University of California (Hastings) vs University of San Diego

This page compares University of California (Hastings) and University of San Diego across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 39 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 39 applicants admitted to both schools, 62% chose to attend University of California (Hastings). This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, University of San Diego is ranked #57 compared to #88 — a gap of 31 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

University of San Diego is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 23.5% compared to University of California (Hastings)'s 37.5%.

Both schools are located in California — University of California (Hastings) in San Francisco and University of San Diego in San Diego — 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 $66,950. Combined with employment rates of 51.3% (UCHastings) and 90.8% (USD), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, University of San Diego offered a median scholarship of $90,000 compared to $75,000, a difference of $15,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.