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American University vs Temple University

Side-by-side comparison of admissions, costs, and outcomes

Cross-Admit Decision Data

Of 19 applicants admitted to both schools:

37%
63%
Median scholarship: $120,000 Median scholarship: $91,875

Based on 19 self-reported cross-admit decisions from the last 5 cycles

View all-time data (50 cross-admits)
44% chose AU 56% chose Temple University

50 total cross-admit decisions (all cycles)

AU is 150+ · Temple University is #44 in the LSD rankings

See full LSD.Law school rankings →
About this comparison

This page compares American University and Temple University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes using official ABA 509 disclosures.

In the U.S. News rankings, Temple University is ranked #50 compared to #104 — a gap of 54 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

American University is located in Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C., while Temple University is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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 83.0% (AU) and 93.8% (Temple University), 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 $91,875, a difference of $28,125 that may factor into enrollment decisions.

Compare Another Pair

American University
vs
Temple University

Admissions Comparison

2025 ABA 509

How these schools compare on LSAT, GPA, selectivity, and class composition.

Metric AU Temple University
USN Rank #104 #50
LSD Rank 150+ (0.002) #44 (0.013)
LSAT 25th 157 162
LSAT Median 162 165
LSAT 75th 163 168
GPA Median 3.63 3.76
Acceptance Rate 33.3% 24.4%
Class Size 405 237
Yield Rate 20.2% 31.3%

Financial Comparison

2025 ABA 509

Tuition, scholarships, and debt burden at each school.

Metric AU Temple University
Tuition (In-State) $66,990 $32,588
Tuition (Out-of-State) $66,990 $48,996
Median Grant $40,000 $31,334
% Receiving Grants 59.0% 85.0%
Avg. Debt at Graduation - -

Employment Outcomes

2024 ABA 509

Post-graduation employment placement, salaries, and bar passage.

Metric AU Temple University
BigLaw (501+) 13.4% 18.2%
Judicial Clerkships 13.9% 15.6%
Median Salary (Private) $100,000 $150,000
Employment Rate 83.0% 93.8%
Bar Pass Rate 81.3% 90.3%

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