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Head-to-head · 39 cross-admits

When applicants got into both, 74% chose UCLA. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 39 self-reported decisions and ABA 509 filings.

Choice, not ranking

These are decisions, not opinions. Scholarship offers, location, intended practice, and personal fit are all priced into the split.

39
cross-admits
14
cycles
+5pt
YoY shift

Cross-admit decision

Of 39 applicants admitted to both schools
Last 5 cycles
University of California—Los Angeles logo Chose UCLA
74%
Chose UT University of Texas at Austin logo
26%

Median scholarship (chose UCLA)

$120,000 / yr

Median scholarship (chose UT)

$84,000 / yr
View all-time (126 cross-admits)
58% chose UCLA 42% chose UT

Trend · UCLA's share

2005–2024

Lowest cycle

0%

Highest cycle

100%
14 cycles
100 50 0 05 06 07 08 10 13 15 16 18 20 21 22 23 24 2005: 50% 2006: 50% 2007: 86% 2008: 44% 2010: 60% 2013: 33% 2015: 0% 2016: 60% 2018: 67% 2020: 60% 2021: 50% 2022: 82% 2023: 100% 2024: 55%
UCLA #13 · UT #15 LSD n≈7/yr

Admissions

Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield
2025 ABA 509
Metric
University of California—Los Angeles logo
UCLA
Los Angeles, California
University of Texas at Austin logo
UT
Austin, Texas
USN Rank
#13
#16
LSD Rank
#13 (0.237)
#15 (0.165)
LSAT 25th
166
166
LSAT Median
171
172
LSAT 75th
172
173
GPA Median
3.95
3.89
Acceptance Rate
12.1%
14.0%
Class Size
328
373
Yield Rate
31.0%
41.0%

Financial

Sticker price, scholarships, and debt burden
2025 ABA 509
Metric
University of California—Los Angeles logo
UCLA
Los Angeles, California
University of Texas at Austin logo
UT
Austin, Texas
Tuition (In-State)
$59,084
-
Tuition (Out-of-State)
$71,329
-
Median Grant
$24,456
-
% Receiving Grants
83.0%
-
Avg. Debt at Graduation
-
-

Employment & outcomes

Post-graduation placement and bar passage
2024 ABA Employment
Metric
University of California—Los Angeles logo
UCLA
Los Angeles, California
University of Texas at Austin logo
UT
Austin, Texas
BigLaw (501+)
50.5%
42.5%
Judicial Clerkships
6.2%
15.8%
Median Salary (Private)
-
$225,000
Employment Rate
94.4%
96.4%
Bar Pass Rate
94.2%
95.6%

Overview

About UCLA vs UT

Across 39 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 74% enrolled at University of California—Los Angeles and 26% at University of Texas at Austin. The split has shifted +5 points across the tracked cycles.

These numbers reflect every factor that goes into a real decision: scholarship offers, geographic preference, intended practice area, and fit. Choosing one school doesn't mean it's "better" — it means the pool of cross-admits, weighing their options, ended up there more often. Pair this with the scholarship distribution and employment outcomes above for full context.

Looking at a different matchup? Browse all comparisons or run a custom pair from the index.

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Detailed comparison narrative

This page compares University of California—Los Angeles and University of Texas at Austin 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, 74% chose to attend University of California—Los Angeles. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

Both schools are closely ranked in U.S. News: #13 and #16, separated by just 3 positions, making cross-admit data especially useful for deciding between them.

University of California—Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles, California, while University of Texas at Austin is in Austin, Texas. Regional placement matters: graduates tend to find employment near their law school, so location should factor into your decision alongside rankings and cost.

Among cross-admitted applicants, University of California—Los Angeles offered a median scholarship of $120,000 compared to $84,000, a difference of $36,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.