University of California—Davis vs University of California—Irvine

This page compares University of California—Davis and University of California—Irvine across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 31 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 31 applicants admitted to both schools, 97% chose to attend University of California—Irvine. 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—Irvine is ranked #38 compared to #50 — a gap of 12 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: University of California—Irvine has a median LSAT of 169 compared to 165, a gap of 4 points. This suggests applicants to University of California—Irvine face a more competitive admissions pool.

Both schools are located in California — University of California—Davis in Davis and University of California—Irvine in Irvine — meaning graduates often compete in the same regional legal market.

Among cross-admitted applicants, University of California—Davis offered a median scholarship of $105,000 compared to $75,000, a difference of $30,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.