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Side-by-side comparison of admissions, costs, and outcomes
View all-time data (86 cross-admits)
86 total cross-admit decisions (all cycles)
WFU is #31 · W&L is #44 in the LSD rankings
See full LSD.Law school rankings →About this comparison
This page compares Wake Forest University and Washington and Lee University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 31 applicants admitted to both.
Based on 31 applicants admitted to both schools, 71% chose to attend Wake Forest University. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.
In the U.S. News rankings, Wake Forest University is ranked #26 compared to #36 — a gap of 10 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.
Wake Forest University is located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, while Washington and Lee University is in Lexington, Virginia. Regional placement matters: graduates tend to find employment near their law school, so location should factor into your decision alongside rankings and cost.
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Admissions Comparison
2025 ABA 509How these schools compare on LSAT, GPA, selectivity, and class composition.
| Metric | WFU | W&L |
|---|---|---|
| USN Rank | #26 ▲ | #36 |
| LSD Rank | #31 (0.024) ▲ | #44 (0.012) |
| LSAT 25th | 163 ▲ | 161 |
| LSAT Median | 166 | 167 ▲ |
| LSAT 75th | 168 | 168 |
| GPA Median | 3.79 ▲ | 3.75 |
| Acceptance Rate | 24.6% | 22.7% ▲ |
| Class Size | 204 | 131 |
| Yield Rate | 28.3% ▲ | 24.1% |
Financial Comparison
2025 ABA 509Tuition, scholarships, and debt burden at each school.
| Metric | WFU | W&L |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition (In-State) | $57,920 | $57,450 ▲ |
| Tuition (Out-of-State) | $57,920 | $57,450 ▲ |
| Median Grant | $40,000 ▲ | $33,500 |
| % Receiving Grants | 76.0% | 97.0% ▲ |
| Avg. Debt at Graduation | - | - |
Employment Outcomes
2024 ABA 509Post-graduation employment placement, salaries, and bar passage.
| Metric | WFU | W&L |
|---|---|---|
| BigLaw (501+) | 24.5% ▲ | 21.3% |
| Judicial Clerkships | 7.1% | 14.2% ▲ |
| Median Salary (Private) | $135,000 | $170,000 ▲ |
| Employment Rate | 97.4% ▲ | 95.0% |
| Bar Pass Rate | 88.2% | 89.4% ▲ |
Cross-Admit Decisions by Cycle
How cross-admit preferences have shifted over recent application cycles.
| Cycle | Split | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-2025 |
40%
|
5 |
| 2023-2024 |
80%
|
10 |
| 2022-2023 |
80%
|
5 |
| 2021-2022 |
83%
|
6 |
| 2020-2021 |
60%
|
5 |
| 2017-2018 |
11%
|
9 |
| 2016-2017 |
33%
|
6 |
| 2009-2010 |
50%
|
6 |
| 2007-2008 |
20%
|
5 |
| 2006-2007 |
60%
|
5 |
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