George Washington University vs University of California—Los Angeles

This page compares George Washington University and University of California—Los Angeles across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 32 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 32 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 #12 compared to #31 — a gap of 19 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%.

George Washington University is located in Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C., while University of California—Los Angeles is in Los Angeles, 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—Los Angeles places 50.5% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 30.0% for the other school. This 21 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 96.5% (GW) and 94.4% (UCLA), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, George Washington University offered a median scholarship of $120,000 compared to $60,000, a difference of $60,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.