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Side-by-side comparison of admissions, costs, and outcomes
Cross-Admit Decision Data
Of 27 applicants admitted to both schools:
Based on 27 self-reported cross-admit decisions from the last 5 cycles
View all-time data (39 cross-admits)
39 total cross-admit decisions (all cycles)
WUSTL is #20 · YLS is #1 in the LSD rankings
See full LSD.Law school rankings →About this comparison
This page compares Washington University in St. Louis and Yale University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 27 applicants admitted to both.
Based on 27 applicants admitted to both schools, 100% chose to attend Yale University. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.
In the U.S. News rankings, Yale University is ranked #1 compared to #14 — a gap of 13 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.
Yale University is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 4.1% compared to Washington University in St. Louis's 19.0%.
Washington University in St. Louis is located in St. Louis, Missouri, while Yale University is in New Haven, Connecticut. Regional placement matters: graduates tend to find employment near their law school, so location should factor into your decision alongside rankings and cost.
Among cross-admitted applicants, Washington University in St. Louis offered a median scholarship of $213,500 compared to $199,445, a difference of $14,055 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 | WUSTL | YLS |
|---|---|---|
| USN Rank | #14 | #1 ▲ |
| LSD Rank | #20 (0.083) | #1 (141.312) ▲ |
| LSAT 25th | 165 | 171 ▲ |
| LSAT Median | 175 ▲ | 174 |
| LSAT 75th | 176 | 177 ▲ |
| GPA Median | 3.96 | 3.96 |
| Acceptance Rate | 19.0% | 4.1% ▲ |
| Class Size | 261 | 204 |
| Yield Rate | 24.2% | 77.4% ▲ |
Financial Comparison
2025 ABA 509Tuition, scholarships, and debt burden at each school.
| Metric | WUSTL | YLS |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition (In-State) | $72,792 ▲ | $76,636 |
| Tuition (Out-of-State) | $72,792 ▲ | $76,636 |
| Median Grant | $48,000 ▲ | $34,747 |
| % Receiving Grants | 94.0% ▲ | 63.0% |
| Avg. Debt at Graduation | - | - |
Employment Outcomes
2024 ABA 509Post-graduation employment placement, salaries, and bar passage.
| Metric | WUSTL | YLS |
|---|---|---|
| BigLaw (501+) | 39.3% ▲ | 30.7% |
| Judicial Clerkships | 13.3% | 28.8% ▲ |
| Median Salary (Private) | $205,000 | - |
| Employment Rate | 96.8% ▲ | 85.6% |
| Bar Pass Rate | 93.6% | 96.5% ▲ |
Cross-Admit Decisions by Cycle
How cross-admit preferences have shifted over recent application cycles.
| Cycle | Split | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 2023-2024 |
0%
|
10 |
| 2022-2023 |
0%
|
8 |
| 2021-2022 |
0%
|
5 |
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