George Washington University vs University of Pennsylvania

This page compares George Washington University and University of Pennsylvania across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 47 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 47 applicants admitted to both schools, 100% chose to attend University of Pennsylvania. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, University of Pennsylvania is ranked #5 compared to #31 — a gap of 26 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: University of Pennsylvania has a median LSAT of 173 compared to 168, a gap of 5 points. This suggests applicants to University of Pennsylvania face a more competitive admissions pool.

University of Pennsylvania is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 8.1% compared to George Washington University's 27.2%.

George Washington University is located in Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C., while University of Pennsylvania is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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: University of Pennsylvania places 64.1% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 30.0% for the other school. This 34 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

Among cross-admitted applicants, University of Pennsylvania offered a median scholarship of $133,500 compared to $121,250, a difference of $12,250 that may factor into enrollment decisions.