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Head-to-head · 39 cross-admits

When applicants got into both, 100% chose Vandy. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 39 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.

39
cross-admits
16
cycles
+27pt
YoY shift

Cross-admit decision

Of 39 applicants admitted to both schools
Last 5 cycles
Vanderbilt University logo Chose Vandy
100%
Chose GW George Washington University logo
0%

Typical aid · ABA 509 · 2025

per year
$32,792
90.0% get a grant
$43,648 net tuition
$28,000
77.0% get a grant
$47,420 net tuition

Cross-admits who enrolled · self-reported, 3-yr award

$107,875
n = 36
—
n < 5
View all-time (127 cross-admits)
88% chose Vandy 12% chose GW

Trend · Vandy's share

2004–2025

Lowest cycle

63%

Highest cycle

100%
16 cycles
100 50 0 04 05 06 07 09 10 12 16 17 18 20 21 22 23 24 25 2004: 73% 2005: 63% 2006: 83% 2007: 83% 2009: 80% 2010: 71% 2012: 100% 2016: 100% 2017: 100% 2018: 80% 2020: 100% 2021: 100% 2022: 100% 2023: 100% 2024: 100% 2025: 100%
Vandy #19 · GW #34 LSD n≈6/yr

Admissions

Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield
2025 ABA 509
Metric
Vanderbilt University logo
Vandy
Nashville, Tennessee
George Washington University logo
GW
Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C.
USN Rank
#12
#26
LSD Rank
#19 (0.086)
#34 (0.013)
LSAT 25th
167
162
LSAT Median
170
168
LSAT 75th
171
170
GPA Median
3.91
3.86
Acceptance Rate
13.3%
27.2%
Class Size
172
612
Yield Rate
20.9%
22.5%

Financial

Sticker price and scholarship aid
2025 ABA 509
Metric
Vanderbilt University logo
Vandy
Nashville, Tennessee
George Washington University logo
GW
Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C.
Tuition (In-State)
$76,440
$75,420
Tuition (Out-of-State)
$76,440
$75,420
Median Grant
$32,792
$28,000
% Receiving Grants
90.0%
77.0%

Employment & outcomes

Post-graduation placement and bar passage
2025 ABA Employment
Metric
Vanderbilt University logo
Vandy
Nashville, Tennessee
George Washington University logo
GW
Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C.
BigLaw (501+)
46.7%
24.1%
Federal Clerkships
10.8%
2.6%
State & Local Clerkships
3.6%
7.2%
Median Salary (Private)
-
-
Employment Rate
98.8%
96.8%
Bar Pass Rate
94.5%
90.2%

Overview

About Vandy vs GW

Across 39 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 100% enrolled at Vanderbilt University and 0% at George Washington University. The split has shifted +27 points across the tracked cycles.

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.

Looking at a different matchup? Browse all comparisons or run a custom pair from the index.

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Detailed comparison narrative

This page compares Vanderbilt University and George Washington University 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, 100% chose to attend Vanderbilt University. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, Vanderbilt University is ranked #12 compared to #26 — a gap of 14 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

Vanderbilt University is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 13.3% compared to George Washington University's 27.2%.

Vanderbilt University is located in Nashville, Tennessee, while George Washington University is in Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C.. 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: Vanderbilt University places 46.7% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 24.1% for the other school. This 23 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.