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Head-to-head · 37 cross-admits

When applicants got into both, 95% chose WUSTL. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 37 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.

37
cross-admits
18
cycles
+51pt
YoY shift

Cross-admit decision

Of 37 applicants admitted to both schools
Last 5 cycles
Washington University in St. Louis logo Chose WUSTL
95%
Chose GW George Washington University logo
5%

Typical aid · ABA 509 · 2025

per year
$48,000
94.0% get a grant
$24,792 net tuition
$28,000
77.0% get a grant
$47,420 net tuition

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

$135,000
n = 33
—
n < 5
View all-time (143 cross-admits)
74% chose WUSTL 26% chose GW

Trend · WUSTL's share

2006–2025

Lowest cycle

17%

Highest cycle

100%
18 cycles
100 50 0 06 07 08 09 10 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 20 21 22 23 24 25 2006: 40% 2007: 71% 2008: 17% 2009: 42% 2010: 67% 2012: 86% 2013: 71% 2014: 90% 2015: 60% 2016: 80% 2017: 86% 2018: 100% 2020: 100% 2021: 100% 2022: 100% 2023: 89% 2024: 100% 2025: 91%
WUSTL #21 · GW #34 LSD n≈7/yr

Admissions

Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield
2025 ABA 509
Metric
Washington University in St. Louis logo
WUSTL
St. Louis, Missouri
George Washington University logo
GW
Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C.
USN Rank
#13
#26
LSD Rank
#21 (0.068)
#34 (0.013)
LSAT 25th
165
162
LSAT Median
175
168
LSAT 75th
176
170
GPA Median
3.96
3.86
Acceptance Rate
19.0%
27.2%
Class Size
261
612
Yield Rate
24.2%
22.5%

Financial

Sticker price and scholarship aid
2025 ABA 509
Metric
Washington University in St. Louis logo
WUSTL
St. Louis, Missouri
George Washington University logo
GW
Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C.
Tuition (In-State)
$72,792
$75,420
Tuition (Out-of-State)
$72,792
$75,420
Median Grant
$48,000
$28,000
% Receiving Grants
94.0%
77.0%

Employment & outcomes

Post-graduation placement and bar passage
2025 ABA Employment
Metric
Washington University in St. Louis logo
WUSTL
St. Louis, Missouri
George Washington University logo
GW
Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C.
BigLaw (501+)
39.9%
24.1%
Federal Clerkships
11.7%
2.6%
State & Local Clerkships
2.6%
7.2%
Median Salary (Private)
-
-
Employment Rate
98.5%
96.8%
Bar Pass Rate
93.6%
90.2%

Overview

About WUSTL vs GW

Across 37 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 95% enrolled at Washington University in St. Louis and 5% at George Washington University. The split has shifted +51 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 Washington University in St. Louis and George Washington University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 37 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 37 applicants admitted to both schools, 95% chose to attend Washington University in St. Louis. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, Washington University in St. Louis is ranked #13 compared to #26 — a gap of 13 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: Washington University in St. Louis has a median LSAT of 175 compared to 168, a gap of 7 points. This suggests applicants to Washington University in St. Louis face a more competitive admissions pool.

Washington University in St. Louis is located in St. Louis, Missouri, 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: Washington University in St. Louis places 39.9% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 24.1% for the other school. This 16 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.