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George Washington University vs New York University

Side-by-side comparison of admissions, costs, and outcomes

Cross-Admit Decision Data

Of 59 applicants admitted to both schools:

0%
100%
Median scholarship: $127,500 Median scholarship: $67,500

Based on 59 self-reported cross-admit decisions from the last 5 cycles

View all-time data (192 cross-admits)
2% chose GW 98% chose NYU

192 total cross-admit decisions (all cycles)

GW is #36 · NYU is #8 in the LSD rankings

See full LSD.Law school rankings →
About this comparison

This page compares George Washington University and New York University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 59 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 59 applicants admitted to both schools, 100% chose to attend New York University. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, New York University is ranked #8 compared to #31 — a gap of 23 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: New York University has a median LSAT of 172 compared to 168, a gap of 4 points. This suggests applicants to New York University face a more competitive admissions pool.

New York University is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 13.4% compared to George Washington University's 27.2%.

George Washington University is located in Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C., while New York University is in New York City, New York. 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: New York University places 54.1% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 30.0% for the other school. This 24 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

On cost, George Washington University has lower tuition at $75,420 per year compared to $83,952. Combined with employment rates of 96.5% (GW) and 92.9% (NYU), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, George Washington University offered a median scholarship of $127,500 compared to $67,500, a difference of $60,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.

Compare Another Pair

George Washington University
vs
New York University

Admissions Comparison

2025 ABA 509

How these schools compare on LSAT, GPA, selectivity, and class composition.

Metric GW NYU
USN Rank #31 #8
LSD Rank #36 (0.016) #8 (1.509)
LSAT 25th 162 169
LSAT Median 168 172
LSAT 75th 170 174
GPA Median 3.86 3.92
Acceptance Rate 27.2% 13.4%
Class Size 612 452
Yield Rate 22.5% 30.4%

Financial Comparison

2025 ABA 509

Tuition, scholarships, and debt burden at each school.

Metric GW NYU
Tuition (In-State) $75,420 $83,952
Tuition (Out-of-State) $75,420 $83,952
Median Grant $28,000 $20,000
% Receiving Grants 77.0% 66.0%
Avg. Debt at Graduation - -

Employment Outcomes

2024 ABA 509

Post-graduation employment placement, salaries, and bar passage.

Metric GW NYU
BigLaw (501+) 30.0% 54.1%
Judicial Clerkships 10.5% 7.1%
Median Salary (Private) $215,000 -
Employment Rate 96.5% 92.9%
Bar Pass Rate 90.2% 96.7%

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