Cornell University vs University of Michigan

This page compares Cornell University and University of Michigan across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 56 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 56 applicants admitted to both schools, 80% 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 #18 — a gap of 10 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

University of Michigan is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 8.6% compared to Cornell University's 18.2%.

Cornell University is located in Ithaca, New York, 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: Cornell University places 71.9% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 50.3% for the other school. This 22 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

On cost, University of Michigan has lower tuition at $76,108 per year compared to $84,722. Combined with employment rates of 98.0% (Cornell University) 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 $135,000 compared to $105,000, a difference of $30,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.