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Wake Forest University vs William & Mary Law School
Side-by-side comparison of admissions, costs, and outcomes
View all-time data (78 cross-admits)
78 total cross-admit decisions (all cycles)
WFU is #31 · W&M is #32 in the LSD rankings
See full LSD.Law school rankings →About this comparison
This page compares Wake Forest University and William & Mary Law School across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 24 applicants admitted to both.
Based on 24 applicants admitted to both schools, 83% 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 #31 — a gap of 5 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.
Wake Forest University is located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, while William & Mary Law School is in Williamsburg, Virginia. Regional placement matters: graduates tend to find employment near their law school, so location should factor into your decision alongside rankings and cost.
On cost, William & Mary Law School has lower tuition at $38,734 per year compared to $57,920. Combined with employment rates of 97.4% (WFU) and 91.8% (W&M), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.
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Admissions Comparison
2025 ABA 509How these schools compare on LSAT, GPA, selectivity, and class composition.
| Metric | WFU | W&M |
|---|---|---|
| USN Rank | #26 ▲ | #31 |
| LSD Rank | #31 (0.024) ▲ | #32 (0.019) |
| LSAT 25th | 163 ▲ | 161 |
| LSAT Median | 166 | 166 |
| LSAT 75th | 168 ▲ | 167 |
| GPA Median | 3.79 | 3.82 ▲ |
| Acceptance Rate | 24.6% | 22.0% ▲ |
| Class Size | 204 | 184 |
| Yield Rate | 28.3% | 37.9% ▲ |
Financial Comparison
2025 ABA 509Tuition, scholarships, and debt burden at each school.
| Metric | WFU | W&M |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition (In-State) | $57,920 | $38,734 ▲ |
| Tuition (Out-of-State) | $57,920 ▲ | $62,900 |
| Median Grant | $40,000 ▲ | $29,302 |
| % Receiving Grants | 76.0% ▲ | 66.0% |
| Avg. Debt at Graduation | - | - |
Employment Outcomes
2024 ABA 509Post-graduation employment placement, salaries, and bar passage.
| Metric | WFU | W&M |
|---|---|---|
| BigLaw (501+) | 24.5% ▲ | 18.2% |
| Judicial Clerkships | 7.1% | 14.1% ▲ |
| Median Salary (Private) | $135,000 | $185,000 ▲ |
| Employment Rate | 97.4% ▲ | 91.8% |
| Bar Pass Rate | 88.2% ▲ | 83.6% |
Cross-Admit Decisions by Cycle
How cross-admit preferences have shifted over recent application cycles.
WFU
W&M
| Cycle | Split | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 2023-2024 |
90%
|
10 |
| 2021-2022 |
88%
|
8 |
| 2009-2010 |
0%
|
8 |
| 2005-2006 |
20%
|
5 |
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