Head-to-head · 23 cross-admits
When applicants got into both, 65% chose Emory University. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 23 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.
Cross-admit decision
Chose Emory University
Median scholarship (chose Emory University)
Median scholarship (chose W&L)
View all-time (77 cross-admits)
Trend · Emory 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
George Washington University
49
Georgetown University
46
University of Georgia
40
University of Michigan
35
University of North Carolina
35
Overview
About Emory University vs W&L
Across 23 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 65% enrolled at Emory University and 35% at Washington and Lee University. The split has shifted -67 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 Emory University and Washington and Lee University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 23 applicants admitted to both.
Based on 23 applicants admitted to both schools, 65% 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, Washington and Lee University is ranked #34 compared to #40 — a gap of 6 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.
Emory University is located in Atlanta, Georgia, while Washington and Lee University is in Lexington, Virginia. 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, Washington and Lee University has lower tuition at $57,450 per year compared to $69,510. Combined with employment rates of 91.5% (Emory University) and 92.7% (W&L), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.
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