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Side-by-side comparison of admissions, costs, and outcomes
View all-time data (56 cross-admits)
56 total cross-admit decisions (all cycles)
GW is #36 · OSU is #32 in the LSD rankings
See full LSD.Law school rankings →About this comparison
This page compares George Washington University and Ohio State University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 22 applicants admitted to both.
Based on 22 applicants admitted to both schools, 59% chose to attend Ohio State University. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.
Both schools are closely ranked in U.S. News: #28 and #31, separated by just 3 positions, making cross-admit data especially useful for deciding between them.
George Washington University is located in Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C., while Ohio State University is in Columbus , Ohio. 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: George Washington University places 30.0% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 12.8% for the other school. This 17 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.
On cost, Ohio State University has lower tuition at $35,650 per year compared to $75,420. Combined with employment rates of 96.5% (GW) and 94.4% (OSU), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.
Among cross-admitted applicants, Ohio State University offered a median scholarship of $142,090 compared to $91,500, a difference of $50,590 that may factor into enrollment decisions.
Compare Another Pair
Admissions Comparison
2025 ABA 509How these schools compare on LSAT, GPA, selectivity, and class composition.
| Metric | GW | OSU |
|---|---|---|
| USN Rank | #31 | #28 ▲ |
| LSD Rank | #36 (0.016) | #32 (0.019) ▲ |
| LSAT 25th | 162 | 163 ▲ |
| LSAT Median | 168 | 168 |
| LSAT 75th | 170 ▲ | 169 |
| GPA Median | 3.86 | 3.91 ▲ |
| Acceptance Rate | 27.2% | 24.6% ▲ |
| Class Size | 612 | 159 |
| Yield Rate | 22.5% | 28.0% ▲ |
Financial Comparison
2025 ABA 509Tuition, scholarships, and debt burden at each school.
| Metric | GW | OSU |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition (In-State) | $75,420 | $35,650 ▲ |
| Tuition (Out-of-State) | $75,420 | $50,902 ▲ |
| Median Grant | $28,000 | $29,984 ▲ |
| % Receiving Grants | 77.0% | 90.0% ▲ |
| Avg. Debt at Graduation | - | - |
Employment Outcomes
2024 ABA 509Post-graduation employment placement, salaries, and bar passage.
| Metric | GW | OSU |
|---|---|---|
| BigLaw (501+) | 30.0% ▲ | 12.8% |
| Judicial Clerkships | 10.5% ▲ | 6.7% |
| Median Salary (Private) | $215,000 ▲ | $105,000 |
| Employment Rate | 96.5% ▲ | 94.4% |
| Bar Pass Rate | 90.2% | 92.0% ▲ |
Cross-Admit Decisions by Cycle
How cross-admit preferences have shifted over recent application cycles.
| Cycle | Split | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-2025 |
44%
|
9 |
| 2023-2024 |
40%
|
5 |
| 2008-2009 |
80%
|
5 |
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