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Side-by-side comparison of admissions, costs, and outcomes
Cross-Admit Decision Data
Of 39 applicants admitted to both schools:
Based on 39 self-reported cross-admit decisions from the last 5 cycles
View all-time data (108 cross-admits)
108 total cross-admit decisions (all cycles)
Emory University is #32 · WUSTL is #20 in the LSD rankings
See full LSD.Law school rankings →About this comparison
This page compares Emory University and Washington University in St. Louis across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 39 applicants admitted to both.
Based on 39 applicants admitted to both schools, 95% chose to attend Washington University in St. Louis. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.
In the U.S. News rankings, Washington University in St. Louis is ranked #14 compared to #38 — a gap of 24 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.
There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: Washington University in St. Louis has a median LSAT of 175 compared to 166, a gap of 9 points. This suggests applicants to Washington University in St. Louis face a more competitive admissions pool.
Washington University in St. Louis is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 19.0% compared to Emory University's 30.1%.
Emory University is located in Atlanta, Georgia, 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.
Among cross-admitted applicants, Washington University in St. Louis offered a median scholarship of $147,000 compared to $130,000, a difference of $17,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.
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Admissions Comparison
2025 ABA 509How these schools compare on LSAT, GPA, selectivity, and class composition.
| Metric | Emory University | WUSTL |
|---|---|---|
| USN Rank | #38 | #14 ▲ |
| LSD Rank | #32 (0.019) | #20 (0.083) ▲ |
| LSAT 25th | 162 | 165 ▲ |
| LSAT Median | 166 | 175 ▲ |
| LSAT 75th | 168 | 176 ▲ |
| GPA Median | 3.82 | 3.96 ▲ |
| Acceptance Rate | 30.1% | 19.0% ▲ |
| Class Size | 391 | 261 |
| Yield Rate | 33.0% ▲ | 24.2% |
Financial Comparison
2025 ABA 509Tuition, scholarships, and debt burden at each school.
| Metric | Emory University | WUSTL |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition (In-State) | $69,510 ▲ | $72,792 |
| Tuition (Out-of-State) | $69,510 ▲ | $72,792 |
| Median Grant | $36,000 | $48,000 ▲ |
| % Receiving Grants | 98.0% ▲ | 94.0% |
| Avg. Debt at Graduation | - | - |
Employment Outcomes
2024 ABA 509Post-graduation employment placement, salaries, and bar passage.
| Metric | Emory University | WUSTL |
|---|---|---|
| BigLaw (501+) | 33.7% | 39.3% ▲ |
| Judicial Clerkships | 6.2% | 13.3% ▲ |
| Median Salary (Private) | $202,500 | $205,000 ▲ |
| Employment Rate | 92.0% | 96.8% ▲ |
| Bar Pass Rate | 88.4% | 93.6% ▲ |
Cross-Admit Decisions by Cycle
How cross-admit preferences have shifted over recent application cycles.
| Cycle | Split | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-2025 |
0%
|
5 |
| 2023-2024 |
20%
|
5 |
| 2022-2023 |
0%
|
12 |
| 2021-2022 |
14%
|
7 |
| 2020-2021 |
0%
|
10 |
| 2018-2019 |
0%
|
6 |
| 2015-2016 |
0%
|
6 |
| 2014-2015 |
33%
|
6 |
| 2013-2014 |
25%
|
8 |
| 2012-2013 |
0%
|
7 |
| 2009-2010 |
71%
|
7 |
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