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Head-to-head · 115 cross-admits

When applicants got into both, 96% chose UPenn. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 115 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.

115
cross-admits
23
cycles
-10pt
YoY shift

Cross-admit decision

Of 115 applicants admitted to both schools
Last 5 cycles
University of Pennsylvania logo Chose UPenn
96%
Chose GULC Georgetown University logo
4%

Typical aid · ABA 509 · 2025

per year
$42,246
59.0% get a grant
$36,102 net tuition
$35,000
61.0% get a grant
$48,576 net tuition

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

$141,000
n = 79
$120,000
n = 5
View all-time (368 cross-admits)
92% chose UPenn 8% chose GULC

Trend · UPenn's share

2003–2025

Lowest cycle

71%

Highest cycle

100%
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: 100% 2004: 71% 2005: 95% 2006: 88% 2007: 80% 2008: 94% 2009: 100% 2010: 93% 2011: 95% 2012: 100% 2013: 91% 2014: 89% 2015: 100% 2016: 92% 2017: 90% 2018: 89% 2019: 78% 2020: 81% 2021: 90% 2022: 96% 2023: 100% 2024: 100% 2025: 90%
UPenn #6 · GULC #15 LSD n≈16/yr

Admissions

Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield
2025 ABA 509
Metric
University of Pennsylvania logo
UPenn
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Georgetown University logo
GULC
Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C.
USN Rank
#4
#18
LSD Rank
#6 (1.820)
#15 (0.163)
LSAT 25th
167
166
LSAT Median
173
171
LSAT 75th
174
173
GPA Median
3.95
3.93
Acceptance Rate
8.1%
15.8%
Class Size
265
672
Yield Rate
39.1%
28.7%

Financial

Sticker price and scholarship aid
2025 ABA 509
Metric
University of Pennsylvania logo
UPenn
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Georgetown University logo
GULC
Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C.
Tuition (In-State)
$78,348
$83,576
Tuition (Out-of-State)
$78,348
$83,576
Median Grant
$42,246
$35,000
% Receiving Grants
59.0%
61.0%

Employment & outcomes

Post-graduation placement and bar passage
2025 ABA Employment
Metric
University of Pennsylvania logo
UPenn
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Georgetown University logo
GULC
Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C.
BigLaw (501+)
67.1%
54.9%
Federal Clerkships
7.9%
5.0%
State & Local Clerkships
2.4%
4.3%
Median Salary (Private)
-
-
Employment Rate
99.2%
96.2%
Bar Pass Rate
96.7%
93.0%

Overview

About UPenn vs GULC

Across 115 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 96% enrolled at University of Pennsylvania and 4% at Georgetown University. The split has shifted -10 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 University of Pennsylvania and Georgetown University 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%.

University of Pennsylvania is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 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: 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 99.2% (UPenn) and 96.2% (GULC), 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.