University of South Carolina vs Wake Forest University

This page compares University of South Carolina and Wake Forest University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 20 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 20 applicants admitted to both schools, 90% chose to attend Wake Forest University. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, Wake Forest University is ranked #26 compared to #63 — a gap of 37 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: Wake Forest University has a median LSAT of 166 compared to 162, a gap of 4 points. This suggests applicants to Wake Forest University face a more competitive admissions pool.

University of South Carolina is located in Columbia, South Carolina, while Wake Forest University is in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. 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: Wake Forest University places 24.5% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 7.9% for the other school. This 17 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

On cost, University of South Carolina has lower tuition at $20,322 per year compared to $57,920. Combined with employment rates of 92.1% (South Carolina) and 97.4% (WFU), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, Wake Forest University offered a median scholarship of $116,250 compared to $72,000, a difference of $44,250 that may factor into enrollment decisions.