This page compares Georgetown University and University of Pennsylvania across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 115 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 115 applicants admitted to both schools, 96% chose to attend University of Pennsylvania. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, University of Pennsylvania is ranked #4 compared to #18 — a gap of 14 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

University of Pennsylvania is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 8.1% compared to Georgetown University's 15.8%.

Georgetown University is located in Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C., while University of Pennsylvania is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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: University of Pennsylvania places 67.1% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 54.9% for the other school. This 12 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

On cost, University of Pennsylvania has lower tuition at $78,348 per year compared to $83,576. Combined with employment rates of 96.2% (GULC) and 99.2% (UPenn), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants who enrolled, those choosing University of Pennsylvania reported a higher median scholarship — $141,000 versus $120,000 over three years — though aid is one of several factors behind the enrollment decision.