Head-to-head · 16 cross-admits

University of Detroit Mercy

Wayne State University

When applicants got into both, 94% chose Wayne State. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 16 self-reported decisions and ABA 509 filings.

Run my odds All comparisons Methodology

Choice, not ranking

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

16

cross-admits

2

cycles

+20pt

YoY shift

The split

Chose Detroit Mercy

6%

Chose Wayne State

94%

$94,500

Detroit Mercy schol. median

$102,000

Wayne State schol. median

#78

Detroit Mercy LSD rank

#38

Wayne State LSD rank

Cross-admit decision

Of 16 applicants admitted to both schools

Last 5 cycles

Chose Detroit Mercy

6%

Chose Wayne State

94%

Median scholarship (chose Detroit Mercy)

$94,500 / yr

Median scholarship (chose Wayne State)

$102,000 / yr

View all-time (25 cross-admits)

8% chose Detroit Mercy 92% chose Wayne State

Trend · Detroit Mercy's share

2021–2024

Lowest cycle

0%

Highest cycle

20%

2 cycles

Detroit Mercy #78 · Wayne State #38 LSD n≈5/yr

Admissions Financial Employment Trends Related

Admissions

Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield

Metric

Detroit Mercy

Detroit, Michigan

Wayne State

Detroit, Michigan

USN Rank

#142

#62

LSD Rank

75+ (0.003)

#38 (0.011)

LSAT 25th

-

157

LSAT Median

-

164

LSAT 75th

-

166

GPA Median

-

3.89

Acceptance Rate

-

24.8%

Class Size

-

129

Yield Rate

-

40.0%

Financial

Sticker price and scholarship aid

Metric

Detroit Mercy

Detroit, Michigan

Wayne State

Detroit, Michigan

Tuition (In-State)

-

-

Tuition (Out-of-State)

-

-

Median Grant

$18,636

$34,636

% Receiving Grants

58.0%

83.0%

Employment & outcomes

Post-graduation placement and bar passage

2024 ABA Employment

Metric

Detroit Mercy

Detroit, Michigan

Wayne State

Detroit, Michigan

BigLaw (501+)

4.0%

5.1%

Judicial Clerkships

1.0%

5.1%

Median Salary (Private)

-

-

Employment Rate

90.5%

94.2%

Bar Pass Rate

59.2%

66.7%

Cross-admit by cycle

How preferences shifted over recent cycles

Cycle

Split

Total

2024–2025

20%

80%

5

2021–2022

0%

100%

5

Overview

About Detroit Mercy vs Wayne State

Across 16 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 6% enrolled at University of Detroit Mercy and 94% at Wayne State University. The split has shifted +20 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.

Jump to

At a glance

16: cross-admits
6/94: split
2: cycles tracked
#78: Detroit Mercy LSD
#38: Wayne State LSD

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Detailed comparison narrative

This page compares University of Detroit Mercy and Wayne State University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes using official ABA 509 disclosures.

In the U.S. News rankings, Wayne State University is ranked #62 compared to #142 — a gap of 80 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

Both schools are located in Michigan — University of Detroit Mercy in Detroit and Wayne State University in Detroit — meaning graduates often compete in the same regional legal market.

View University of Detroit Mercy → View Wayne State University → Schools for a 164 LSAT →