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Side-by-side comparison of admissions, costs, and outcomes
Cross-Admit Decision Data
Of 113 applicants admitted to both schools:
Based on 113 self-reported cross-admit decisions from the last 5 cycles
View all-time data (512 cross-admits)
512 total cross-admit decisions (all cycles)
CLS is #5 · GULC is #15 in the LSD rankings
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About this comparison
This page compares Columbia University and Georgetown University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 113 applicants admitted to both.
Based on 113 applicants admitted to both schools, 99% chose to attend Columbia University. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.
In the U.S. News rankings, Columbia University is ranked #9 compared to #18 — a gap of 9 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.
Columbia University is located in New York City, New York, while Georgetown University is in Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C.. 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: Columbia University places 65.4% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 54.6% for the other school. This 11 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.
Among cross-admitted applicants, Georgetown University offered a median scholarship of $127,500 compared to $100,000, a difference of $27,500 that may factor into enrollment decisions.
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Admissions Comparison
2025 ABA 509How these schools compare on LSAT, GPA, selectivity, and class composition.
| Metric | CLS | GULC |
|---|---|---|
| USN Rank | #9 ▲ | #18 |
| LSD Rank | #5 (2.261) ▲ | #15 (0.178) |
| LSAT 25th | 169 ▲ | 166 |
| LSAT Median | 173 ▲ | 171 |
| LSAT 75th | 175 ▲ | 173 |
| GPA Median | 3.92 | 3.93 ▲ |
| Acceptance Rate | 11.8% ▲ | 15.8% |
| Class Size | 444 | 672 |
| Yield Rate | 36.8% ▲ | 28.7% |
Financial Comparison
2025 ABA 509Tuition, scholarships, and debt burden at each school.
| Metric | CLS | GULC |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition (In-State) | $85,368 | $83,576 ▲ |
| Tuition (Out-of-State) | $85,368 | $83,576 ▲ |
| Median Grant | $32,000 | $35,000 ▲ |
| % Receiving Grants | 54.0% | 61.0% ▲ |
| Avg. Debt at Graduation | - | - |
Employment Outcomes
2024 ABA 509Post-graduation employment placement, salaries, and bar passage.
| Metric | CLS | GULC |
|---|---|---|
| BigLaw (501+) | 65.4% ▲ | 54.6% |
| Judicial Clerkships | 6.5% | 8.9% ▲ |
| Median Salary (Private) | - | - |
| Employment Rate | 95.6% ▲ | 89.4% |
| Bar Pass Rate | 95.8% ▲ | 93.0% |
Cross-Admit Decisions by Cycle
How cross-admit preferences have shifted over recent application cycles.
| Cycle | Split | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-2026 |
100%
|
9 |
| 2024-2025 |
96%
|
26 |
| 2023-2024 |
100%
|
24 |
| 2022-2023 |
100%
|
30 |
| 2021-2022 |
100%
|
24 |
| 2020-2021 |
85%
|
34 |
| 2019-2020 |
100%
|
15 |
| 2018-2019 |
100%
|
10 |
| 2017-2018 |
95%
|
20 |
| 2016-2017 |
100%
|
11 |
| 2015-2016 |
100%
|
12 |
| 2014-2015 |
93%
|
14 |
| 2013-2014 |
100%
|
11 |
| 2012-2013 |
100%
|
23 |
| 2011-2012 |
100%
|
19 |
| 2010-2011 |
93%
|
27 |
| 2009-2010 |
100%
|
28 |
| 2008-2009 |
100%
|
29 |
| 2007-2008 |
94%
|
35 |
| 2006-2007 |
95%
|
37 |
| 2005-2006 |
95%
|
44 |
| 2004-2005 |
93%
|
27 |
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