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Head-to-head · 67 cross-admits

When applicants got into both, 100% chose HLS. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 67 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.

67
cross-admits
17
cycles
+0pt
YoY shift

Cross-admit decision

Of 67 applicants admitted to both schools
Last 5 cycles
George Washington University logo Chose GW
0%
Chose HLS Harvard University logo
100%

Median scholarship (chose GW)

$165,000 / yr

Median scholarship (chose HLS)

$132,000 / yr
View all-time (174 cross-admits)
0% chose GW 100% chose HLS

Trend · GW's share

2005–2025
0%
every cycle (17)
100 50 0 05 06 07 08 10 11 12 14 16 17 18 19 21 22 23 24 25 2005: 0% 2006: 0% 2007: 0% 2008: 0% 2010: 0% 2011: 0% 2012: 0% 2014: 0% 2016: 0% 2017: 0% 2018: 0% 2019: 0% 2021: 0% 2022: 0% 2023: 0% 2024: 0% 2025: 0%
GW #32 · HLS #2 LSD n≈9/yr

Admissions

Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield
2025 ABA 509
Metric
George Washington University logo
GW
Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C.
Harvard University logo
HLS
Cambridge, Massachusetts
USN Rank
#26
#6
LSD Rank
#32 (0.013)
#2 (19.575)
LSAT 25th
162
171
LSAT Median
168
174
LSAT 75th
170
176
GPA Median
3.86
3.96
Acceptance Rate
27.2%
9.2%
Class Size
612
579
Yield Rate
22.5%
59.2%

Financial

Sticker price and scholarship aid
2025 ABA 509
Metric
George Washington University logo
GW
Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C.
Harvard University logo
HLS
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Tuition (In-State)
$75,420
$77,100
Tuition (Out-of-State)
$75,420
$77,100
Median Grant
$28,000
$27,510
% Receiving Grants
77.0%
38.0%

Employment & outcomes

Post-graduation placement and bar passage
2025 ABA Employment
Metric
George Washington University logo
GW
Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C.
Harvard University logo
HLS
Cambridge, Massachusetts
BigLaw (501+)
24.1%
53.5%
Judicial Clerkships
9.8%
19.6%
Median Salary (Private)
-
-
Employment Rate
96.8%
96.7%
Bar Pass Rate
90.2%
97.9%

Overview

About GW vs HLS

Across 67 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 0% enrolled at George Washington University and 100% at Harvard University.

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 George Washington University and Harvard University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 67 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 67 applicants admitted to both schools, 100% chose to attend Harvard University. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, Harvard University is ranked #6 compared to #26 — a gap of 20 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: Harvard University has a median LSAT of 174 compared to 168, a gap of 6 points. This suggests applicants to Harvard University face a more competitive admissions pool.

Harvard University is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 9.2% compared to George Washington University's 27.2%.

George Washington University is located in Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C., while Harvard University is in Cambridge, Massachusetts. 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: Harvard University places 53.5% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 24.1% for the other school. This 29 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

Among cross-admitted applicants, George Washington University offered a median scholarship of $165,000 compared to $132,000, a difference of $33,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.