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University of Michigan vs Ohio State University

Side-by-side comparison of admissions, costs, and outcomes

Cross-Admit Decision Data

Of 20 applicants admitted to both schools:

95%
5%
Median scholarship: $82,500 Median scholarship: $101,061

Based on 20 self-reported cross-admit decisions from the last 5 cycles

View all-time data (55 cross-admits)
95% chose UMich 6% chose OSU

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

University of Michigan
vs
Ohio State University

Admissions Comparison

2025 ABA 509

How 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 509

Tuition, 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 509

Post-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%

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