This page compares University of Michigan and Northeastern 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, 100% 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 #9 compared to #77 — a gap of 68 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

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

University of Michigan is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 8.6% compared to Northeastern University's 24.2%.

University of Michigan is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, while Northeastern University is in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 54.5% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 16.4% for the other school. This 38 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

On cost, Northeastern University has lower tuition at $65,652 per year compared to $76,108. Combined with employment rates of 97.7% (UMich) and 87.8% (NUSL), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, Northeastern University offered a median scholarship of $155,478 compared to $90,000, a difference of $65,478 that may factor into enrollment decisions.