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Head-to-head · 61 cross-admits

When applicants got into both, 74% chose Fordham. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 61 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.

61
cross-admits
13
cycles
-40pt
YoY shift

Cross-admit decision

Of 61 applicants admitted to both schools
Last 5 cycles
Fordham University logo Chose Fordham
74%
Chose GW George Washington University logo
26%

Median scholarship (chose Fordham)

$120,000 / yr

Median scholarship (chose GW)

$119,999 / yr
View all-time (149 cross-admits)
54% chose Fordham 46% chose GW

Trend · Fordham's share

2004–2025

Lowest cycle

20%

Highest cycle

83%
13 cycles
100 50 0 04 05 07 08 09 17 18 20 21 22 23 24 25 2004: 83% 2005: 33% 2007: 40% 2008: 20% 2009: 25% 2017: 20% 2018: 57% 2020: 69% 2021: 82% 2022: 75% 2023: 76% 2024: 75% 2025: 43%
Fordham #24 · GW #32 LSD n≈9/yr

Admissions

Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield
2025 ABA 509
Metric
Fordham University logo
Fordham
Bronx, New York
George Washington University logo
GW
Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C.
USN Rank
#42
#26
LSD Rank
#24 (0.027)
#32 (0.013)
LSAT 25th
165
162
LSAT Median
168
168
LSAT 75th
170
170
GPA Median
3.79
3.86
Acceptance Rate
16.2%
27.2%
Class Size
444
612
Yield Rate
30.3%
22.5%

Financial

Sticker price, scholarships, and debt burden
2025 ABA 509
Metric
Fordham University logo
Fordham
Bronx, New York
George Washington University logo
GW
Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C.
Tuition (In-State)
$78,078
$75,420
Tuition (Out-of-State)
$78,078
$75,420
Median Grant
$35,000
$28,000
% Receiving Grants
87.0%
77.0%
Avg. Debt at Graduation
-
-

Employment & outcomes

Post-graduation placement and bar passage
2024 ABA Employment
Metric
Fordham University logo
Fordham
Bronx, New York
George Washington University logo
GW
Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C.
BigLaw (501+)
42.2%
30.0%
Judicial Clerkships
4.8%
10.5%
Median Salary (Private)
$215,000
$215,000
Employment Rate
94.9%
96.5%
Bar Pass Rate
93.0%
90.2%

Overview

About Fordham vs GW

Across 61 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 74% enrolled at Fordham University and 26% at George Washington University. The split has shifted -40 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 Fordham University and George Washington University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 61 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 61 applicants admitted to both schools, 74% chose to attend Fordham University. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, George Washington University is ranked #26 compared to #42 — a gap of 16 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

Fordham University is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 16.2% compared to George Washington University's 27.2%.

Fordham University is located in Bronx, New York, while George Washington University is in Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C.. 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: Fordham University places 42.2% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 30.0% for the other school. This 12 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.