Head-to-head · 16 cross-admits
When applicants got into both, 81% 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
Median scholarship (chose GW)
Median scholarship (chose Richmond)
View all-time (28 cross-admits)
Admissions
Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield 2025 ABA 509
Financial
Sticker price, scholarships, and debt burden 2025 ABA 509
Employment & outcomes
Post-graduation placement and bar passage 2024 ABA Employment
Cross-admit by cycle
How preferences shifted over recent cyclesRelated comparisons
Other popular cross-admit matchups
Overview
About GW vs Richmond
Across 16 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 81% enrolled at George Washington University and 19% at University of Richmond.
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 Richmond 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 #62 — a gap of 36 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 Richmond is in Richmond, Virginia. 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 11.9% for the other school. This 18 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.
On cost, University of Richmond has lower tuition at $57,700 per year compared to $75,420. Combined with employment rates of 96.5% (GW) and 94.7% (Richmond), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.
Among cross-admitted applicants, University of Richmond offered a median scholarship of $150,000 compared to $96,000, a difference of $54,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.