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Side-by-side comparison of admissions, costs, and outcomes
Cross-Admit Decision Data
Of 16 applicants admitted to both schools:
Based on 16 self-reported cross-admit decisions from the last 5 cycles
View all-time data (42 cross-admits)
42 total cross-admit decisions (all cycles)
Richmond is Top 75 · WFU is #31 in the LSD rankings
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About this comparison
This page compares University of Richmond and Wake Forest University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes using official ABA 509 disclosures.
In the U.S. News rankings, Wake Forest University is ranked #26 compared to #71 — a gap of 45 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.
Wake Forest University is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 24.6% compared to University of Richmond's 39.6%.
University of Richmond is located in Richmond, Virginia, while Wake Forest University is in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. 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: Wake Forest University places 24.5% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 11.9% for the other school. This 13 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.
Among cross-admitted applicants, University of Richmond offered a median scholarship of $147,615 compared to $105,000, a difference of $42,615 that may factor into enrollment decisions.
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Admissions Comparison
2025 ABA 509How these schools compare on LSAT, GPA, selectivity, and class composition.
| Metric | Richmond | WFU |
|---|---|---|
| USN Rank | #71 | #26 ▲ |
| LSD Rank | Top 75 (0.005) | #31 (0.019) ▲ |
| LSAT 25th | 159 | 163 ▲ |
| LSAT Median | 164 | 166 ▲ |
| LSAT 75th | 167 | 168 ▲ |
| GPA Median | 3.81 ▲ | 3.79 |
| Acceptance Rate | 39.6% | 24.6% ▲ |
| Class Size | 146 | 204 |
| Yield Rate | 21.2% | 28.3% ▲ |
Financial Comparison
2025 ABA 509Tuition, scholarships, and debt burden at each school.
| Metric | Richmond | WFU |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition (In-State) | $57,700 ▲ | $57,920 |
| Tuition (Out-of-State) | - ▲ | $57,920 |
| Median Grant | $40,000 | $40,000 |
| % Receiving Grants | 81.0% ▲ | 76.0% |
| Avg. Debt at Graduation | - | - |
Employment Outcomes
2024 ABA 509Post-graduation employment placement, salaries, and bar passage.
| Metric | Richmond | WFU |
|---|---|---|
| BigLaw (501+) | 11.9% | 24.5% ▲ |
| Judicial Clerkships | 13.9% ▲ | 7.1% |
| Median Salary (Private) | $111,500 | $135,000 ▲ |
| Employment Rate | 94.7% | 97.4% ▲ |
| Bar Pass Rate | 80.1% | 88.2% ▲ |
Cross-Admit Decisions by Cycle
How cross-admit preferences have shifted over recent application cycles.
| Cycle | Split | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 2023-2024 |
0%
|
7 |
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