University of California—Los Angeles vs Yale University

This page compares University of California—Los Angeles and Yale University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 34 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 34 applicants admitted to both schools, 100% chose to attend Yale University. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, Yale University is ranked #1 compared to #12 — a gap of 11 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

Yale University is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 4.1% compared to University of California—Los Angeles's 12.1%.

University of California—Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles, California, while Yale University is in New Haven, Connecticut. 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 30.7% for the other school. This 20 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 $76,636. Combined with employment rates of 94.4% (UCLA) and 85.6% (YLS), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, University of California—Los Angeles offered a median scholarship of $157,500 compared to $133,360, a difference of $24,140 that may factor into enrollment decisions.