Head-to-head · 67 cross-admits
When applicants got into both, 82% chose UMich. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 67 self-reported decisions and ABA 509 filings.
* School-reported figure, not from the latest ABA 509 report.
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
Chose UMich
Typical aid · ABA 509 · 2025
per yearCross-admits who enrolled · self-reported, 3-yr award
View all-time (284 cross-admits)
Trend · UMich's share
Lowest cycle
Highest cycle
Admissions
Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield 2025 ABA 509
Financial
Sticker price and scholarship aid 2025 ABA 509
Employment & outcomes
Post-graduation placement and bar passage 2025 ABA Employment
Cross-admit by cycle
How preferences shifted over recent cyclesRelated comparisons
Other popular cross-admit matchups
Harvard University
105
Georgetown University
86
University of California—Los Angeles
69
Boston University
67
Duke University
67
Harvard University
111
Columbia University
81
University of Pennsylvania
63
University of Virginia
54
New York University
52
Overview
About UMich vs Cornell University
Across 67 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 82% enrolled at University of Michigan and 18% at Cornell University. The split has shifted +2 points across the tracked cycles.
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.
Compare another pair
Detailed comparison narrative
This page compares University of Michigan and Cornell University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 67 applicants admitted to both.
Based on 67 applicants admitted to both schools, 82% chose to attend University of Michigan. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.
Both schools are closely ranked in U.S. News: #9 and #13, separated by just 4 positions, making cross-admit data especially useful for deciding between them.
University of Michigan is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 8.6% compared to Cornell University's 14.4%.
University of Michigan is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, while Cornell University is in Ithaca, New York. Regional placement matters: graduates tend to find employment near their law school, so location should factor into your decision alongside rankings and cost.
On cost, University of Michigan has lower tuition at $76,108 per year compared to $87,908. Combined with employment rates of 97.7% (UMich) and 99.5% (Cornell University), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.
Among cross-admitted applicants who enrolled, those choosing University of Michigan reported a higher median scholarship — $150,000 versus $135,000 over three years — though aid is one of several factors behind the enrollment decision.
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