George Washington University vs University of Southern California

This page compares George Washington University and University of Southern California across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 21 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 21 applicants admitted to both schools, 100% chose to attend University of Southern California. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

Both schools are closely ranked in U.S. News: #26 and #26, separated by just 0 positions, making cross-admit data especially useful for deciding between them.

University of Southern California 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 Southern California is in Los Angeles, California. 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: University of Southern California places 56.6% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 30.0% for the other school. This 27 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

On cost, George Washington University has lower tuition at $75,420 per year compared to $84,034. Combined with employment rates of 96.5% (GW) and 95.5% (USC), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, University of Southern California offered a median scholarship of $135,000 compared to $120,000, a difference of $15,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.