Arizona State University vs Washington University in St. Louis

This page compares Arizona State University and Washington University in St. Louis across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 48 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 48 applicants admitted to both schools, 98% chose to attend Washington University in St. Louis. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, Washington University in St. Louis is ranked #14 compared to #45 — a gap of 31 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: Washington University in St. Louis has a median LSAT of 175 compared to 165, a gap of 10 points. This suggests applicants to Washington University in St. Louis face a more competitive admissions pool.

Arizona State University is located in Tempe, Arizona, while Washington University in St. Louis is in St. Louis, Missouri. 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: Washington University in St. Louis places 39.3% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 11.0% for the other school. This 28 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

On cost, Arizona State University has lower tuition at $28,390 per year compared to $72,792. Combined with employment rates of 93.5% (ASU) and 96.8% (WUSTL), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, Washington University in St. Louis offered a median scholarship of $159,000 compared to $90,000, a difference of $69,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.