Head-to-head · 21 cross-admits
When applicants got into both, 100% chose Cornell University. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 21 self-reported decisions and ABA 509 filings.
* School-reported figure, not from the latest ABA 509 report.
Choice, not ranking
These are decisions, not opinions. Scholarship offers, location, intended practice, and personal fit are all priced into the split.
Cross-admit decision
Chose Cornell University
Typical aid · ABA 509 · 2025
per yearCross-admits who enrolled · self-reported, 3-yr award
View all-time (113 cross-admits)
Trend · Cornell University's share
Lowest cycle
Highest cycle
Admissions
Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield 2025 ABA 509
Financial
Sticker price and scholarship aid 2025 ABA 509
Employment & outcomes
Post-graduation placement and bar passage 2025 ABA Employment
Cross-admit by cycle
How preferences shifted over recent cyclesRelated comparisons
Other popular cross-admit matchups
Overview
About Cornell University vs GW
Across 21 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 100% enrolled at Cornell University and 0% at George Washington University. The split has shifted +20 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.
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Detailed comparison narrative
This page compares Cornell University and George Washington University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 21 applicants admitted to both.
Based on 21 applicants admitted to both schools, 100% 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 #26 — a gap of 13 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.
There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: Cornell University has a median LSAT of 173 compared to 168, a gap of 5 points. This suggests applicants to Cornell University face a more competitive admissions pool.
Cornell University is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 14.4% compared to George Washington University's 27.2%.
Cornell University is located in Ithaca, New York, while George Washington 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 56.9% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 24.1% for the other school. This 33 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.
On cost, George Washington University has lower tuition at $75,420 per year compared to $87,908. Combined with employment rates of 99.5% (Cornell University) and 96.8% (GW), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.
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