George Mason University vs University of Notre Dame

This page compares George Mason University and University of Notre Dame across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes using official ABA 509 disclosures.

In the U.S. News rankings, University of Notre Dame is ranked #20 compared to #31 — a gap of 11 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

George Mason University is located in Fairfax, Virginia, while University of Notre Dame is in South Bend, Indiana. Regional placement matters: graduates tend to find employment near their law school, so location should factor into your decision alongside rankings and cost.

Employment outcomes differ substantially: University of Notre Dame places 39.6% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 11.0% for the other school. This 29 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

On cost, George Mason University has lower tuition at $24,864 per year compared to $73,430. Combined with employment rates of 93.6% (GMU) and 95.2% (ND), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, University of Notre Dame offered a median scholarship of $135,000 compared to $103,500, a difference of $31,500 that may factor into enrollment decisions.