American University vs George Washington University

This page compares American University and George Washington University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 32 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 32 applicants admitted to both schools, 97% chose to attend George Washington University. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, George Washington University is ranked #31 compared to #104 — a gap of 73 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: George Washington University has a median LSAT of 168 compared to 162, a gap of 6 points. This suggests applicants to George Washington University face a more competitive admissions pool.

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

Employment outcomes differ substantially: George Washington University places 30.0% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 13.4% for the other school. This 17 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

On cost, American University has lower tuition at $66,990 per year compared to $75,420. Combined with employment rates of 83.0% (AU) and 96.5% (GW), 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 $67,500, a difference of $52,500 that may factor into enrollment decisions.