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Side-by-side comparison of admissions, costs, and outcomes
Cross-Admit Decision Data
Of 104 applicants admitted to both schools:
Based on 104 self-reported cross-admit decisions from the last 5 cycles
View all-time data (468 cross-admits)
468 total cross-admit decisions (all cycles)
HLS is #2 · UMich is #9 in the LSD rankings
See full LSD.Law school rankings →Deciding between these schools?
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About this comparison
This page compares Harvard University and University of Michigan across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 104 applicants admitted to both.
Based on 104 applicants admitted to both schools, 94% chose to attend Harvard University. 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: #6 and #8, separated by just 2 positions, making cross-admit data especially useful for deciding between them.
Harvard University is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, 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.
Among cross-admitted applicants, University of Michigan offered a median scholarship of $150,000 compared to $117,500, a difference of $32,500 that may factor into enrollment decisions.
Compare Another Pair
Admissions Comparison
2025 ABA 509How these schools compare on LSAT, GPA, selectivity, and class composition.
| Metric | HLS | UMich |
|---|---|---|
| USN Rank | #6 ▲ | #8 |
| LSD Rank | #2 (19.370) ▲ | #9 (1.101) |
| LSAT 25th | 171 ▲ | 168 |
| LSAT Median | 174 ▲ | 171 |
| LSAT 75th | 176 ▲ | 173 |
| GPA Median | 3.96 ▲ | 3.88 |
| Acceptance Rate | 9.2% | 8.6% ▲ |
| Class Size | 579 | 343 |
| Yield Rate | 59.2% ▲ | 42.7% |
Financial Comparison
2025 ABA 509Tuition, scholarships, and debt burden at each school.
| Metric | HLS | UMich |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition (In-State) | $77,100 | $76,108 ▲ |
| Tuition (Out-of-State) | $77,100 ▲ | $79,108 |
| Median Grant | $27,510 | $32,000 ▲ |
| % Receiving Grants | 38.0% | 91.0% ▲ |
| Avg. Debt at Graduation | - | - |
Employment Outcomes
2024 ABA 509Post-graduation employment placement, salaries, and bar passage.
| Metric | HLS | UMich |
|---|---|---|
| BigLaw (501+) | 51.4% ▲ | 50.3% |
| Judicial Clerkships | 21.4% ▲ | 17.1% |
| Median Salary (Private) | - | - |
| Employment Rate | 90.7% | 95.0% ▲ |
| Bar Pass Rate | 97.9% ▲ | 95.6% |
Cross-Admit Decisions by Cycle
How cross-admit preferences have shifted over recent application cycles.
| Cycle | Split | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-2025 |
90%
|
30 |
| 2023-2024 |
100%
|
24 |
| 2022-2023 |
100%
|
24 |
| 2021-2022 |
87%
|
23 |
| 2020-2021 |
100%
|
12 |
| 2019-2020 |
78%
|
18 |
| 2018-2019 |
100%
|
10 |
| 2017-2018 |
96%
|
24 |
| 2016-2017 |
93%
|
14 |
| 2015-2016 |
100%
|
18 |
| 2014-2015 |
93%
|
27 |
| 2013-2014 |
100%
|
17 |
| 2012-2013 |
100%
|
28 |
| 2011-2012 |
100%
|
31 |
| 2010-2011 |
100%
|
19 |
| 2009-2010 |
92%
|
13 |
| 2008-2009 |
96%
|
24 |
| 2007-2008 |
88%
|
25 |
| 2006-2007 |
100%
|
31 |
| 2005-2006 |
100%
|
25 |
| 2004-2005 |
87%
|
15 |
| 2003-2004 |
100%
|
13 |
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