Head-to-head · 16 cross-admits
When applicants got into both, 50% chose GW. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 16 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.
Cross-admit decision
Chose GW
Typical aid · ABA 509 · 2025
per yearCross-admits who enrolled · self-reported, 3-yr award
View all-time (22 cross-admits)
Admissions
Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield 2025 ABA 509
Financial
Sticker price and scholarship aid 2025 ABA 509
Employment & outcomes
Post-graduation placement and bar passage 2025 ABA Employment
Cross-admit by cycle
How preferences shifted over recent cyclesRelated comparisons
Other popular cross-admit matchups
Overview
About GW vs 'Bama
Across 16 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 50% enrolled at George Washington University and 50% at University of Alabama.
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.
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Detailed comparison narrative
This page compares George Washington University and University of Alabama across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes using official ABA 509 disclosures.
In the U.S. News rankings, George Washington University is ranked #26 compared to #40 — a gap of 14 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.
George Washington University is located in Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C., while University of Alabama is in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. 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 24.1% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 9.6% for the other school. This 15 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.
On cost, University of Alabama has lower tuition at $48,100 per year compared to $75,420. Combined with employment rates of 96.8% (GW) and 98.6% ('Bama), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.
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