Arizona State University vs University of Michigan

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 37 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 37 applicants admitted to both schools, 97% 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 #8 compared to #45 — a gap of 37 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 50.3% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 11.0% for the other school. This 39 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 93.5% (ASU) and 95.0% (UMich), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, University of Michigan offered a median scholarship of $120,000 compared to $93,000, a difference of $27,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.