difference of $30,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.