HEAD TO HEAD, ABA 509 DATA 2025
Columbia vs Penn Carey Law School: Which Is Harder to Get Into, and Which Pays Off (2025)
"Penn Carey is the hardest T14 you're not thinking about." That's true: it accepts 8.1% of applicants against Columbia's 11.8%, even though both schools share a 173 median LSAT. Penn Carey also costs less and places 99.7% of its 2024 class in full-time work, while Columbia hits back with a stronger biglaw number.
Columbia and Penn Carey sit close enough on paper that the tiebreaker usually comes down to money and job outcomes, not admissions odds alone. Treat this page as the numbers you'd want in front of you before you commit a deposit to either one, and check them against the calculator before you write off either school as a reach or a safety.
Side by side
| Metric | Columbia | Penn Carey |
|---|---|---|
| LSAT 25th | 169 | 167 |
| LSAT 50th | 173 | 173 |
| LSAT 75th | 175 | 174 |
| GPA 50th | 3.9 | 4.0 |
| Acceptance rate | 11.8% | 8.1% |
| Sticker tuition/yr | $85,368 | $78,348 |
| Gets some grant | 53.8% | 59.3% |
| Pays full sticker | 46.2% | 40.7% |
| FT/LT jobs | 97.9% | 99.7% |
| Biglaw (101+ firm) | 73% | 69.4% |
| Federal clerkships | 5.5% | 8.2% |
| Bar pass rate | 95.5% | 96.2% |
The verdict, 3 ways
Harder to get into
Penn Carey is the tougher admit. Its acceptance rate is 8.1% against Columbia's 11.8%, a 3.7-point gap. Both schools share the same 173 median LSAT, with Columbia's 25th percentile at 169 against Penn Carey's 167, and Columbia's 75th at 175 against Penn Carey's 174. The acceptance rate is what separates them, and Penn Carey wins it.
Cheaper after aid
Penn Carey. Its discount share is 59.3% against Columbia's 53.8%, and only 40.7% of its students pay full sticker versus 46.2% at Columbia. Penn Carey's tuition is also lower, $78,348 to Columbia's $85,368, a gap of $7,020. On both price and aid, Penn Carey is the cheaper seat.
Better outcomes
Penn Carey wins 3 of 4 categories. 99.7% of its 2024 grads had a full-time, long-term job within 10 months against 97.9% at Columbia, 8.2% landed a federal clerkship against Columbia's 5.5%, and bar pass ran 96.2% against 95.5%. Columbia's advantage is biglaw, 73.0% to 69.4%, a real gap but the only one it wins.
Full data on each: Columbia and Penn Carey. Run your own numbers through the LSAT Unplugged law school chances calculator. See what 1 extra LSAT point is worth in grants at both schools.
FAQ
Is Columbia or Penn Carey harder to get into?
Penn Carey is. Its acceptance rate is 8.1% against Columbia's 11.8%, even though both schools share the same 173 median LSAT.
Which is cheaper, Columbia or Penn Carey?
Penn Carey. Its tuition, $78,348, is lower than Columbia's $85,368, and its discount share, 59.3%, edges Columbia's 53.8%, meaning fewer Penn Carey students pay full price.
Which has better job outcomes, Columbia or Penn Carey?
Penn Carey, on most measures: full-time placement (99.7% to 97.9%), federal clerkships (8.2% to 5.5%), and bar pass (96.2% to 95.5%). Columbia's edge is biglaw, 73.0% to 69.4%.
Should I apply to both Columbia and Penn Carey?
Yes, if your LSAT is around 173. Both schools share that median, so a score there makes each realistic, and given how close the outcomes are with different strengths, biglaw at Columbia versus clerkships at Penn Carey, it's worth applying to both.
Source: ABA Standard 509 Information Reports, 2025, via LSAT Unplugged's 509 master. Verify against each school's own filing before relying on it. Last updated 2026-10-09.
