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Washington and Lee University vs William & Mary Law School
Side-by-side comparison of admissions, costs, and outcomes
View all-time data (97 cross-admits)
97 total cross-admit decisions (all cycles)
W&L is #44 · W&M is #32 in the LSD rankings
See full LSD.Law school rankings →About this comparison
This page compares Washington and Lee University and William & Mary Law School across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 21 applicants admitted to both.
Based on 21 applicants admitted to both schools, 62% 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 #36 — a gap of 5 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.
Both schools are located in Virginia — Washington and Lee University in Lexington 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 $57,450. Combined with employment rates of 95.0% (W&L) and 91.8% (W&M), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.
Among cross-admitted applicants, Washington and Lee University offered a median scholarship of $127,500 compared to $91,137, a difference of $36,363 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 | W&L | W&M |
|---|---|---|
| USN Rank | #36 | #31 ▲ |
| LSD Rank | #44 (0.012) | #32 (0.019) ▲ |
| LSAT 25th | 161 | 161 |
| LSAT Median | 167 ▲ | 166 |
| LSAT 75th | 168 ▲ | 167 |
| GPA Median | 3.75 | 3.82 ▲ |
| Acceptance Rate | 22.7% | 22.0% ▲ |
| Class Size | 131 | 184 |
| Yield Rate | 24.1% | 37.9% ▲ |
Financial Comparison
2025 ABA 509Tuition, scholarships, and debt burden at each school.
| Metric | W&L | W&M |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition (In-State) | $57,450 | $38,734 ▲ |
| Tuition (Out-of-State) | $57,450 ▲ | $62,900 |
| Median Grant | $33,500 ▲ | $29,302 |
| % Receiving Grants | 97.0% ▲ | 66.0% |
| Avg. Debt at Graduation | - | - |
Employment Outcomes
2024 ABA 509Post-graduation employment placement, salaries, and bar passage.
| Metric | W&L | W&M |
|---|---|---|
| BigLaw (501+) | 21.3% ▲ | 18.2% |
| Judicial Clerkships | 14.2% ▲ | 14.1% |
| Median Salary (Private) | $170,000 | $185,000 ▲ |
| Employment Rate | 95.0% ▲ | 91.8% |
| Bar Pass Rate | 89.4% ▲ | 83.6% |
Cross-Admit Decisions by Cycle
How cross-admit preferences have shifted over recent application cycles.
W&L
W&M
| Cycle | Split | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-2025 |
33%
|
6 |
| 2022-2023 |
33%
|
6 |
| 2021-2022 |
40%
|
5 |
| 2020-2021 |
13%
|
8 |
| 2018-2019 |
33%
|
6 |
| 2017-2018 |
50%
|
8 |
| 2011-2012 |
33%
|
6 |
| 2009-2010 |
9%
|
11 |
| 2007-2008 |
40%
|
5 |
| 2005-2006 |
33%
|
6 |
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