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Side-by-side comparison of admissions, costs, and outcomes
View all-time data (52 cross-admits)
52 total cross-admit decisions (all cycles)
GW is #36 · UNC is #17 in the LSD rankings
See full LSD.Law school rankings →About this comparison
This page compares George Washington University and University of North Carolina across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 39 applicants admitted to both.
Based on 39 applicants admitted to both schools, 85% chose to attend University of North Carolina. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.
In the U.S. News rankings, University of North Carolina is ranked #18 compared to #31 — a gap of 13 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.
University of North Carolina is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 11.2% compared to George Washington University's 27.2%.
George Washington University is located in Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C., while University of North Carolina is in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. 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, University of North Carolina has lower tuition at $28,082 per year compared to $75,420. Combined with employment rates of 96.5% (GW) and 96.2% (UNC), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.
Among cross-admitted applicants, George Washington University offered a median scholarship of $108,750 compared to $52,500, a difference of $56,250 that may factor into enrollment decisions.
Compare Another Pair
Admissions Comparison
2025 ABA 509How these schools compare on LSAT, GPA, selectivity, and class composition.
| Metric | GW | UNC |
|---|---|---|
| USN Rank | #31 | #18 ▲ |
| LSD Rank | #36 (0.016) | #17 (0.095) ▲ |
| LSAT 25th | 162 | 165 ▲ |
| LSAT Median | 168 | 168 |
| LSAT 75th | 170 ▲ | 169 |
| GPA Median | 3.86 | 3.89 ▲ |
| Acceptance Rate | 27.2% | 11.2% ▲ |
| Class Size | 612 | 181 |
| Yield Rate | 22.5% | 45.5% ▲ |
Financial Comparison
2025 ABA 509Tuition, scholarships, and debt burden at each school.
| Metric | GW | UNC |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition (In-State) | $75,420 | $28,082 ▲ |
| Tuition (Out-of-State) | $75,420 | $51,320 ▲ |
| Median Grant | $28,000 ▲ | $17,000 |
| % Receiving Grants | 77.0% | 95.0% ▲ |
| Avg. Debt at Graduation | - | - |
Employment Outcomes
2024 ABA 509Post-graduation employment placement, salaries, and bar passage.
| Metric | GW | UNC |
|---|---|---|
| BigLaw (501+) | 30.0% ▲ | 24.8% |
| Judicial Clerkships | 10.5% ▲ | 10.0% |
| Median Salary (Private) | $215,000 ▲ | $175,000 |
| Employment Rate | 96.5% ▲ | 96.2% |
| Bar Pass Rate | 90.2% | 92.3% ▲ |
Cross-Admit Decisions by Cycle
How cross-admit preferences have shifted over recent application cycles.
| Cycle | Split | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-2025 |
0%
|
16 |
| 2023-2024 |
0%
|
8 |
| 2022-2023 |
57%
|
7 |
| 2021-2022 |
29%
|
7 |
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