George Washington University vs University of California—Berkeley

This page compares George Washington University and University of California—Berkeley across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 40 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 40 applicants admitted to both schools, 98% chose to attend University of California—Berkeley. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, University of California—Berkeley is ranked #13 compared to #31 — a gap of 18 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

University of California—Berkeley is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 14.8% compared to George Washington University's 27.2%.

George Washington University is located in Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C., while University of California—Berkeley is in Berkeley, California. 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 California—Berkeley places 52.2% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 30.0% for the other school. This 22 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

On cost, University of California—Berkeley has lower tuition at $62,532 per year compared to $75,420. Combined with employment rates of 96.5% (GW) and 93.6% (UCBerkeley), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, George Washington University offered a median scholarship of $125,250 compared to $90,000, a difference of $35,250 that may factor into enrollment decisions.