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Head-to-head · 291 cross-admits

When applicants got into both, 99% chose HLS. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 291 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.

291
cross-admits
23
cycles
+2pt
YoY shift

Cross-admit decision

Of 291 applicants admitted to both schools
Last 5 cycles
Georgetown University logo Chose GULC
1%
Chose HLS Harvard University logo
99%

Median scholarship (chose GULC)

$120,000 / yr

Median scholarship (chose HLS)

$120,000 / yr
View all-time (841 cross-admits)
1% chose GULC 99% chose HLS

Trend · GULC's share

2003–2025

Lowest cycle

0%

Highest cycle

8%
23 cycles
100 50 0 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 2003: 0% 2004: 8% 2005: 2% 2006: 4% 2007: 3% 2008: 0% 2009: 0% 2010: 0% 2011: 0% 2012: 0% 2013: 0% 2014: 0% 2015: 0% 2016: 0% 2017: 0% 2018: 0% 2019: 0% 2020: 3% 2021: 2% 2022: 0% 2023: 0% 2024: 0% 2025: 2%
GULC #15 · HLS #2 LSD n≈36/yr

Admissions

Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield
2025 ABA 509
Metric
Georgetown University logo
GULC
Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C.
Harvard University logo
HLS
Cambridge, Massachusetts
USN Rank
#18
#6
LSD Rank
#15 (0.179)
#2 (19.575)
LSAT 25th
166
171
LSAT Median
171
174
LSAT 75th
173
176
GPA Median
3.93
3.96
Acceptance Rate
15.8%
9.2%
Class Size
672
579
Yield Rate
28.7%
59.2%

Financial

Sticker price and scholarship aid
2025 ABA 509
Metric
Georgetown University logo
GULC
Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C.
Harvard University logo
HLS
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Tuition (In-State)
$83,576
$77,100
Tuition (Out-of-State)
$83,576
$77,100
Median Grant
$35,000
$27,510
% Receiving Grants
61.0%
38.0%

Employment & outcomes

Post-graduation placement and bar passage
2025 ABA Employment
Metric
Georgetown University logo
GULC
Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C.
Harvard University logo
HLS
Cambridge, Massachusetts
BigLaw (501+)
54.9%
53.5%
Judicial Clerkships
9.2%
19.6%
Median Salary (Private)
-
-
Employment Rate
96.2%
96.7%
Bar Pass Rate
93.0%
97.9%

Overview

About GULC vs HLS

Across 291 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 1% enrolled at Georgetown University and 99% at Harvard University. The split has shifted +2 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 Georgetown University and Harvard University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 291 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 291 applicants admitted to both schools, 99% chose to attend Harvard University. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, Harvard University is ranked #6 compared to #18 — a gap of 12 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

Harvard University is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 9.2% compared to Georgetown University's 15.8%.

Georgetown University is located in Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C., while Harvard University is in Cambridge, Massachusetts. 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, Harvard University has lower tuition at $77,100 per year compared to $83,576. Combined with employment rates of 96.2% (GULC) and 96.7% (HLS), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.