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Head-to-head · 94 cross-admits

When applicants got into both, 79% chose NU. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 94 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.

94
cross-admits
22
cycles
+46pt
YoY shift

Cross-admit decision

Of 94 applicants admitted to both schools
Last 5 cycles
Northwestern University logo Chose NU
79%
Chose GULC Georgetown University logo
21%

Typical aid · ABA 509 · 2025

per year
$40,000
76.0% get a grant
$39,772 net tuition
$35,000
61.0% get a grant
$48,576 net tuition

Cross-admits who enrolled · self-reported, 3-yr award

$150,000
n = 69
$131,250
n = 20
View all-time (281 cross-admits)
73% chose NU 27% chose GULC

Trend · NU's share

2004–2025

Lowest cycle

40%

Highest cycle

100%
22 cycles
100 50 0 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 2004: 40% 2005: 67% 2006: 50% 2007: 47% 2008: 87% 2009: 86% 2010: 75% 2011: 82% 2012: 100% 2013: 73% 2014: 67% 2015: 77% 2016: 57% 2017: 91% 2018: 67% 2019: 43% 2020: 75% 2021: 45% 2022: 88% 2023: 93% 2024: 89% 2025: 86%
NU #12 · GULC #15 LSD n≈12/yr

Admissions

Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield
2025 ABA 509
Metric
Northwestern University logo
NU
Evanston, Illinois
Georgetown University logo
GULC
Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C.
USN Rank
#9
#18
LSD Rank
#12 (0.410)
#15 (0.163)
LSAT 25th
167
166
LSAT Median
173
171
LSAT 75th
175
173
GPA Median
3.96
3.93
Acceptance Rate
12.3%
15.8%
Class Size
250
672
Yield Rate
25.0%
28.7%

Financial

Sticker price and scholarship aid
2025 ABA 509
Metric
Northwestern University logo
NU
Evanston, Illinois
Georgetown University logo
GULC
Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C.
Tuition (In-State)
$79,772
$83,576
Tuition (Out-of-State)
$79,722
$83,576
Median Grant
$40,000
$35,000
% Receiving Grants
76.0%
61.0%

Employment & outcomes

Post-graduation placement and bar passage
2025 ABA Employment
Metric
Northwestern University logo
NU
Evanston, Illinois
Georgetown University logo
GULC
Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C.
BigLaw (501+)
67.4%
54.9%
Federal Clerkships
5.7%
5.0%
State & Local Clerkships
2.7%
4.3%
Median Salary (Private)
-
-
Employment Rate
97.3%
96.2%
Bar Pass Rate
91.8%
93.0%

Overview

About NU vs GULC

Across 94 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 79% enrolled at Northwestern University and 21% at Georgetown University. The split has shifted +46 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 Northwestern University and Georgetown University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 94 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 94 applicants admitted to both schools, 79% chose to attend Northwestern University. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, Northwestern University is ranked #9 compared to #18 — a gap of 9 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

Northwestern University is located in Evanston, Illinois, while Georgetown 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: Northwestern University places 67.4% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 54.9% for the other school. This 13 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

Among cross-admitted applicants who enrolled, those choosing Northwestern University reported a higher median scholarship — $150,000 versus $131,250 over three years — though aid is one of several factors behind the enrollment decision.