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.
Cross-admit decision
Typical aid · ABA 509 · 2025
per yearCross-admits who enrolled · self-reported, 3-yr award
View all-time (70 cross-admits)
Trend · ASU's share
Lowest cycle
Highest cycle
Admissions
Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield 2025 ABA 509Financial
Sticker price and scholarship aid 2025 ABA 509Employment & outcomes
Post-graduation placement and bar passage 2025 ABA EmploymentCross-admit by cycle
How preferences shifted over recent cyclesOverview
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.
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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.
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