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Side-by-side comparison of admissions, costs, and outcomes
Cross-Admit Decision Data
Of 20 applicants admitted to both schools:
Based on 20 self-reported cross-admit decisions from the last 5 cycles
View all-time data (41 cross-admits)
41 total cross-admit decisions (all cycles)
Emory University is #32 · GSU is Top 100 in the LSD rankings
See full LSD.Law school rankings →About this comparison
This page compares Emory University and Georgia State University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 20 applicants admitted to both.
Based on 20 applicants admitted to both schools, 80% chose to attend Emory University. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.
In the U.S. News rankings, Emory University is ranked #38 compared to #79 — a gap of 41 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.
There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: Emory University has a median LSAT of 166 compared to 160, a gap of 6 points. This suggests applicants to Emory University face a more competitive admissions pool.
Both schools are located in Georgia — Emory University in Atlanta and Georgia State University in Atlanta — meaning graduates often compete in the same regional legal market.
Employment outcomes differ substantially: Emory University places 33.7% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 9.5% for the other school. This 24 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.
On cost, Georgia State University has lower tuition at $16,162 per year compared to $69,510. Combined with employment rates of 92.0% (Emory University) and 91.0% (GSU), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.
Among cross-admitted applicants, Emory University offered a median scholarship of $90,000 compared to $77,500, a difference of $12,500 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 | Emory University | GSU |
|---|---|---|
| USN Rank | #38 ▲ | #79 |
| LSD Rank | #32 (0.019) ▲ | Top 100 (0.004) |
| LSAT 25th | 162 ▲ | 158 |
| LSAT Median | 166 ▲ | 160 |
| LSAT 75th | 168 ▲ | 163 |
| GPA Median | 3.82 ▲ | 3.64 |
| Acceptance Rate | 30.1% ▲ | 30.6% |
| Class Size | 391 | 237 |
| Yield Rate | 33.0% ▲ | 31.6% |
Financial Comparison
2025 ABA 509Tuition, scholarships, and debt burden at each school.
| Metric | Emory University | GSU |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition (In-State) | $69,510 | $16,162 ▲ |
| Tuition (Out-of-State) | $69,510 | $37,886 ▲ |
| Median Grant | $36,000 ▲ | $7,776 |
| % Receiving Grants | 98.0% ▲ | 49.0% |
| Avg. Debt at Graduation | - | - |
Employment Outcomes
2024 ABA 509Post-graduation employment placement, salaries, and bar passage.
| Metric | Emory University | GSU |
|---|---|---|
| BigLaw (501+) | 33.7% ▲ | 9.5% |
| Judicial Clerkships | 6.2% ▲ | 2.8% |
| Median Salary (Private) | $202,500 ▲ | $100,000 |
| Employment Rate | 92.0% ▲ | 91.0% |
| Bar Pass Rate | 88.4% | 90.0% ▲ |
Cross-Admit Decisions by Cycle
How cross-admit preferences have shifted over recent application cycles.
| Cycle | Split | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-2025 |
75%
|
8 |
| 2021-2022 |
100%
|
5 |
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