Head-to-head · 26 cross-admits
When applicants got into both, 69% chose OSU. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 26 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
Median scholarship (chose OSU)
Median scholarship (chose IU)
View all-time (69 cross-admits)
Trend · OSU's share
Lowest cycle
Highest cycle
Admissions
Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield 2025 ABA 509Financial
Sticker price, scholarships, and debt burden 2025 ABA 509Employment & outcomes
Post-graduation placement and bar passage 2024 ABA EmploymentCross-admit by cycle
How preferences shifted over recent cyclesOverview
About OSU vs IU
Across 26 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 69% enrolled at Ohio State University and 31% at Indiana University - Bloomington. The split has shifted +57 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.
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Detailed comparison narrative
This page compares Ohio State University and Indiana University - Bloomington across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 26 applicants admitted to both.
Based on 26 applicants admitted to both schools, 69% chose to attend Ohio State University. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.
In the U.S. News rankings, Ohio State University is ranked #30 compared to #49 — a gap of 19 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.
There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: Ohio State University has a median LSAT of 168 compared to 164, a gap of 4 points. This suggests applicants to Ohio State University face a more competitive admissions pool.
Ohio State University is located in Columbus , Ohio, while Indiana University - Bloomington is in Bloomington, Indiana. 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, Indiana University - Bloomington offered a median scholarship of $174,000 compared to $75,000, a difference of $99,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.