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Head-to-head · 31 cross-admits

When applicants got into both, 55% chose WFU. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 31 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.

31
cross-admits
8
cycles
-8pt
YoY shift

Cross-admit decision

Of 31 applicants admitted to both schools
Last 5 cycles
Emory University logo Chose Emory University
45%
Chose WFU Wake Forest University logo
55%

Median scholarship (chose Emory University)

$108,000 / yr

Median scholarship (chose WFU)

$120,000 / yr
View all-time (85 cross-admits)
69% chose Emory University 31% chose WFU

Trend · Emory University's share

2005–2025

Lowest cycle

0%

Highest cycle

100%
8 cycles
100 50 0 05 07 09 17 22 23 24 25 2005: 83% 2007: 100% 2009: 88% 2017: 80% 2022: 20% 2023: 0% 2024: 83% 2025: 75%
Emory University #32 · WFU #31 LSD n≈6/yr

Admissions

Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield
2025 ABA 509
Metric
Emory University logo
Emory University
Atlanta, Georgia
Wake Forest University logo
WFU
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
USN Rank
#40
#30
LSD Rank
#32 (0.015)
#31 (0.019)
LSAT 25th
162
163
LSAT Median
166
166
LSAT 75th
168
168
GPA Median
3.82
3.79
Acceptance Rate
30.1%
24.6%
Class Size
391
204
Yield Rate
33.0%
28.3%

Financial

Sticker price and scholarship aid
2025 ABA 509
Metric
Emory University logo
Emory University
Atlanta, Georgia
Wake Forest University logo
WFU
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Tuition (In-State)
$69,510
$57,920
Tuition (Out-of-State)
$69,510
$57,920
Median Grant
$36,000
$40,000
% Receiving Grants
98.0%
76.0%

Employment & outcomes

Post-graduation placement and bar passage
2025 ABA Employment
Metric
Emory University logo
Emory University
Atlanta, Georgia
Wake Forest University logo
WFU
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
BigLaw (501+)
29.5%
26.6%
Judicial Clerkships
4.9%
9.5%
Median Salary (Private)
-
-
Employment Rate
91.5%
98.7%
Bar Pass Rate
88.4%
88.2%

Overview

About Emory University vs WFU

Across 31 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 45% enrolled at Emory University and 55% at Wake Forest University. The split has shifted -8 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 Emory University and Wake Forest University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 31 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 31 applicants admitted to both schools, 55% chose to attend Wake Forest University. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, Wake Forest University is ranked #30 compared to #40 — a gap of 10 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

Emory University is located in Atlanta, Georgia, while Wake Forest University is in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Regional placement matters: graduates tend to find employment near their law school, so location should factor into your decision alongside rankings and cost.

On cost, Wake Forest University has lower tuition at $57,920 per year compared to $69,510. Combined with employment rates of 91.5% (Emory University) and 98.7% (WFU), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, Wake Forest University offered a median scholarship of $120,000 compared to $108,000, a difference of $12,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.