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Side-by-side comparison of admissions, costs, and outcomes
Cross-Admit Decision Data
Of 20 applicants admitted to both schools:
Based on 20 self-reported cross-admit decisions from the last 5 cycles
View all-time data (55 cross-admits)
55 total cross-admit decisions (all cycles)
UMich is #9 · OSU is #32 in the LSD rankings
See full LSD.Law school rankings →About this comparison
This page compares University of Michigan and Ohio State University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 20 applicants admitted to both.
Based on 20 applicants admitted to both schools, 95% chose to attend University of Michigan. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.
In the U.S. News rankings, University of Michigan is ranked #8 compared to #28 — a gap of 20 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.
University of Michigan is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 8.6% compared to Ohio State University's 24.6%.
University of Michigan is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, while Ohio State University is in Columbus , Ohio. Regional placement matters: graduates tend to find employment near their law school, so location should factor into your decision alongside rankings and cost.
Employment outcomes differ substantially: University of Michigan places 50.3% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 12.8% for the other school. This 38 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.
On cost, Ohio State University has lower tuition at $35,650 per year compared to $76,108. Combined with employment rates of 95.0% (UMich) and 94.4% (OSU), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.
Among cross-admitted applicants, Ohio State University offered a median scholarship of $101,061 compared to $82,500, a difference of $18,561 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 | UMich | OSU |
|---|---|---|
| USN Rank | #8 ▲ | #28 |
| LSD Rank | #9 (1.211) ▲ | #32 (0.019) |
| LSAT 25th | 168 ▲ | 163 |
| LSAT Median | 171 ▲ | 168 |
| LSAT 75th | 173 ▲ | 169 |
| GPA Median | 3.88 | 3.91 ▲ |
| Acceptance Rate | 8.6% ▲ | 24.6% |
| Class Size | 343 | 159 |
| Yield Rate | 42.7% ▲ | 28.0% |
Financial Comparison
2025 ABA 509Tuition, scholarships, and debt burden at each school.
| Metric | UMich | OSU |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition (In-State) | $76,108 | $35,650 ▲ |
| Tuition (Out-of-State) | $79,108 | $50,902 ▲ |
| Median Grant | $32,000 ▲ | $29,984 |
| % Receiving Grants | 91.0% ▲ | 90.0% |
| Avg. Debt at Graduation | - | - |
Employment Outcomes
2024 ABA 509Post-graduation employment placement, salaries, and bar passage.
| Metric | UMich | OSU |
|---|---|---|
| BigLaw (501+) | 50.3% ▲ | 12.8% |
| Judicial Clerkships | 17.1% ▲ | 6.7% |
| Median Salary (Private) | - | $105,000 |
| Employment Rate | 95.0% ▲ | 94.4% |
| Bar Pass Rate | 95.6% ▲ | 92.0% |
Cross-Admit Decisions by Cycle
How cross-admit preferences have shifted over recent application cycles.
| Cycle | Split | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-2025 |
100%
|
5 |
| 2023-2024 |
100%
|
5 |
| 2022-2023 |
100%
|
5 |
| 2017-2018 |
100%
|
6 |
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