Head-to-head · 11 cross-admits
When applicants got into both, 91% chose UWashington. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 11 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.
Cross-admit decision
Chose GU
Median scholarship (chose GU)
Median scholarship (chose UWashington)
View all-time (27 cross-admits)
Admissions
Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield 2025 ABA 509
Financial
Sticker price and scholarship aid 2025 ABA 509
Employment & outcomes
Post-graduation placement and bar passage 2025 ABA Employment
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Overview
About GU vs UWashington
Across 11 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 9% enrolled at Gonzaga University and 91% at University of Washington.
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.
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Detailed comparison narrative
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 #52 compared to #144 — a gap of 92 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 15.3% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 2.5% 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 82.8% (GU) and 88.7% (UWashington), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.
Among cross-admitted applicants, Gonzaga University offered a median scholarship of $105,000 compared to $36,000, a difference of $69,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.
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