Connection lost
Server error
Side-by-side comparison of admissions, costs, and outcomes
Cross-Admit Decision Data
Of 21 applicants admitted to both schools:
Based on 21 self-reported cross-admit decisions from the last 5 cycles
View all-time data (56 cross-admits)
56 total cross-admit decisions (all cycles)
UMich is #9 · OSU is #32 in the LSD rankings
See full LSD.Law school rankings →Deciding between these schools?
Work with a consultant who knows both — backed by this exact data. Launching for the 2026–2027 cycle.
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 21 applicants admitted to both.
Based on 21 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 (1.101) ▲ | #32 (0.015) |
| 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 |
Track Your Applications
Join 150,000+ applicants using LSD.Law to track applications, compare schools, and make data-driven decisions.