This page compares University of Washington and University of California (Hastings) across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 21 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 21 applicants admitted to both schools, 57% chose to attend University of Washington. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, University of Washington is ranked #52 compared to #85 — a gap of 33 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: University of Washington has a median LSAT of 165 compared to 161, a gap of 4 points. This suggests applicants to University of Washington face a more competitive admissions pool.

University of Washington is located in Seattle, Washington, while University of California (Hastings) is in San Francisco, California. Regional placement matters: graduates tend to find employment near their law school, so location should factor into your decision alongside rankings and cost.

On cost, University of Washington has lower tuition at $45,927 per year compared to $53,087. Combined with employment rates of 88.7% (UWashington) and 94.9% (UCHastings), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants who enrolled, those choosing University of California (Hastings) reported a higher median scholarship — $82,000 versus $36,000 over three years — though aid is one of several factors behind the enrollment decision.