University of California—Los Angeles vs University of Southern California

This page compares University of California—Los Angeles and University of Southern California across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 52 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 52 applicants admitted to both schools, 90% chose to attend University of California—Los Angeles. 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—Los Angeles is ranked #12 compared to #26 — a gap of 14 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

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

On cost, University of California—Los Angeles has lower tuition at $59,084 per year compared to $84,034. Combined with employment rates of 94.4% (UCLA) 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 $165,000 compared to $57,500, a difference of $107,500 that may factor into enrollment decisions.