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Head-to-head · 43 cross-admits

When applicants got into both, 100% chose UCLA. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 43 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.

43
cross-admits
10
cycles
+17pt
YoY shift

Cross-admit decision

Of 43 applicants admitted to both schools
Last 5 cycles
University of California—Los Angeles logo Chose UCLA
100%
Chose GW George Washington University logo
0%

Typical aid · ABA 509 · 2025

per year
$24,456
83.0% get a grant
$34,628 net tuition
$28,000
77.0% get a grant
$47,420 net tuition

Cross-admits who enrolled · self-reported, 3-yr award

$60,000
n = 32
—
n < 5
View all-time (116 cross-admits)
90% chose UCLA 10% chose GW

Trend · UCLA's share

2006–2025

Lowest cycle

78%

Highest cycle

100%
10 cycles
100 50 0 06 10 14 16 20 21 22 23 24 25 2006: 83% 2010: 78% 2014: 80% 2016: 100% 2020: 100% 2021: 100% 2022: 100% 2023: 100% 2024: 100% 2025: 100%
UCLA #13 · GW #34 LSD n≈7/yr

Admissions

Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield
2025 ABA 509
Metric
University of California—Los Angeles logo
UCLA
Los Angeles, California
George Washington University logo
GW
Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C.
USN Rank
#13
#26
LSD Rank
#13 (0.237)
#34 (0.013)
LSAT 25th
166
162
LSAT Median
171
168
LSAT 75th
172
170
GPA Median
3.95
3.86
Acceptance Rate
12.1%
27.2%
Class Size
328
612
Yield Rate
31.0%
22.5%

Financial

Sticker price and scholarship aid
2025 ABA 509
Metric
University of California—Los Angeles logo
UCLA
Los Angeles, California
George Washington University logo
GW
Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C.
Tuition (In-State)
$59,084
$75,420
Tuition (Out-of-State)
$71,329
$75,420
Median Grant
$24,456
$28,000
% Receiving Grants
83.0%
77.0%

Employment & outcomes

Post-graduation placement and bar passage
2025 ABA Employment
Metric
University of California—Los Angeles logo
UCLA
Los Angeles, California
George Washington University logo
GW
Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C.
BigLaw (501+)
54.8%
24.1%
Federal Clerkships
3.9%
2.6%
State & Local Clerkships
0.9%
7.2%
Median Salary (Private)
-
-
Employment Rate
97.3%
96.8%
Bar Pass Rate
94.2%
90.2%

Overview

About UCLA vs GW

Across 43 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 100% enrolled at University of California—Los Angeles and 0% at George Washington University. The split has shifted +17 points across the tracked cycles.

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.

Looking at a different matchup? Browse all comparisons or run a custom pair from the index.

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Detailed comparison narrative

This page compares University of California—Los Angeles and George Washington University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 43 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 43 applicants admitted to both schools, 100% chose to attend University of California—Los Angeles. 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—Los Angeles is ranked #13 compared to #26 — a gap of 13 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

University of California—Los Angeles is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 12.1% compared to George Washington University's 27.2%.

University of California—Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles, California, while George Washington University is in Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C.. 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—Los Angeles places 54.8% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 24.1% for the other school. This 31 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

On cost, University of California—Los Angeles has lower tuition at $59,084 per year compared to $75,420. Combined with employment rates of 97.3% (UCLA) and 96.8% (GW), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.