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Side-by-side comparison of admissions, costs, and outcomes
View all-time data (105 cross-admits)
105 total cross-admit decisions (all cycles)
GW is #36 · W&M is #32 in the LSD rankings
See full LSD.Law school rankings →About this comparison
This page compares George Washington University and William & Mary Law School across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 28 applicants admitted to both.
Based on 28 applicants admitted to both schools, 61% chose to attend George Washington University. 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: #31 and #31, separated by just 0 positions, making cross-admit data especially useful for deciding between them.
George Washington University is located in Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C., while William & Mary Law School is in Williamsburg, 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 18.2% for the other school. This 12 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.
On cost, William & Mary Law School has lower tuition at $38,734 per year compared to $75,420. Combined with employment rates of 96.5% (GW) and 91.8% (W&M), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.
Compare Another Pair
Admissions Comparison
2025 ABA 509How these schools compare on LSAT, GPA, selectivity, and class composition.
| Metric | GW | W&M |
|---|---|---|
| USN Rank | #31 | #31 |
| LSD Rank | #36 (0.016) | #32 (0.019) ▲ |
| LSAT 25th | 162 ▲ | 161 |
| LSAT Median | 168 ▲ | 166 |
| LSAT 75th | 170 ▲ | 167 |
| GPA Median | 3.86 ▲ | 3.82 |
| Acceptance Rate | 27.2% | 22.0% ▲ |
| Class Size | 612 | 184 |
| Yield Rate | 22.5% | 37.9% ▲ |
Financial Comparison
2025 ABA 509Tuition, scholarships, and debt burden at each school.
| Metric | GW | W&M |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition (In-State) | $75,420 | $38,734 ▲ |
| Tuition (Out-of-State) | $75,420 | $62,900 ▲ |
| Median Grant | $28,000 | $29,302 ▲ |
| % Receiving Grants | 77.0% ▲ | 66.0% |
| Avg. Debt at Graduation | - | - |
Employment Outcomes
2024 ABA 509Post-graduation employment placement, salaries, and bar passage.
| Metric | GW | W&M |
|---|---|---|
| BigLaw (501+) | 30.0% ▲ | 18.2% |
| Judicial Clerkships | 10.5% | 14.1% ▲ |
| Median Salary (Private) | $215,000 ▲ | $185,000 |
| Employment Rate | 96.5% ▲ | 91.8% |
| Bar Pass Rate | 90.2% ▲ | 83.6% |
Cross-Admit Decisions by Cycle
How cross-admit preferences have shifted over recent application cycles.
| Cycle | Split | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-2025 |
17%
|
6 |
| 2023-2024 |
60%
|
5 |
| 2022-2023 |
67%
|
6 |
| 2021-2022 |
83%
|
6 |
| 2020-2021 |
80%
|
5 |
| 2019-2020 |
50%
|
6 |
| 2017-2018 |
88%
|
8 |
| 2016-2017 |
60%
|
5 |
| 2015-2016 |
60%
|
5 |
| 2013-2014 |
63%
|
8 |
| 2012-2013 |
40%
|
5 |
| 2007-2008 |
50%
|
6 |
| 2006-2007 |
67%
|
6 |
| 2005-2006 |
38%
|
8 |
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