Head-to-head · 29 cross-admits
When applicants got into both, 72% chose Temple University. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 29 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 Temple University
Typical aid · ABA 509 · 2025
per yearCross-admits who enrolled · self-reported, 3-yr award
View all-time (60 cross-admits)
Trend · Temple University'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
Overview
About Temple University vs AU
Across 29 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 72% enrolled at Temple University and 28% at American University. The split has shifted +51 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 Temple University and American University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 29 applicants admitted to both.
Based on 29 applicants admitted to both schools, 72% chose to attend Temple University. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.
In the U.S. News rankings, Temple University is ranked #49 compared to #108 — a gap of 59 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.
Temple University is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, while American University is in Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C.. Regional placement matters: graduates tend to find employment near their law school, so location should factor into your decision alongside rankings and cost.
On cost, Temple University has lower tuition at $32,588 per year compared to $66,990. Combined with employment rates of 94.9% (Temple University) and 85.0% (AU), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.
Among cross-admitted applicants who enrolled, those choosing American University reported a higher median scholarship — $120,000 versus $90,000 over three years — though aid is one of several factors behind the enrollment decision.
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