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American University vs University of Richmond

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

Cross-Admit Decision Data

Of 18 applicants admitted to both schools:

33%
67%
Median scholarship: $120,000 Median scholarship: $149,979

Based on 18 self-reported cross-admit decisions from the last 5 cycles

View all-time data (35 cross-admits)
37% chose AU 63% chose Richmond

35 total cross-admit decisions (all cycles)

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

See full LSD.Law school rankings →
About this comparison

This page compares American University and University of Richmond 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 #71 compared to #104 — a gap of 33 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 Richmond is in Richmond, Virginia. 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 83.0% (AU) and 94.7% (Richmond), 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.

Compare Another Pair

American University
vs
University of Richmond

Admissions Comparison

2025 ABA 509

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

Metric AU Richmond
USN Rank #104 #71
LSD Rank 150+ (0.002) Top 75 (0.008)
LSAT 25th 157 159
LSAT Median 162 164
LSAT 75th 163 167
GPA Median 3.63 3.81
Acceptance Rate 33.3% 39.6%
Class Size 405 146
Yield Rate 20.2% 21.2%

Financial Comparison

2025 ABA 509

Tuition, scholarships, and debt burden at each school.

Metric AU Richmond
Tuition (In-State) $66,990 $57,700
Tuition (Out-of-State) $66,990 -
Median Grant $40,000 $40,000
% Receiving Grants 59.0% 81.0%
Avg. Debt at Graduation - -

Employment Outcomes

2024 ABA 509

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

Metric AU Richmond
BigLaw (501+) 13.4% 11.9%
Judicial Clerkships 13.9% 13.9%
Median Salary (Private) $100,000 $111,500
Employment Rate 83.0% 94.7%
Bar Pass Rate 81.3% 80.1%

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