Harvard University vs Washington University in St. Louis

This page compares Harvard University and Washington University in St. Louis across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 90 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 90 applicants admitted to both schools, 100% chose to attend Harvard University. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, Harvard University is ranked #6 compared to #14 — a gap of 8 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

Harvard University is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 9.2% compared to Washington University in St. Louis's 19.0%.

Harvard University is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, while Washington University in St. Louis is in St. Louis, Missouri. 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: Harvard University places 51.4% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 39.3% for the other school. This 12 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

Among cross-admitted applicants, Washington University in St. Louis offered a median scholarship of $208,000 compared to $134,385, a difference of $73,615 that may factor into enrollment decisions.