Head-to-head · 15 cross-admits
When applicants got into both, 60% chose W&M. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 15 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 GMU
Typical aid · ABA 509 · 2025
per yearCross-admits who enrolled · self-reported, 3-yr award
View all-time (71 cross-admits)
Trend · GMU's share
Lowest cycle
Highest cycle
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 GMU vs W&M
Across 15 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 40% enrolled at George Mason University and 60% at William & Mary Law School.
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 George Mason University and William & Mary Law School across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes using official ABA 509 disclosures.
Both schools are closely ranked in U.S. News: #32 and #34, separated by just 2 positions, making cross-admit data especially useful for deciding between them.
Both schools are located in Virginia — George Mason University in Fairfax and William & Mary Law School in Williamsburg — meaning graduates often compete in the same regional legal market.
On cost, George Mason University has lower tuition at $24,864 per year compared to $38,734. Combined with employment rates of 98.2% (GMU) and 95.0% (W&M), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.
Among cross-admitted applicants who enrolled, those choosing George Mason University reported a higher median scholarship — $109,500 versus $81,942 over three years — though aid is one of several factors behind the enrollment decision.
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