Gonzaga University vs University of Washington

This page compares Gonzaga University and University of Washington across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes using official ABA 509 disclosures.

In the U.S. News rankings, University of Washington is ranked #50 compared to #141 — a gap of 91 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: University of Washington has a median LSAT of 165 compared to 155, a gap of 10 points. This suggests applicants to University of Washington face a more competitive admissions pool.

University of Washington is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 19.6% compared to Gonzaga University's 51.1%.

Both schools are located in Washington — Gonzaga University in Spokane and University of Washington in Seattle — meaning graduates often compete in the same regional legal market.

Employment outcomes differ substantially: University of Washington places 15.8% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 2.4% for the other school. This 13 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

On cost, University of Washington has lower tuition at $45,927 per year compared to $57,962. Combined with employment rates of 77.7% (GU) and 90.1% (UWashington), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, Gonzaga University offered a median scholarship of $99,000 compared to $36,000, a difference of $63,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.