American University vs University of South Carolina
Where graduates end up, what each school really costs, and who gets in, side by side from each school's official ABA data. Add your LSAT and GPA to see your chances and scholarship estimates at both.
VS
Add your numbersSee your admission chances and scholarship estimates at both schools.
The short version
- American places more graduates in BigLaw or federal clerkships: 13.3% of the Class of 2025, against 10.0% at South Carolina.
- South Carolina costs about $76K less over three years after the average scholarship: $166K against $242K, and more of its students get a scholarship (90% vs 59%).
- South Carolina is harder to get into: a 162 median LSAT and a 29.9% acceptance rate, against 162 and 33.3% at American.
- South Carolina has the higher first time bar pass rate: 90.0% against 86.6%.
American
vs
South Carolina
Where graduates go
South Carolina leads 3 of 5
✓13.3%
BigLaw + federal clerkships
10.0%
✓12.3%
BigLaw (501+ attorney firms)
8.4%
1.0%
Federal clerkships
✓1.6%
86.2%
Graduates employed
✓94.7%
86.6%
First time bar passage
✓90.0%
What it costs
Even, 2 each
$242K
Three year net cost
✓$166K
59%
Students receiving a scholarship
✓90%
✓$40,000/yr
Median scholarship (recipients)
$12,562/yr
✓$22,281/yr
Average scholarship (all students)
$11,710/yr
Who gets in
Acceptance rate: American 33.3% · South Carolina 29.9%
LSAT
Bars run from the 25th to the 75th percentile, with the median marked.
American
157162163
South Carolina
160162164
154156158160162164166
GPA
Undergraduate GPA of the entering class, same scale for both schools.
American
3.323.633.75
South Carolina
3.433.673.86
3.253.353.453.553.653.753.853.95
American University
University of South Carolina
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Frequently asked questions
Is American or South Carolina better for BigLaw?
American placed more of its Class of 2025 in BigLaw or federal clerkships: 13.3% against 10.0%. By BigLaw alone (firms of 501+ attorneys), American placed 12.3% and South Carolina placed 8.4%. Federal clerkships were 1.0% at American and 1.6% at South Carolina.
Which is harder to get into, American or South Carolina?
American's Fall 2025 entering class had a median LSAT of 162 and a median GPA of 3.63, with a 33.3% acceptance rate. South Carolina's had 162 and 3.67, with 29.9%. Add your LSAT and GPA above to see your estimated chances at both.
Which costs less, American or South Carolina?
After the average scholarship, three years cost about $242K at American and $166K at South Carolina, including living costs. Public schools are shown at out of state tuition. Your own scholarship can move these numbers a lot, so add your numbers above for an estimate.
Which gives more scholarship money, American or South Carolina?
59% of American students receive a scholarship, with a median award of $40,000 a year among recipients. 90% of South Carolina students receive a scholarship, with a median award of $12,562 a year among recipients.
Which has the better bar passage rate?
86.6% of American's first time takers passed in 2025, against 90.0% at South Carolina. Each school's profile shows how that compares with the states where its graduates sat.
Should I choose American or South Carolina?
It depends on your goals, your odds and your offers. Compare where each school's graduates end up, then add your LSAT and GPA above to see your estimated chances and scholarships at both. Your scholarship offer usually changes the cost more than anything else.
What a higher LSAT changes
Move the LSAT slider in the admissions calculator to watch your odds and scholarship estimates change at every school.
Figures come from each school’s official ABA disclosures. Admission chances and scholarship estimates are modeled from that data and are not predictions of any individual decision. Our data and methodology