HEAD TO HEAD, ABA 509 DATA 2025
Boston College vs George Washington Law School: Which Is Harder to Get Into, and Which Pays Off (2025)
8.5% versus 27.2%: that's the acceptance-rate gap between Boston College and George Washington, and it shows up everywhere else too. BC's bar passage rate is nearly 10 points higher, and more than half its 2024 grads landed in biglaw against GW's 38.4%.
If you're competitive at Boston College, you're almost certainly competitive at George Washington too, or the other way around. The real question isn't who'll let you in, it's what each offer actually costs you once grants land and what the class ahead of you actually got out of the degree on the other side.
Side by side
| Metric | Boston College | George Washington |
|---|---|---|
| LSAT 25th | 162 | 162 |
| LSAT 50th | 168 | 168 |
| LSAT 75th | 169 | 170 |
| GPA 50th | 3.8 | 3.9 |
| Acceptance rate | 8.5% | 27.2% |
| Sticker tuition/yr | $72,380 | $75,420 |
| Gets some grant | 89.1% | 77.2% |
| Pays full sticker | 10.9% | 22.8% |
| FT/LT jobs | 96.5% | 97.1% |
| Biglaw (101+ firm) | 57.2% | 38.4% |
| Federal clerkships | 4.1% | 2.9% |
| Bar pass rate | 95.9% | 86.1% |
The verdict, 3 ways
Harder to get into
Boston College accepts 8.5% of applicants, George Washington 27.2%. Both share the same 162 LSAT 25th percentile and 168 median, so the scores look similar on paper, but a gap of over 18 acceptance-rate points makes BC by far the harder school to get into.
Cheaper after aid
Boston College costs less on sticker, $72,380 to George Washington's $75,420, and hands out aid more widely: 89.1% of BC students get a discount against 77.2% at GW. Nearly a quarter of GW's students pay full price, 22.8%, compared to 10.9% at BC. BC is the cheaper bet after aid too.
Better outcomes
George Washington edges BC on FT/LT placement, 97.1% to 96.5%, close enough to call a wash. Everywhere else, BC pulls ahead hard: 57.2% into biglaw against GW's 38.4%, and a 95.9% bar pass rate against 86.1%. BC is the outcomes winner.
Full data on each: Boston College and George Washington. Run your own numbers through the LSAT Unplugged law school chances calculator. See what 1 extra LSAT point is worth in grants at both schools.
FAQ
Is Boston College or George Washington harder to get into?
Boston College, by a wide margin. Both schools post the same 162 LSAT 25th percentile and 168 median, but BC accepts just 8.5% of applicants against George Washington's 27.2%.
Which is cheaper, Boston College or George Washington?
Boston College. Sticker tuition runs $72,380 against $75,420 at GW, and BC discounts 89.1% of its students versus 77.2% at GW, where nearly a quarter of students pay full price.
Which has better job outcomes, Boston College or George Washington?
Boston College on almost every number. GW edges ahead slightly on FT/LT placement, 97.1% to 96.5%, but BC crushes it on biglaw, 57.2% to 38.4%, and bar passage, 95.9% to 86.1%.
Should I apply to both Boston College and George Washington?
Yes. With identical LSAT bands at the 25th percentile and a 168 median at both, GW is a realistic target if BC is a reach, and the acceptance-rate gap alone, 8.5% versus 27.2%, is reason enough to apply to both and see what comes back.
Source: ABA Standard 509 Information Reports, 2025, via LSAT Unplugged's 509 master. Verify against each school's own filing before relying on it. Last updated 2026-10-09.
