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Head-to-head · 66 cross-admits

When applicants got into both, 56% chose Cornell University. 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
19
cycles
+37pt
YoY shift

Cross-admit decision

Of 66 applicants admitted to both schools
Last 5 cycles
Cornell University logo Chose Cornell University
56%
Chose GULC Georgetown University logo
44%

Median scholarship (chose Cornell University)

$126,000 / yr

Median scholarship (chose GULC)

$135,000 / yr
View all-time (196 cross-admits)
54% chose Cornell University 46% chose GULC

Trend · Cornell University's share

2004–2025

Lowest cycle

29%

Highest cycle

80%
19 cycles
100 50 0 04 05 07 09 10 11 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 2004: 33% 2005: 50% 2007: 63% 2009: 33% 2010: 29% 2011: 75% 2013: 63% 2014: 75% 2015: 80% 2016: 67% 2017: 63% 2018: 50% 2019: 43% 2020: 47% 2021: 45% 2022: 63% 2023: 56% 2024: 58% 2025: 70%
Cornell University #14 · GULC #15 LSD n≈9/yr

Admissions

Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield
2025 ABA 509
Metric
Cornell University logo
Cornell University
Ithaca, New York
Georgetown University logo
GULC
Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C.
USN Rank
#13
#18
LSD Rank
#14 (0.202)
#15 (0.179)
LSAT 25th
168
166
LSAT Median
173
171
LSAT 75th
175
173
GPA Median
3.92
3.93
Acceptance Rate
18.2%
15.8%
Class Size
217
672
Yield Rate
25.1%
28.7%

Financial

Sticker price, scholarships, and debt burden
2025 ABA 509
Metric
Cornell University logo
Cornell University
Ithaca, New York
Georgetown University logo
GULC
Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C.
Tuition (In-State)
$84,722
$83,576
Tuition (Out-of-State)
$84,722
$83,576
Median Grant
$30,000
$35,000
% Receiving Grants
91.0%
61.0%
Avg. Debt at Graduation
-
-

Employment & outcomes

Post-graduation placement and bar passage
2024 ABA Employment
Metric
Cornell University logo
Cornell University
Ithaca, New York
Georgetown University logo
GULC
Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C.
BigLaw (501+)
71.9%
54.6%
Judicial Clerkships
7.1%
8.9%
Median Salary (Private)
-
-
Employment Rate
98.0%
89.4%
Bar Pass Rate
96.4%
93.0%

Overview

About Cornell University vs GULC

Across 66 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 56% enrolled at Cornell University and 44% at Georgetown University. The split has shifted +37 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 Cornell University and Georgetown 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, 56% chose to attend Cornell University. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, Cornell University is ranked #13 compared to #18 — a gap of 5 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

Cornell University is located in Ithaca, 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: Cornell University places 71.9% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 54.6% for the other school. This 17 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.