George Mason University vs University of Virginia

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

In the U.S. News rankings, University of Virginia is ranked #4 compared to #31 — a gap of 27 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: University of Virginia has a median LSAT of 173 compared to 169, a gap of 4 points. This suggests applicants to University of Virginia face a more competitive admissions pool.

University of Virginia is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 10.2% compared to George Mason University's 15.9%.

Both schools are located in Virginia — George Mason University in Fairfax and University of Virginia in Charlottesville — meaning graduates often compete in the same regional legal market.

Employment outcomes differ substantially: University of Virginia places 60.2% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 11.0% for the other school. This 49 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 $74,078. Combined with employment rates of 93.6% (GMU) and 95.3% (UVA), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.