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Side-by-side comparison of admissions, costs, and outcomes
View all-time data (89 cross-admits)
89 total cross-admit decisions (all cycles)
GW is #36 · UMN is #24 in the LSD rankings
See full LSD.Law school rankings →About this comparison
This page compares George Washington University and University of Minnesota 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, 62% chose to attend University of Minnesota. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.
In the U.S. News rankings, University of Minnesota is ranked #20 compared to #31 — a gap of 11 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 Minnesota is in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 16.1% for the other school. This 14 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.
On cost, University of Minnesota has lower tuition at $51,440 per year compared to $75,420. Combined with employment rates of 96.5% (GW) and 95.2% (UMN), 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 $105,000, a difference of $15,000 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 | UMN |
|---|---|---|
| USN Rank | #31 | #20 ▲ |
| LSD Rank | #36 (0.016) | #24 (0.036) ▲ |
| LSAT 25th | 162 | 166 ▲ |
| LSAT Median | 168 | 171 ▲ |
| LSAT 75th | 170 | 173 ▲ |
| GPA Median | 3.86 | 3.88 ▲ |
| Acceptance Rate | 27.2% | 26.7% ▲ |
| Class Size | 612 | 228 |
| Yield Rate | 22.5% | 24.8% ▲ |
Financial Comparison
2025 ABA 509Tuition, scholarships, and debt burden at each school.
| Metric | GW | UMN |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition (In-State) | $75,420 | $51,440 ▲ |
| Tuition (Out-of-State) | $75,420 | $61,845 ▲ |
| Median Grant | $28,000 | $35,000 ▲ |
| % Receiving Grants | 77.0% | 94.0% ▲ |
| Avg. Debt at Graduation | - | - |
Employment Outcomes
2024 ABA 509Post-graduation employment placement, salaries, and bar passage.
| Metric | GW | UMN |
|---|---|---|
| BigLaw (501+) | 30.0% ▲ | 16.1% |
| Judicial Clerkships | 10.5% | 23.9% ▲ |
| Median Salary (Private) | $215,000 ▲ | $177,500 |
| Employment Rate | 96.5% ▲ | 95.2% |
| Bar Pass Rate | 90.2% | 94.1% ▲ |
Cross-Admit Decisions by Cycle
How cross-admit preferences have shifted over recent application cycles.
| Cycle | Split | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-2025 |
50%
|
10 |
| 2023-2024 |
33%
|
9 |
| 2022-2023 |
30%
|
10 |
| 2021-2022 |
33%
|
9 |
| 2020-2021 |
13%
|
8 |
| 2007-2008 |
80%
|
5 |
| 2004-2005 |
40%
|
5 |
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