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Washington University in St. Louis vs Yale University

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

Cross-Admit Decision Data

Of 27 applicants admitted to both schools:

0%
100%
Median scholarship: $213,500 Median scholarship: $199,445

Based on 27 self-reported cross-admit decisions from the last 5 cycles

View all-time data (39 cross-admits)
0% chose WUSTL 100% chose YLS

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.

Compare Another Pair

Washington University in St. Louis
vs
Yale University

Admissions Comparison

2025 ABA 509

How 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 509

Tuition, 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 509

Post-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%

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