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American University vs University of Maryland

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

Cross-Admit Decision Data

Of 26 applicants admitted to both schools:

27%
73%
Median scholarship: $120,000 Median scholarship: $120,000

Based on 26 self-reported cross-admit decisions from the last 5 cycles

View all-time data (75 cross-admits)
28% chose AU 72% chose UMD

75 total cross-admit decisions (all cycles)

AU is 150+ · UMD is Top 75 in the LSD rankings

See full LSD.Law school rankings →
About this comparison

This page compares American University and University of Maryland across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 26 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 26 applicants admitted to both schools, 73% chose to attend University of Maryland. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, University of Maryland is ranked #63 compared to #104 — a gap of 41 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 University of Maryland is in Baltimore, Maryland. 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, University of Maryland has lower tuition at $37,830 per year compared to $66,990. Combined with employment rates of 83.0% (AU) and 93.4% (UMD), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Compare Another Pair

American University
vs
University of Maryland

Admissions Comparison

2025 ABA 509

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

Metric AU UMD
USN Rank #104 #63
LSD Rank 150+ (0.002) Top 75 (0.006)
LSAT 25th 157 156
LSAT Median 162 164
LSAT 75th 163 166
GPA Median 3.63 3.72
Acceptance Rate 33.3% 26.1%
Class Size 405 229
Yield Rate 20.2% 30.5%

Financial Comparison

2025 ABA 509

Tuition, scholarships, and debt burden at each school.

Metric AU UMD
Tuition (In-State) $66,990 $37,830
Tuition (Out-of-State) $66,990 $55,844
Median Grant $40,000 $28,000
% Receiving Grants 59.0% 79.0%
Avg. Debt at Graduation - -

Employment Outcomes

2024 ABA 509

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

Metric AU UMD
BigLaw (501+) 13.4% 9.8%
Judicial Clerkships 13.9% 30.7%
Median Salary (Private) $100,000 $100,000
Employment Rate 83.0% 93.4%
Bar Pass Rate 81.3% 82.1%

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