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Head-to-head · 23 cross-admits

When applicants got into both, 56% chose OSU. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 23 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.

23
cross-admits
3
cycles
-36pt
YoY shift

Cross-admit decision

Of 23 applicants admitted to both schools
Last 5 cycles
George Washington University logo Chose GW
44%
Chose OSU Ohio State University logo
56%

Median scholarship (chose GW)

$97,500 / yr

Median scholarship (chose OSU)

$126,450 / yr
View all-time (59 cross-admits)
54% chose GW 46% chose OSU

Trend · GW's share

2008–2024

Lowest cycle

40%

Highest cycle

80%
3 cycles
100 50 0 08 23 24 2008: 80% 2023: 40% 2024: 44%
GW #32 · OSU #32 LSD n≈6/yr

Admissions

Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield
2025 ABA 509
Metric
George Washington University logo
GW
Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C.
Ohio State University logo
OSU
Columbus , Ohio
USN Rank
#26
#30
LSD Rank
#32 (0.013)
#32 (0.015)
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

Sticker price, scholarships, and debt burden
2025 ABA 509
Metric
George Washington University logo
GW
Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C.
Ohio State University logo
OSU
Columbus , Ohio
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

Post-graduation placement and bar passage
2024 ABA Employment
Metric
George Washington University logo
GW
Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C.
Ohio State University logo
OSU
Columbus , Ohio
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%

Overview

About GW vs OSU

Across 23 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 44% enrolled at George Washington University and 56% at Ohio State University. The split has shifted -36 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.

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Detailed comparison narrative

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 23 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 23 applicants admitted to both schools, 57% 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: #26 and #30, separated by just 4 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 $126,450 compared to $97,500, a difference of $28,950 that may factor into enrollment decisions.