American University vs Georgetown University

This page compares American University and Georgetown University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 20 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 20 applicants admitted to both schools, 100% chose to attend Georgetown University. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, Georgetown University is ranked #14 compared to #104 — a gap of 90 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: Georgetown University has a median LSAT of 171 compared to 162, a gap of 9 points. This suggests applicants to Georgetown University face a more competitive admissions pool.

Georgetown University is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 15.8% compared to American University's 33.3%.

Both schools are located in Washington, D.C. — American University in Washington, D.C. and Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. — meaning graduates often compete in the same regional legal market.

Employment outcomes differ substantially: Georgetown University places 54.6% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 13.4% for the other school. This 41 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

On cost, American University has lower tuition at $66,990 per year compared to $83,576. Combined with employment rates of 83.0% (AU) and 89.4% (GULC), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, American University offered a median scholarship of $120,000 compared to $63,750, a difference of $56,250 that may factor into enrollment decisions.