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Side-by-side comparison of admissions, costs, and outcomes
Cross-Admit Decision Data
Of 27 applicants admitted to both schools:
Based on 27 self-reported cross-admit decisions from the last 5 cycles
View all-time data (57 cross-admits)
57 total cross-admit decisions (all cycles)
GW is #32 · NUSL is Top 75 in the LSD rankings
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About this comparison
This page compares George Washington University and Northeastern University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 27 applicants admitted to both.
Based on 27 applicants admitted to both schools, 67% chose to attend George Washington University. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.
In the U.S. News rankings, George Washington University is ranked #31 compared to #68 — a gap of 37 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.
There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: George Washington University has a median LSAT of 168 compared to 164, a gap of 4 points. This suggests applicants to George Washington University face a more competitive admissions pool.
George Washington University is located in Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C., while Northeastern University is in Boston, 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: George Washington University places 30.0% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 19.6% for the other school. This 10 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.
On cost, Northeastern University has lower tuition at $65,652 per year compared to $75,420. Combined with employment rates of 96.5% (GW) and 91.1% (NUSL), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.
Among cross-admitted applicants, Northeastern University offered a median scholarship of $164,625 compared to $120,000, a difference of $44,625 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 | NUSL |
|---|---|---|
| USN Rank | #31 ▲ | #68 |
| LSD Rank | #32 (0.013) ▲ | Top 75 (0.005) |
| LSAT 25th | 162 ▲ | 161 |
| LSAT Median | 168 ▲ | 164 |
| LSAT 75th | 170 ▲ | 166 |
| GPA Median | 3.86 ▲ | 3.77 |
| Acceptance Rate | 27.2% | 24.2% ▲ |
| Class Size | 612 | 283 |
| Yield Rate | 22.5% ▲ | 20.4% |
Financial Comparison
2025 ABA 509Tuition, scholarships, and debt burden at each school.
| Metric | GW | NUSL |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition (In-State) | $75,420 | $65,652 ▲ |
| Tuition (Out-of-State) | $75,420 | $65,652 ▲ |
| Median Grant | $28,000 | $31,000 ▲ |
| % Receiving Grants | 77.0% | 95.0% ▲ |
| Avg. Debt at Graduation | - | - |
Employment Outcomes
2024 ABA 509Post-graduation employment placement, salaries, and bar passage.
| Metric | GW | NUSL |
|---|---|---|
| BigLaw (501+) | 30.0% ▲ | 19.6% |
| Judicial Clerkships | 10.5% ▲ | 6.1% |
| Median Salary (Private) | $215,000 | - |
| Employment Rate | 96.5% ▲ | 91.1% |
| Bar Pass Rate | 90.2% ▲ | 87.4% |
Cross-Admit Decisions by Cycle
How cross-admit preferences have shifted over recent application cycles.
| Cycle | Split | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-2025 |
40%
|
5 |
| 2023-2024 |
73%
|
11 |
| 2021-2022 |
50%
|
6 |
| 2020-2021 |
67%
|
12 |
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