Head-to-head · 16 cross-admits
When applicants got into both, 69% chose Richmond. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 16 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 Richmond
Median scholarship (chose Richmond)
Median scholarship (chose AU)
View all-time (37 cross-admits)
Admissions
Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield 2025 ABA 509
Financial
Sticker price, scholarships, and debt burden 2025 ABA 509
Employment & outcomes
Post-graduation placement and bar passage 2024 ABA Employment
Cross-admit by cycle
How preferences shifted over recent cyclesRelated comparisons
Other popular cross-admit matchups
Overview
About Richmond vs AU
Across 16 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 69% enrolled at University of Richmond and 31% at American University.
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 University of Richmond and American University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes using official ABA 509 disclosures.
In the U.S. News rankings, University of Richmond is ranked #62 compared to #108 — a gap of 46 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.
University of Richmond is located in Richmond, Virginia, 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, University of Richmond has lower tuition at $57,700 per year compared to $66,990. Combined with employment rates of 94.7% (Richmond) and 83.0% (AU), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.
Among cross-admitted applicants, University of Richmond offered a median scholarship of $149,979 compared to $120,000, a difference of $29,979 that may factor into enrollment decisions.