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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
Seattle University logo Chose Seattle
6%
Chose UWashington University of Washington logo
94%

Median scholarship (chose Seattle)

$140,000 / yr

Median scholarship (chose UWashington)

$45,000 / yr
View all-time (77 cross-admits)
4% chose Seattle 96% chose UWashington

Trend · Seattle's share

2009–2025

Lowest cycle

0%

Highest cycle

17%
7 cycles
100 50 0 09 12 17 21 22 24 25 2009: 17% 2012: 0% 2017: 0% 2021: 0% 2022: 14% 2024: 0% 2025: 14%
Seattle #123 · UWashington #52 LSD n≈6/yr

Admissions

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

Financial

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

Employment & outcomes

Post-graduation placement and bar passage
2025 ABA Employment
Metric
Seattle University logo
Seattle
Seattle, Washington
University of Washington logo
UWashington
Seattle, Washington
BigLaw (501+)
5.4%
15.3%
Judicial Clerkships
5.4%
8.5%
Median Salary (Private)
-
-
Employment Rate
86.8%
88.7%
Bar Pass Rate
78.7%
91.7%

Overview

About Seattle vs UWashington

Across 35 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 6% enrolled at Seattle University and 94% at University of Washington. 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 Seattle University and University of Washington 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 — Seattle University in Seattle and University of Washington 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 86.8% (Seattle) and 88.7% (UWashington), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, Seattle University offered a median scholarship of $140,000 compared to $45,000, a difference of $95,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.