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Side-by-side comparison of admissions, costs, and outcomes
Cross-Admit Decision Data
Of 105 applicants admitted to both schools:
Based on 105 self-reported cross-admit decisions from the last 5 cycles
View all-time data (504 cross-admits)
504 total cross-admit decisions (all cycles)
CLS is #5 · GULC is #14 in the LSD rankings
See full LSD.Law school rankings →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 105 applicants admitted to both.
Based on 105 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.
Both schools are closely ranked in U.S. News: #10 and #14, separated by just 4 positions, making cross-admit data especially useful for deciding between them.
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.
Compare Another Pair
Admissions Comparison
2025 ABA 509How these schools compare on LSAT, GPA, selectivity, and class composition.
| Metric | CLS | GULC |
|---|---|---|
| USN Rank | #10 ▲ | #14 |
| LSD Rank | #5 (2.470) ▲ | #14 (0.200) |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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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