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Head-to-head · 90 cross-admits

When applicants got into both, 98% chose SLS. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 90 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.

90
cross-admits
19
cycles
+8pt
YoY shift

Cross-admit decision

Of 90 applicants admitted to both schools
Last 5 cycles
Stanford University logo Chose SLS
98%
Chose GULC Georgetown University logo
2%

Median scholarship (chose SLS)

$165,749 / yr

Median scholarship (chose GULC)

$135,000 / yr
View all-time (238 cross-admits)
97% chose SLS 3% chose GULC

Trend · SLS's share

2004–2025

Lowest cycle

67%

Highest cycle

100%
19 cycles
100 50 0 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 17 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 2004: 92% 2005: 100% 2006: 92% 2007: 67% 2008: 100% 2009: 100% 2010: 100% 2011: 100% 2012: 100% 2013: 100% 2014: 100% 2017: 83% 2019: 100% 2020: 100% 2021: 92% 2022: 94% 2023: 100% 2024: 100% 2025: 100%
SLS #2 · GULC #15 LSD n≈11/yr

Admissions

Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield
2025 ABA 509
Metric
Stanford University logo
SLS
Stanford, California
Georgetown University logo
GULC
Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C.
USN Rank
#1
#18
LSD Rank
#2 (21.481)
#15 (0.179)
LSAT 25th
171
166
LSAT Median
173
171
LSAT 75th
176
173
GPA Median
3.96
3.93
Acceptance Rate
6.1%
15.8%
Class Size
193
672
Yield Rate
51.3%
28.7%

Financial

Sticker price, scholarships, and debt burden
2025 ABA 509
Metric
Stanford University logo
SLS
Stanford, California
Georgetown University logo
GULC
Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C.
Tuition (In-State)
$77,454
$83,576
Tuition (Out-of-State)
-
$83,576
Median Grant
$52,797
$35,000
% Receiving Grants
50.0%
61.0%
Avg. Debt at Graduation
-
-

Employment & outcomes

Post-graduation placement and bar passage
2024 ABA Employment
Metric
Stanford University logo
SLS
Stanford, California
Georgetown University logo
GULC
Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C.
BigLaw (501+)
40.2%
54.6%
Judicial Clerkships
19.1%
8.9%
Median Salary (Private)
-
-
Employment Rate
85.9%
89.4%
Bar Pass Rate
96.5%
93.0%

Overview

About SLS vs GULC

Across 90 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 98% enrolled at Stanford University and 2% at Georgetown University. The split has shifted +8 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.

Deciding between SLS and GULC? Work with a consultant who knows both — backed by this exact data.
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Detailed comparison narrative

This page compares Stanford University and Georgetown University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 90 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 90 applicants admitted to both schools, 98% chose to attend Stanford University. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, Stanford University is ranked #1 compared to #18 — a gap of 17 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

Stanford University is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 6.1% compared to Georgetown University's 15.8%.

Stanford University is located in Stanford, California, 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: Georgetown University places 54.6% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 40.2% for the other school. This 14 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

On cost, Stanford University has lower tuition at $77,454 per year compared to $83,576. Combined with employment rates of 85.9% (SLS) and 89.4% (GULC), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, Stanford University offered a median scholarship of $165,749 compared to $135,000, a difference of $30,749 that may factor into enrollment decisions.