Head-to-head · 21 cross-admits
When applicants got into both, 100% chose W&M. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 21 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 W&M
Typical aid · ABA 509 · 2025
per yearCross-admits who enrolled · self-reported, 3-yr award
View all-time (46 cross-admits)
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 W&M vs AU
Across 21 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 100% enrolled at William & Mary Law School and 0% 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 William & Mary Law School and American University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 21 applicants admitted to both.
Based on 21 applicants admitted to both schools, 100% chose to attend William & Mary Law School. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.
In the U.S. News rankings, William & Mary Law School is ranked #34 compared to #108 — a gap of 74 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.
There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: William & Mary Law School has a median LSAT of 166 compared to 162, a gap of 4 points. This suggests applicants to William & Mary Law School face a more competitive admissions pool.
William & Mary Law School is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 22.0% compared to American University's 33.3%.
William & Mary Law School is located in Williamsburg, 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, William & Mary Law School has lower tuition at $38,734 per year compared to $66,990. Combined with employment rates of 95.0% (W&M) and 85.0% (AU), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.
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