George Washington University Law School: Rankings, Acceptance Rate, and What the Outcomes Really Say

Is George Washington University a good law school?

Yes. George Washington University Law School ranks #26 in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report law rankings, but its career outcomes run far ahead of that number. GW places 98.6% of graduates in jobs within ten months, ranks top-10 nationally for bar-required positions and federal clerkships, and reports a $215,000 median private-sector salary.

That gap between a mid-#20s rank and top-10 outcomes is the most important thing to understand about GW. The school is not the most selective name in Washington, yet its graduates compete for the same federal, regulatory, and Big Law jobs as students at higher-ranked schools.

The reason is location. GW Law sits at 2000 H Street NW, a few blocks from the White House and inside walking distance of federal agencies, the courts, and Capitol Hill. That address turns into pipelines into government, regulatory practice, and national security work that schools outside D.C. cannot easily replicate.

What is GW Law’s acceptance rate?

GW Law’s acceptance rate is 27.2% for the 2025 cycle, based on 2,644 offers from 9,718 applications. That makes it selective but not elite-selective; it is more accessible than its T14 neighbor Georgetown and notably tighter than American University down the road.

The class that enrolled posted a median LSAT score of 168 and a median GPA of 3.86. Those medians rose sharply over the past few cycles, in line with a national LSAT surge, so older guides citing a 165 median or a 15% acceptance rate are out of date.

How does GW Law compare to other Washington, D.C. law schools?

The three main full-time J.D. programs in the District sit at clearly different selectivity tiers. The table below uses each school’s 2025 ABA 509 admissions data. For the full District picture, see our guide to law schools in Washington, D.C.

GW occupies the middle ground: a serious step below Georgetown on raw numbers, but a clear step above American. If your LSAT sits in the 165 to 170 band with a 3.8-plus GPA, GW is a realistic target rather than a reach. You can stress-test your profile with our law school admission predictor.

Is GW Law a T14 school?

No. GW Law is not a T14 school; it ranks #26 in the 2026 U.S. News rankings, just outside the traditional top tier. For applicants, the practical takeaway is that GW behaves like a top-15 school on hiring while admitting like a top-30 school, which is exactly why its yield and reputation outrun its ordinal rank.

Treating GW as “just another T30” misreads the data. Its placement strength in specific D.C.-anchored fields is what closes the distance to the schools ranked above it. Compare it against the field in our roundup of top law schools and their acceptance rates.

What is GW Law known for?

GW Law is known for intellectual property law, government and regulatory practice, and national security law, all of which trace back to its position inside federal Washington. The school runs one of the country’s most established intellectual property law programs, helped by sitting near the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

If your goal is patent prosecution or tech-transactional work, GW is a natural pipeline into that career; our overview of becoming an intellectual property lawyer walks through the path. The same proximity advantage applies to administrative law, where students reach federal agencies for externships that feed directly into administrative and regulatory practice.

Practical experience and federal access

GW’s clinics, externships, and proximity to government give students courtroom and agency exposure before graduation. That access shows up in the clerkship numbers: 9.5% of graduates land federal clerkships, a top-11 rate nationally and a strong signal for litigation and appellate careers.

What are GW Law’s bar passage and employment outcomes?

GW Law’s outcomes are its strongest selling point. Within ten months of graduation, 98.6% of the class is employed and 95.1% hold full-time, long-term jobs that require bar admission, both top-10 nationwide. The first-time bar passage rate is 90.2%, which beats the District of Columbia’s overall rate of 82.7% by 7.5 points.

The table below shows how far GW’s outcomes outrun its #26 admissions rank.

Read that table top to bottom and the thesis is hard to miss: GW hires like a top-10 school and admits like a top-30 one. For an applicant weighing sticker price against payoff, that spread is the entire argument for GW.

How much does GW Law cost?

Full-time tuition at GW Law is $75,420 for the 2025-26 year, with room and board adding roughly $25,240, for a total estimated cost of attendance near $103,000 annually. That places GW among the more expensive law schools in the country, ranked #52 nationally on tuition.

The cost is real, but the $215,000 median private-sector salary reshapes the math for graduates entering large-firm or specialized practice. About 78% of students receive grant or scholarship aid, so few pay the full sticker price. Our guide to law school cost and our breakdown of law school scholarships can help you model your real number.

Earning the JD and choosing a track

GW awards the standard Juris Doctor (JD) over three years of full-time study, and it also runs a part-time evening program for working professionals, a long-standing strength for applicants who need to keep a day job. Whichever track you pick, the degree is the same, and so is the access to federal Washington.

The bottom line on GW Law

GW Law is a value-and-outcomes play more than a prestige play. You will not get the rank-on-the-resume of a T14, but you will get top-10 employment, elite federal access, and signature programs in IP and government law that few schools can match.

If your numbers are in range and you want to practice in or around government, regulatory, or IP work, GW’s address does work that a higher rank elsewhere may not. Weigh it next to the rest of the field using our list of the best law schools on the East Coast and the current law school rankings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is George Washington University a good law school?

Yes. GW Law ranks #26 in the 2026 U.S. News rankings, but its outcomes rank top-10 nationally: 98.6% employment within ten months, top-7 placement in bar-required jobs, and a $215,000 median private-sector salary.

What is GW Law’s acceptance rate?

GW Law’s acceptance rate is 27.2% for the 2025 cycle, with 2,644 offers from 9,718 applications. The enrolled class posted a median LSAT of 168 and a median GPA of 3.86.

What LSAT score and GPA do you need for GW Law?

The median LSAT is 168, and the median GPA is 3.86. The middle 50% of admitted students scored between 162 and 170 on the LSAT, with GPAs from 3.55 to 3.93.

How much does GW Law cost?

Full-time tuition is $75,420 for 2025-26, with a total estimated cost of attendance near $103,000 a year once living expenses are included. About 78% of students receive grant or scholarship funding.

Is GW Law a T14 school?

No. GW Law ranks #26 and sits just outside the T14. In practice, it hires like a top-15 school while admitting like a top-30 school, driven by its location in federal Washington.

What is GW Law best known for?

GW Law is best known for intellectual property and patent law, government and regulatory practice, and national security law, all supported by its location near the White House, federal agencies, and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.