Head-to-head · 13 cross-admits
When applicants got into both, 69% chose WFU. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 13 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
Median scholarship (chose FSU)
Median scholarship (chose WFU)
View all-time (33 cross-admits)
Admissions
Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield 2025 ABA 509Financial
Sticker price and scholarship aid 2025 ABA 509Employment & outcomes
Post-graduation placement and bar passage 2025 ABA EmploymentOverview
About FSU vs WFU
Across 13 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 31% enrolled at Florida State University and 69% at Wake Forest University.
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 Florida State University and Wake Forest University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes using official ABA 509 disclosures.
Both schools are closely ranked in U.S. News: #30 and #34, separated by just 4 positions, making cross-admit data especially useful for deciding between them.
Florida State University is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 16.0% compared to Wake Forest University's 24.6%.
Florida State University is located in Tallahassee, Florida, 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.
Employment outcomes differ substantially: Wake Forest University places 26.6% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 9.1% for the other school. This 18 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.
On cost, Florida State University has lower tuition at - per year compared to $57,920. Combined with employment rates of 92.4% (FSU) 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 $135,000 compared to $80,554, a difference of $54,446 that may factor into enrollment decisions.
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