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Head-to-head · 24 cross-admits

When applicants got into both, 83% chose UMN. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 24 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.

24
cross-admits
3
cycles
+3pt
YoY shift

Cross-admit decision

Of 24 applicants admitted to both schools
Last 5 cycles
Indiana University - Bloomington logo Chose IU
17%
Chose UMN University of Minnesota logo
83%

Median scholarship (chose IU)

$165,000 / yr

Median scholarship (chose UMN)

$120,000 / yr
View all-time (61 cross-admits)
25% chose IU 75% chose UMN

Trend · IU's share

2006–2022

Lowest cycle

0%

Highest cycle

14%
3 cycles
100 50 0 06 21 22 2006: 11% 2021: 0% 2022: 14%
IU #38 · UMN #24 LSD n≈7/yr

Admissions

Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield
2025 ABA 509
Metric
Indiana University - Bloomington logo
IU
Bloomington, Indiana
University of Minnesota logo
UMN
Minneapolis, Minnesota
USN Rank
#49
#22
LSD Rank
#38 (0.011)
#24 (0.030)
LSAT 25th
158
166
LSAT Median
164
171
LSAT 75th
166
173
GPA Median
3.91
3.88
Acceptance Rate
35.8%
26.7%
Class Size
186
228
Yield Rate
28.4%
24.8%

Financial

Sticker price and scholarship aid
2025 ABA 509
Metric
Indiana University - Bloomington logo
IU
Bloomington, Indiana
University of Minnesota logo
UMN
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Tuition (In-State)
$36,950
$51,440
Tuition (Out-of-State)
$58,000
$61,845
Median Grant
$33,000
$35,000
% Receiving Grants
100.0%
94.0%

Employment & outcomes

Post-graduation placement and bar passage
2025 ABA Employment
Metric
Indiana University - Bloomington logo
IU
Bloomington, Indiana
University of Minnesota logo
UMN
Minneapolis, Minnesota
BigLaw (501+)
16.5%
17.6%
Judicial Clerkships
11.6%
26.1%
Median Salary (Private)
-
-
Employment Rate
91.5%
95.5%
Bar Pass Rate
87.4%
94.1%

Overview

About IU vs UMN

Across 24 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 17% enrolled at Indiana University - Bloomington and 83% at University of Minnesota. The split has shifted +3 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.

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Detailed comparison narrative

This page compares Indiana University - Bloomington and University of Minnesota across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 24 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 24 applicants admitted to both schools, 83% chose to attend University of Minnesota. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, University of Minnesota is ranked #22 compared to #49 — a gap of 27 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: University of Minnesota has a median LSAT of 171 compared to 164, a gap of 7 points. This suggests applicants to University of Minnesota face a more competitive admissions pool.

Indiana University - Bloomington is located in Bloomington, Indiana, while University of Minnesota is in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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, Indiana University - Bloomington has lower tuition at $36,950 per year compared to $51,440. Combined with employment rates of 91.5% (IU) and 95.5% (UMN), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, Indiana University - Bloomington offered a median scholarship of $165,000 compared to $120,000, a difference of $45,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.