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Head-to-head · 66 cross-admits

When applicants got into both, 85% chose GULC. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 66 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.

66
cross-admits
18
cycles
-36pt
YoY shift

Cross-admit decision

Of 66 applicants admitted to both schools
Last 5 cycles
Georgetown University logo Chose GULC
85%
Chose BU Boston University logo
15%

Typical aid · ABA 509 · 2025

per year
$35,000
61.0% get a grant
$48,576 net tuition
$29,000
91.0% get a grant
$40,870 net tuition

Cross-admits who enrolled · self-reported, 3-yr award

$105,000
n = 47
$194,000
n = 10
View all-time (197 cross-admits)
89% chose GULC 11% chose BU

Trend · GULC's share

2005–2025

Lowest cycle

64%

Highest cycle

100%
18 cycles
100 50 0 05 06 07 09 10 11 12 13 14 16 17 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 2005: 100% 2006: 92% 2007: 92% 2009: 88% 2010: 83% 2011: 83% 2012: 70% 2013: 89% 2014: 100% 2016: 100% 2017: 100% 2019: 100% 2020: 88% 2021: 100% 2022: 78% 2023: 95% 2024: 70% 2025: 64%
GULC #15 · BU #22 LSD n≈10/yr

Admissions

Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield
2025 ABA 509
Metric
Georgetown University logo
GULC
Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C.
Boston University logo
BU
Boston, Massachusetts
USN Rank
#18
#24
LSD Rank
#15 (0.163)
#22 (0.040)
LSAT 25th
166
164
LSAT Median
171
170
LSAT 75th
173
171
GPA Median
3.93
3.88
Acceptance Rate
15.8%
12.1%
Class Size
672
238
Yield Rate
28.7%
24.6%

Financial

Sticker price and scholarship aid
2025 ABA 509
Metric
Georgetown University logo
GULC
Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C.
Boston University logo
BU
Boston, Massachusetts
Tuition (In-State)
$83,576
$69,870
Tuition (Out-of-State)
$83,576
$69,870
Median Grant
$35,000
$29,000
% Receiving Grants
61.0%
91.0%

Employment & outcomes

Post-graduation placement and bar passage
2025 ABA Employment
Metric
Georgetown University logo
GULC
Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C.
Boston University logo
BU
Boston, Massachusetts
BigLaw (501+)
54.9%
41.1%
Federal Clerkships
5.0%
1.4%
State & Local Clerkships
4.3%
7.0%
Median Salary (Private)
-
-
Employment Rate
96.2%
95.8%
Bar Pass Rate
93.0%
92.3%

Overview

About GULC vs BU

Across 66 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 85% enrolled at Georgetown University and 15% at Boston University. The split has shifted -36 points across the tracked cycles.

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.

Looking at a different matchup? Browse all comparisons or run a custom pair from the index.

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Detailed comparison narrative

This page compares Georgetown University and Boston University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 66 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 66 applicants admitted to both schools, 85% chose to attend Georgetown University. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, Georgetown University is ranked #18 compared to #24 — a gap of 6 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

Georgetown University is located in Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C., while Boston University is in Boston, Massachusetts. 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: Georgetown University places 54.9% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 41.1% for the other school. This 14 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

On cost, Boston University has lower tuition at $69,870 per year compared to $83,576. Combined with employment rates of 96.2% (GULC) and 95.8% (BU), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants who enrolled, those choosing Boston University reported a higher median scholarship — $194,000 versus $105,000 over three years — though aid is one of several factors behind the enrollment decision.