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Stanford University vs Washington University in St. Louis
Side-by-side comparison of admissions, costs, and outcomes
Cross-Admit Decision Data
Of 20 applicants admitted to both schools:
Based on 20 self-reported cross-admit decisions from the last 5 cycles
View all-time data (41 cross-admits)
41 total cross-admit decisions (all cycles)
SLS is #2 · WUSTL is #19 in the LSD rankings
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About this comparison
This page compares Stanford University and Washington University in St. Louis across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 20 applicants admitted to both.
Based on 20 applicants admitted to both schools, 100% chose to attend Stanford University. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.
In the U.S. News rankings, Stanford University is ranked #1 compared to #13 — a gap of 12 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.
Stanford University is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 6.1% compared to Washington University in St. Louis's 19.0%.
Stanford University is located in Stanford, California, 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.
Compare Another Pair
Admissions Comparison
2025 ABA 509How these schools compare on LSAT, GPA, selectivity, and class composition.
| Metric | SLS | WUSTL |
|---|---|---|
| USN Rank | #1 ▲ | #13 |
| LSD Rank | #2 (21.245) ▲ | #19 (0.072) |
| LSAT 25th | 171 ▲ | 165 |
| LSAT Median | 173 | 175 ▲ |
| LSAT 75th | 176 | 176 |
| GPA Median | 3.96 | 3.96 |
| Acceptance Rate | 6.1% ▲ | 19.0% |
| Class Size | 193 | 261 |
| Yield Rate | 51.3% ▲ | 24.2% |
Financial Comparison
2025 ABA 509Tuition, scholarships, and debt burden at each school.
| Metric | SLS | WUSTL |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition (In-State) | $77,454 | $72,792 ▲ |
| Tuition (Out-of-State) | - ▲ | $72,792 |
| Median Grant | $52,797 ▲ | $48,000 |
| % Receiving Grants | 50.0% | 94.0% ▲ |
| Avg. Debt at Graduation | - | - |
Employment Outcomes
2024 ABA 509Post-graduation employment placement, salaries, and bar passage.
| Metric | SLS | WUSTL |
|---|---|---|
| BigLaw (501+) | 40.2% ▲ | 39.3% |
| Judicial Clerkships | 19.1% ▲ | 13.3% |
| Median Salary (Private) | - | $205,000 |
| Employment Rate | 85.9% | 96.8% ▲ |
| Bar Pass Rate | 96.5% ▲ | 93.6% |
Cross-Admit Decisions by Cycle
How cross-admit preferences have shifted over recent application cycles.
SLS
WUSTL
| Cycle | Split | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-2026 |
100%
|
6 |
| 2023-2024 |
100%
|
6 |
| 2020-2021 |
100%
|
5 |
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