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Head-to-head · 35 cross-admits

When applicants got into both, 94% chose UWashington. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 35 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.

35
cross-admits
7
cycles
+2pt
YoY shift

Cross-admit decision

Of 35 applicants admitted to both schools
Last 5 cycles
University of Washington logo Chose UWashington
94%
Chose Seattle Seattle University logo
6%

Typical aid · ABA 509 · 2025

per year
$14,000
70.0% get a grant
$31,927 net tuition
$30,000
87.0% get a grant

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

$45,000
n = 23
—
n < 5
View all-time (77 cross-admits)
96% chose UWashington 4% chose Seattle

Trend · UWashington's share

2009–2025

Lowest cycle

83%

Highest cycle

100%
7 cycles
100 50 0 09 12 17 21 22 24 25 2009: 83% 2012: 100% 2017: 100% 2021: 100% 2022: 86% 2024: 100% 2025: 86%
UWashington #45 · Seattle #130 LSD n≈6/yr

Admissions

Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield
2025 ABA 509
Metric
University of Washington logo
UWashington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle University logo
Seattle
Seattle, Washington
USN Rank
#52
#128
LSD Rank
#45 (0.008)
75+ (0.001)
LSAT 25th
162
155
LSAT Median
165
159
LSAT 75th
167
162
GPA Median
3.76
3.60
Acceptance Rate
19.6%
38.9%
Class Size
207
209
Yield Rate
30.2%
23.3%

Financial

Sticker price and scholarship aid
2025 ABA 509
Metric
University of Washington logo
UWashington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle University logo
Seattle
Seattle, Washington
Tuition (In-State)
$45,927
-
Tuition (Out-of-State)
$57,810
-
Median Grant
$14,000
$30,000
% Receiving Grants
70.0%
87.0%

Employment & outcomes

Post-graduation placement and bar passage
2025 ABA Employment
Metric
University of Washington logo
UWashington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle University logo
Seattle
Seattle, Washington
BigLaw (501+)
15.3%
5.4%
Federal Clerkships
1.7%
0.0%
State & Local Clerkships
6.8%
5.4%
Median Salary (Private)
-
-
Employment Rate
88.7%
86.8%
Bar Pass Rate
91.7%
78.7%

Overview

About UWashington vs Seattle

Across 35 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 94% enrolled at University of Washington and 6% at Seattle University. The split has shifted +2 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 University of Washington and Seattle University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 35 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 35 applicants admitted to both schools, 94% chose to attend University of Washington. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, University of Washington is ranked #52 compared to #128 — a gap of 76 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: University of Washington has a median LSAT of 165 compared to 159, a gap of 6 points. This suggests applicants to University of Washington face a more competitive admissions pool.

University of Washington is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 19.6% compared to Seattle University's 38.9%.

Both schools are located in Washington — University of Washington in Seattle and Seattle University in Seattle — meaning graduates often compete in the same regional legal market.

On cost, Seattle University has lower tuition at - per year compared to $45,927. Combined with employment rates of 88.7% (UWashington) and 86.8% (Seattle), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.