University of Michigan vs Northwestern University

This page compares University of Michigan and Northwestern University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 61 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 61 applicants admitted to both schools, 82% chose to attend University of Michigan. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

Both schools are closely ranked in U.S. News: #8 and #10, separated by just 2 positions, making cross-admit data especially useful for deciding between them.

University of Michigan is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, while Northwestern University is in Evanston, Illinois. 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: Northwestern University places 64.1% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 50.3% for the other school. This 14 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

Among cross-admitted applicants, University of Michigan offered a median scholarship of $135,000 compared to $105,000, a difference of $30,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.