Cornell University vs Washington University in St. Louis

This page compares Cornell University and Washington University in St. Louis across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 47 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 47 applicants admitted to both schools, 72% chose to attend Cornell 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: #14 and #18, separated by just 4 positions, making cross-admit data especially useful for deciding between them.

Cornell University is located in Ithaca, New York, while Washington University in St. Louis is in St. Louis, Missouri. 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 39.3% for the other school. This 33 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

On cost, Washington University in St. Louis has lower tuition at $72,792 per year compared to $84,722. Combined with employment rates of 98.0% (Cornell University) and 96.8% (WUSTL), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, Washington University in St. Louis offered a median scholarship of $183,000 compared to $120,000, a difference of $63,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.