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Side-by-side comparison of admissions, costs, and outcomes
View all-time data (62 cross-admits)
62 total cross-admit decisions (all cycles)
GW is #36 · UMD is Top 75 in the LSD rankings
See full LSD.Law school rankings →About this comparison
This page compares George Washington University and University of Maryland across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 25 applicants admitted to both.
Based on 25 applicants admitted to both schools, 76% chose to attend George Washington University. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.
In the U.S. News rankings, George Washington University is ranked #31 compared to #63 — a gap of 32 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.
There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: George Washington University has a median LSAT of 168 compared to 164, a gap of 4 points. This suggests applicants to George Washington University face a more competitive admissions pool.
George Washington University is located in Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C., while University of Maryland is in Baltimore, Maryland. 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: George Washington University places 30.0% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 9.8% for the other school. This 20 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.
On cost, University of Maryland has lower tuition at $37,830 per year compared to $75,420. Combined with employment rates of 96.5% (GW) and 93.4% (UMD), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.
Among cross-admitted applicants, University of Maryland offered a median scholarship of $135,000 compared to $105,000, a difference of $30,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.
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Admissions Comparison
2025 ABA 509How these schools compare on LSAT, GPA, selectivity, and class composition.
| Metric | GW | UMD |
|---|---|---|
| USN Rank | #31 ▲ | #63 |
| LSD Rank | #36 (0.016) ▲ | Top 75 (0.006) |
| LSAT 25th | 162 ▲ | 156 |
| LSAT Median | 168 ▲ | 164 |
| LSAT 75th | 170 ▲ | 166 |
| GPA Median | 3.86 ▲ | 3.72 |
| Acceptance Rate | 27.2% | 26.1% ▲ |
| Class Size | 612 | 229 |
| Yield Rate | 22.5% | 30.5% ▲ |
Financial Comparison
2025 ABA 509Tuition, scholarships, and debt burden at each school.
| Metric | GW | UMD |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition (In-State) | $75,420 | $37,830 ▲ |
| Tuition (Out-of-State) | $75,420 | $55,844 ▲ |
| Median Grant | $28,000 | $28,000 |
| % Receiving Grants | 77.0% | 79.0% ▲ |
| Avg. Debt at Graduation | - | - |
Employment Outcomes
2024 ABA 509Post-graduation employment placement, salaries, and bar passage.
| Metric | GW | UMD |
|---|---|---|
| BigLaw (501+) | 30.0% ▲ | 9.8% |
| Judicial Clerkships | 10.5% | 30.7% ▲ |
| Median Salary (Private) | $215,000 ▲ | $100,000 |
| Employment Rate | 96.5% ▲ | 93.4% |
| Bar Pass Rate | 90.2% ▲ | 82.1% |
Cross-Admit Decisions by Cycle
How cross-admit preferences have shifted over recent application cycles.
| Cycle | Split | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 2023-2024 |
86%
|
7 |
| 2022-2023 |
70%
|
10 |
| 2008-2009 |
83%
|
6 |
| 2005-2006 |
67%
|
6 |
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