Hate ads? Verify for LSD+ → Learn More

George Washington University vs University of Virginia

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

Cross-Admit Decision Data

Of 71 applicants admitted to both schools:

1%
99%
Median scholarship: $120,000 Median scholarship: $108,750

Based on 71 self-reported cross-admit decisions from the last 5 cycles

View all-time data (247 cross-admits)
3% chose GW 97% chose UVA

247 total cross-admit decisions (all cycles)

GW is #36 · UVA is #7 in the LSD rankings

See full LSD.Law school rankings →
About this comparison

This page compares George Washington University and University of Virginia across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 71 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 71 applicants admitted to both schools, 99% chose to attend University of Virginia. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, University of Virginia is ranked #4 compared to #31 — a gap of 27 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: University of Virginia has a median LSAT of 173 compared to 168, a gap of 5 points. This suggests applicants to University of Virginia face a more competitive admissions pool.

University of Virginia is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 10.2% compared to George Washington University's 27.2%.

George Washington University is located in Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C., while University of Virginia is in Charlottesville, 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: University of Virginia places 60.2% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 30.0% for the other school. This 30 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

Among cross-admitted applicants, George Washington University offered a median scholarship of $120,000 compared to $108,750, a difference of $11,250 that may factor into enrollment decisions.

Compare Another Pair

George Washington University
vs
University of Virginia

Admissions Comparison

2025 ABA 509

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

Metric GW UVA
USN Rank #31 #4
LSD Rank #36 (0.016) #7 (1.701)
LSAT 25th 162 168
LSAT Median 168 173
LSAT 75th 170 175
GPA Median 3.86 3.99
Acceptance Rate 27.2% 10.2%
Class Size 612 309
Yield Rate 22.5% 44.1%

Financial Comparison

2025 ABA 509

Tuition, scholarships, and debt burden at each school.

Metric GW UVA
Tuition (In-State) $75,420 $74,078
Tuition (Out-of-State) $75,420 $76,396
Median Grant $28,000 $35,000
% Receiving Grants 77.0% 66.0%
Avg. Debt at Graduation - -

Employment Outcomes

2024 ABA 509

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

Metric GW UVA
BigLaw (501+) 30.0% 60.2%
Judicial Clerkships 10.5% 16.4%
Median Salary (Private) $215,000 -
Employment Rate 96.5% 95.3%
Bar Pass Rate 90.2% 95.0%

Track Your Applications

Join 150,000+ applicants using LSD.Law to track applications, compare schools, and make data-driven decisions.