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Head-to-head · 40 cross-admits

When applicants got into both, 97% chose UMich. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 40 self-reported decisions and ABA 509 filings.

Choice, not ranking

These are decisions, not opinions. Scholarship offers, location, intended practice, and personal fit are all priced into the split.

40
cross-admits
7
cycles
+0pt
YoY shift

Cross-admit decision

Of 40 applicants admitted to both schools
Last 5 cycles
Arizona State University logo Chose ASU
3%
Chose UMich University of Michigan logo
97%

Typical aid · ABA 509 · 2025

per year
$20,000
96.0% get a grant
$8,390 net tuition
$32,000
91.0% get a grant
$44,108 net tuition

Cross-admits who enrolled · self-reported, 3-yr award

n < 5
$105,000
n = 37
View all-time (70 cross-admits)
4% chose ASU 96% chose UMich

Trend · ASU's share

2019–2025

Lowest cycle

0%

Highest cycle

11%
7 cycles
100 50 0 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 2019: 0% 2020: 0% 2021: 0% 2022: 11% 2023: 0% 2024: 0% 2025: 0%
ASU #53 · UMich #9 LSD n≈8/yr

Admissions

Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield
2025 ABA 509
Metric
Arizona State University logo
ASU
Tempe, Arizona
University of Michigan logo
UMich
Ann Arbor, Michigan
USN Rank
#44
#9
LSD Rank
Top 75 (0.006)
#9 (1.112)
LSAT 25th
158
168
LSAT Median
165
171
LSAT 75th
167
173
GPA Median
3.91
3.88
Acceptance Rate
19.8%
8.6%
Class Size
266
343
Yield Rate
28.9%
42.7%

Financial

Sticker price and scholarship aid
2025 ABA 509
Metric
Arizona State University logo
ASU
Tempe, Arizona
University of Michigan logo
UMich
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Tuition (In-State)
$28,390
$76,108
Tuition (Out-of-State)
$52,099
$79,108
Median Grant
$20,000
$32,000
% Receiving Grants
96.0%
91.0%

Employment & outcomes

Post-graduation placement and bar passage
2025 ABA Employment
Metric
Arizona State University logo
ASU
Tempe, Arizona
University of Michigan logo
UMich
Ann Arbor, Michigan
BigLaw (501+)
14.5%
54.5%
Federal Clerkships
2.1%
9.9%
State & Local Clerkships
7.9%
5.8%
Median Salary (Private)
-
-
Employment Rate
93.8%
97.7%
Bar Pass Rate
87.5%
95.6%

Overview

About ASU vs UMich

Across 40 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 3% enrolled at Arizona State University and 97% at University of Michigan.

These numbers reflect every factor that goes into a real decision: scholarship offers, geographic preference, intended practice area, and fit. Choosing one school doesn't mean it's "better" — it means the pool of cross-admits, weighing their options, ended up there more often. Pair this with the scholarship distribution and employment outcomes above for full context.

Looking at a different matchup? Browse all comparisons or run a custom pair from the index.

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Detailed comparison narrative

This page compares Arizona State University and University of Michigan across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 40 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 40 applicants admitted to both schools, 98% chose to attend University of Michigan. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, University of Michigan is ranked #9 compared to #44 — a gap of 35 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: University of Michigan has a median LSAT of 171 compared to 165, a gap of 6 points. This suggests applicants to University of Michigan face a more competitive admissions pool.

University of Michigan is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 8.6% compared to Arizona State University's 19.8%.

Arizona State University is located in Tempe, Arizona, while University of Michigan is in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Regional placement matters: graduates tend to find employment near their law school, so location should factor into your decision alongside rankings and cost.

Employment outcomes differ substantially: University of Michigan places 54.5% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 14.5% for the other school. This 40 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

On cost, Arizona State University has lower tuition at $28,390 per year compared to $76,108. Combined with employment rates of 93.8% (ASU) and 97.7% (UMich), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.