Head-to-head · 17 cross-admits
When applicants got into both, 65% chose Catholic University. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 17 self-reported decisions and ABA 509 filings.
Choice, not ranking
These are decisions, not opinions. Scholarship offers, location, intended practice, and personal fit are all priced into the split.
Cross-admit decision
Chose AU
Typical aid · ABA 509 · 2025
per yearCross-admits who enrolled · self-reported, 3-yr award
View all-time (56 cross-admits)
Trend · AU's share
Lowest cycle
Highest cycle
Admissions
Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield 2025 ABA 509
Financial
Sticker price and scholarship aid 2025 ABA 509
Employment & outcomes
Post-graduation placement and bar passage 2025 ABA Employment
Cross-admit by cycle
How preferences shifted over recent cyclesRelated comparisons
Other popular cross-admit matchups
University of Maryland
25
George Washington University
25
Temple University
23
Northeastern University
22
Georgetown University
21
American University
15
Overview
About AU vs Catholic University
Across 17 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 35% enrolled at American University and 65% at Catholic University Of America. The split has shifted -11 points across the tracked cycles.
These numbers reflect every factor that goes into a real decision: scholarship offers, geographic preference, intended practice area, and fit. Choosing one school doesn't mean it's "better" — it means the pool of cross-admits, weighing their options, ended up there more often. Pair this with the scholarship distribution and employment outcomes above for full context.
Looking at a different matchup? Browse all comparisons or run a custom pair from the index.
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Detailed comparison narrative
This page compares American University and Catholic University Of America across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes using official ABA 509 disclosures.
In the U.S. News rankings, Catholic University Of America is ranked #70 compared to #108 — a gap of 38 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.
Both schools are located in Washington, D.C. — American University in Washington, D.C. and Catholic University Of America in Washington, D.C. — meaning graduates often compete in the same regional legal market.
On cost, Catholic University Of America has lower tuition at $61,580 per year compared to $66,990. Combined with employment rates of 85.0% (AU) and 92.9% (Catholic University), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.
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