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.
Cross-admit decision
Median scholarship (chose UMN)
Median scholarship (chose IU)
View all-time (61 cross-admits)
Trend · UMN's share
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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 UMN vs IU
Across 24 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 83% enrolled at University of Minnesota and 17% at Indiana University - Bloomington. 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.
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Detailed comparison narrative
This page compares University of Minnesota and Indiana University - Bloomington 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.
University of Minnesota is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, 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.
On cost, Indiana University - Bloomington has lower tuition at $36,950 per year compared to $51,440. Combined with employment rates of 95.2% (UMN) and 91.9% (IU), 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.