George Washington University logo

George Washington University vs University of Illinois—Urbana Champaign

University of Illinois—Urbana Champaign logo

Side-by-side comparison of admissions, costs, and outcomes

Cross-Admit Decision Data

Of 20 applicants admitted to both schools:

45%
55%
Median scholarship: $120,000 Median scholarship: $139,500

Based on 20 self-reported cross-admit decisions from the last 5 cycles

View all-time data (54 cross-admits)
59% chose GW 41% chose UIUC

54 total cross-admit decisions (all cycles)

GW is #32 · UIUC is #32 in the LSD rankings

See full LSD.Law school rankings →

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About this comparison

This page compares George Washington University and University of Illinois—Urbana Champaign across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 20 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 20 applicants admitted to both schools, 55% chose to attend University of Illinois—Urbana Champaign. 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 #48 — a gap of 17 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 Illinois—Urbana Champaign is in Champaign, Illinois. 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 Illinois—Urbana Champaign has lower tuition at $36,500 per year compared to $75,420. Combined with employment rates of 96.5% (GW) and 96.6% (UIUC), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, University of Illinois—Urbana Champaign offered a median scholarship of $139,500 compared to $120,000, a difference of $19,500 that may factor into enrollment decisions.

Compare Another Pair

George Washington University
vs
University of Illinois—Urbana Champaign

Admissions Comparison

2025 ABA 509

How these schools compare on LSAT, GPA, selectivity, and class composition.

Metric GW UIUC
USN Rank #31 #48
LSD Rank #32 (0.013) #32 (0.015)
LSAT 25th 162 160
LSAT Median 168 166
LSAT 75th 170 168
GPA Median 3.86 3.81
Acceptance Rate 27.2% 32.9%
Class Size 612 188
Yield Rate 22.5% 26.5%

Financial Comparison

2025 ABA 509

Tuition, scholarships, and debt burden at each school.

Metric GW UIUC
Tuition (In-State) $75,420 $36,500
Tuition (Out-of-State) $75,420 $46,500
Median Grant $28,000 $32,000
% Receiving Grants 77.0% 99.0%
Avg. Debt at Graduation - -

Employment Outcomes

2024 ABA 509

Post-graduation employment placement, salaries, and bar passage.

Metric GW UIUC
BigLaw (501+) 30.0% 34.0%
Judicial Clerkships 10.5% 5.4%
Median Salary (Private) $215,000 $150,000
Employment Rate 96.5% 96.6%
Bar Pass Rate 90.2% 93.6%

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