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Head-to-head · 31 cross-admits

When applicants got into both, 52% chose W&M. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 31 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.

31
cross-admits
15
cycles
-13pt
YoY shift

Cross-admit decision

Of 31 applicants admitted to both schools
Last 5 cycles
George Washington University logo Chose GW
48%
Chose W&M William & Mary Law School logo
52%

Typical aid · ABA 509 · 2025

per year
$28,000
77.0% get a grant
$47,420 net tuition
$29,302
66.0% get a grant
$9,432 net tuition

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

$118,500
n = 14
$112,278
n = 16
View all-time (113 cross-admits)
56% chose GW 44% chose W&M

Trend · GW's share

2005–2025

Lowest cycle

17%

Highest cycle

88%
15 cycles
100 50 0 05 06 07 12 13 15 16 17 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 2005: 38% 2006: 67% 2007: 50% 2012: 40% 2013: 63% 2015: 60% 2016: 60% 2017: 88% 2019: 50% 2020: 80% 2021: 83% 2022: 67% 2023: 60% 2024: 17% 2025: 25%
GW #32 · W&M #32 LSD n≈6/yr

Admissions

Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield
2025 ABA 509
Metric
George Washington University logo
GW
Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C.
William & Mary Law School logo
W&M
Williamsburg, Virginia
USN Rank
#26
#34
LSD Rank
#32 (0.013)
#32 (0.014)
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

Sticker price and scholarship aid
2025 ABA 509
Metric
George Washington University logo
GW
Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C.
William & Mary Law School logo
W&M
Williamsburg, Virginia
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%

Employment & outcomes

Post-graduation placement and bar passage
2025 ABA Employment
Metric
George Washington University logo
GW
Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C.
William & Mary Law School logo
W&M
Williamsburg, Virginia
BigLaw (501+)
24.1%
19.1%
Federal Clerkships
2.6%
6.0%
State & Local Clerkships
7.2%
17.6%
Median Salary (Private)
-
-
Employment Rate
96.8%
95.0%
Bar Pass Rate
90.2%
83.6%

Overview

About GW vs W&M

Across 31 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 48% enrolled at George Washington University and 52% at William & Mary Law School. The split has shifted -13 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 George Washington University and William & Mary Law School across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 31 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 31 applicants admitted to both schools, 52% chose to attend William & Mary Law School. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, George Washington University is ranked #26 compared to #34 — a gap of 8 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

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.

On cost, William & Mary Law School has lower tuition at $38,734 per year compared to $75,420. Combined with employment rates of 96.8% (GW) and 95.0% (W&M), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.