Head-to-head · 16 cross-admits
When applicants got into both, 62% chose Catholic University. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 16 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
Median scholarship (chose AU)
Median scholarship (chose Catholic University)
View all-time (55 cross-admits)
Trend · AU's share
Lowest cycle
Highest cycle
Admissions
Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield 2025 ABA 509
Financial
Sticker price, scholarships, and debt burden 2025 ABA 509
Employment & outcomes
Post-graduation placement and bar passage 2024 ABA Employment
Cross-admit by cycle
How preferences shifted over recent cyclesRelated comparisons
Other popular cross-admit matchups
University of Maryland
32
Northeastern University
29
George Washington University
28
Temple University
24
Georgetown University
22
American University
16
Overview
About AU vs Catholic University
Across 16 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 38% enrolled at American University and 62% at Catholic University Of America. The split has shifted -7 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.
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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 83.0% (AU) and 89.7% (Catholic University), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.