Head-to-head · 11 cross-admits
When applicants got into both, 100% chose WUSTL. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 11 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.
Cross-admit decision
Chose WUSTL
Typical aid · ABA 509 · 2025
per yearCross-admits who enrolled · self-reported, 3-yr award
View all-time (41 cross-admits)
Admissions
Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield 2025 ABA 509
Financial
Sticker price and scholarship aid 2025 ABA 509
Employment & outcomes
Post-graduation placement and bar passage 2025 ABA Employment
Cross-admit by cycle
How preferences shifted over recent cyclesRelated comparisons
Other popular cross-admit matchups
Overview
About WUSTL vs SLU
Across 11 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 100% enrolled at Washington University in St. Louis and 0% at Saint Louis University.
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.
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Detailed comparison narrative
This page compares Washington University in St. Louis and Saint Louis University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes using official ABA 509 disclosures.
In the U.S. News rankings, Washington University in St. Louis is ranked #13 compared to #91 — a gap of 78 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 157, a gap of 18 points. This suggests applicants to Washington University in St. Louis face a more competitive admissions pool.
Washington University in St. Louis is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 19.0% compared to Saint Louis University's 56.4%.
Both schools are located in Missouri — Washington University in St. Louis in St. Louis and Saint Louis University in St. Louis — meaning graduates often compete in the same regional legal market.
Employment outcomes differ substantially: Washington University in St. Louis places 39.9% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 14.8% for the other school. This 25 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.
On cost, Saint Louis University has lower tuition at $55,260 per year compared to $72,792. Combined with employment rates of 98.5% (WUSTL) and 94.1% (SLU), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.
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