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University of Richmond vs William & Mary Law School

Side-by-side comparison of admissions, costs, and outcomes

Cross-Admit Decision Data

Of 33 applicants admitted to both schools:

21%
79%
Median scholarship: $120,000 Median scholarship: $78,673

Based on 33 self-reported cross-admit decisions from the last 5 cycles

View all-time data (63 cross-admits)
14% chose Richmond 86% chose W&M

63 total cross-admit decisions (all cycles)

Richmond is Top 75 · W&M is #32 in the LSD rankings

See full LSD.Law school rankings →
About this comparison

This page compares University of Richmond and William & Mary Law School across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 33 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 33 applicants admitted to both schools, 79% chose to attend William & Mary Law School. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, William & Mary Law School is ranked #31 compared to #71 — a gap of 40 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

William & Mary Law School is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 22.0% compared to University of Richmond's 39.6%.

Both schools are located in Virginia — University of Richmond in Richmond and William & Mary Law School in Williamsburg — meaning graduates often compete in the same regional legal market.

On cost, William & Mary Law School has lower tuition at $38,734 per year compared to $57,700. Combined with employment rates of 94.7% (Richmond) and 91.8% (W&M), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, University of Richmond offered a median scholarship of $120,000 compared to $78,673, a difference of $41,327 that may factor into enrollment decisions.

Compare Another Pair

University of Richmond
vs
William & Mary Law School

Admissions Comparison

2025 ABA 509

How these schools compare on LSAT, GPA, selectivity, and class composition.

Metric Richmond W&M
USN Rank #71 #31
LSD Rank Top 75 (0.008) #32 (0.019)
LSAT 25th 159 161
LSAT Median 164 166
LSAT 75th 167 167
GPA Median 3.81 3.82
Acceptance Rate 39.6% 22.0%
Class Size 146 184
Yield Rate 21.2% 37.9%

Financial Comparison

2025 ABA 509

Tuition, scholarships, and debt burden at each school.

Metric Richmond W&M
Tuition (In-State) $57,700 $38,734
Tuition (Out-of-State) - $62,900
Median Grant $40,000 $29,302
% Receiving Grants 81.0% 66.0%
Avg. Debt at Graduation - -

Employment Outcomes

2024 ABA 509

Post-graduation employment placement, salaries, and bar passage.

Metric Richmond W&M
BigLaw (501+) 11.9% 18.2%
Judicial Clerkships 13.9% 14.1%
Median Salary (Private) $111,500 $185,000
Employment Rate 94.7% 91.8%
Bar Pass Rate 80.1% 83.6%

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