Hate ads? Verify for LSD+ → Learn More

University of San Diego vs University of Nevada—Las Vegas

Side-by-side comparison of admissions, costs, and outcomes

Cross-Admit Decision Data

Of 16 applicants admitted to both schools:

50%
50%
Median scholarship: $102,000 Median scholarship: $58,950

Based on 16 self-reported cross-admit decisions from the last 5 cycles

View all-time data (26 cross-admits)
50% chose USD 50% chose UNLV

26 total cross-admit decisions (all cycles)

USD is Top 75 · UNLV is Top 75 in the LSD rankings

See full LSD.Law school rankings →
About this comparison

This page compares University of San Diego and University of Nevada—Las Vegas across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes using official ABA 509 disclosures.

In the U.S. News rankings, University of San Diego is ranked #57 compared to #79 — a gap of 22 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

University of San Diego is located in San Diego, California, while University of Nevada—Las Vegas is in Las Vegas, Nevada. Regional placement matters: graduates tend to find employment near their law school, so location should factor into your decision alongside rankings and cost.

On cost, University of Nevada—Las Vegas has lower tuition at $31,518 per year compared to $66,950. Combined with employment rates of 90.8% (USD) and 85.5% (UNLV), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, University of San Diego offered a median scholarship of $102,000 compared to $58,950, a difference of $43,050 that may factor into enrollment decisions.

Compare Another Pair

University of San Diego
vs
University of Nevada—Las Vegas

Admissions Comparison

2025 ABA 509

How these schools compare on LSAT, GPA, selectivity, and class composition.

Metric USD UNLV
USN Rank #57 #79
LSD Rank Top 75 (0.006) Top 75 (0.009)
LSAT 25th 160 156
LSAT Median 163 160
LSAT 75th 165 162
GPA Median 3.84 3.76
Acceptance Rate 23.5% 30.8%
Class Size 240 156
Yield Rate 24.0% 48.0%

Financial Comparison

2025 ABA 509

Tuition, scholarships, and debt burden at each school.

Metric USD UNLV
Tuition (In-State) $66,950 $31,518
Tuition (Out-of-State) $66,950 $46,040
Median Grant $32,000 $22,998
% Receiving Grants 91.0% 76.0%
Avg. Debt at Graduation - -

Employment Outcomes

2024 ABA 509

Post-graduation employment placement, salaries, and bar passage.

Metric USD UNLV
BigLaw (501+) 13.3% 8.4%
Judicial Clerkships 1.2% 20.7%
Median Salary (Private) $100,000 $90,000
Employment Rate 90.8% 85.5%
Bar Pass Rate 84.8% 77.2%

Track Your Applications

Join 150,000+ applicants using LSD.Law to track applications, compare schools, and make data-driven decisions.