University of California—Los Angeles vs Washington University in St. Louis

This page compares University of California—Los Angeles and Washington University in St. Louis across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 24 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 24 applicants admitted to both schools, 88% 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: #12 and #14, separated by just 2 positions, making cross-admit data especially useful for deciding between them.

There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: Washington University in St. Louis has a median LSAT of 175 compared to 171, a gap of 4 points. This suggests applicants to Washington University in St. Louis face a more competitive admissions pool.

University of California—Los Angeles is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 12.1% compared to Washington University in St. Louis's 19.0%.

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

Employment outcomes differ substantially: University of California—Los Angeles places 50.5% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 39.3% for the other school. This 11 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

On cost, University of California—Los Angeles has lower tuition at $59,084 per year compared to $72,792. Combined with employment rates of 94.4% (UCLA) and 96.8% (WUSTL), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, Washington University in St. Louis offered a median scholarship of $178,000 compared to $87,753, a difference of $90,247 that may factor into enrollment decisions.