Head-to-head · 18 cross-admits
When applicants got into both, 61% chose GW. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 18 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.
Cross-admit decision
Chose GW
Typical aid · ABA 509 · 2025
per yearCross-admits who enrolled · self-reported, 3-yr award
View all-time (27 cross-admits)
Admissions
Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield 2025 ABA 509
Financial
Sticker price and scholarship aid 2025 ABA 509
Employment & outcomes
Post-graduation placement and bar passage 2025 ABA Employment
Cross-admit by cycle
How preferences shifted over recent cyclesRelated comparisons
Other popular cross-admit matchups
Overview
About GW vs SMU
Across 18 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 61% enrolled at George Washington University and 39% at Southern Methodist University.
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.
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Detailed comparison narrative
This page compares George Washington University and Southern Methodist University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes using official ABA 509 disclosures.
In the U.S. News rankings, George Washington University is ranked #26 compared to #42 — a gap of 16 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.
George Washington University is located in Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C., while Southern Methodist University is in Dallas, Texas. Regional placement matters: graduates tend to find employment near their law school, so location should factor into your decision alongside rankings and cost.
On cost, Southern Methodist University has lower tuition at $60,844 per year compared to $75,420. Combined with employment rates of 96.8% (GW) and 98.2% (SMU), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.
Among cross-admitted applicants who enrolled, those choosing Southern Methodist University reported a higher median scholarship — $157,500 versus $90,000 over three years — though aid is one of several factors behind the enrollment decision.
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