University of California—Davis vs University of California (Hastings)

This page compares University of California—Davis and University of California (Hastings) across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 30 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 30 applicants admitted to both schools, 73% chose to attend University of California—Davis. 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—Davis is ranked #50 compared to #88 — a gap of 38 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: University of California—Davis has a median LSAT of 165 compared to 160, a gap of 5 points. This suggests applicants to University of California—Davis face a more competitive admissions pool.

University of California—Davis is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 16.0% compared to University of California (Hastings)'s 37.5%.

Both schools are located in California — University of California—Davis in Davis 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 $57,460. Combined with employment rates of 89.3% (UCD) and 51.3% (UCHastings), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, University of California—Davis offered a median scholarship of $87,000 compared to $75,000, a difference of $12,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.