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Head-to-head · 41 cross-admits

When applicants got into both, 95% chose UMich. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 41 self-reported decisions and ABA 509 filings.

Choice, not ranking

These are decisions, not opinions. Scholarship offers, location, intended practice, and personal fit are all priced into the split.

41
cross-admits
15
cycles
+0pt
YoY shift

Cross-admit decision

Of 41 applicants admitted to both schools
Last 5 cycles
University of Michigan logo Chose UMich
95%
Chose ND University of Notre Dame logo
5%

Typical aid · ABA 509 · 2025

per year
$32,000
91.0% get a grant
$44,108 net tuition
$30,000
92.0% get a grant
$43,430 net tuition

Cross-admits who enrolled · self-reported, 3-yr award

$112,500
n = 38
n < 5
View all-time (120 cross-admits)
97% chose UMich 3% chose ND

Trend · UMich's share

2004–2025

Lowest cycle

80%

Highest cycle

100%
15 cycles
100 50 0 04 05 06 08 10 12 14 17 18 20 21 22 23 24 25 2004: 100% 2005: 100% 2006: 100% 2008: 100% 2010: 100% 2012: 100% 2014: 100% 2017: 100% 2018: 100% 2020: 88% 2021: 100% 2022: 100% 2023: 80% 2024: 100% 2025: 100%
UMich #9 · ND #17 LSD n≈6/yr

Admissions

Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield
2025 ABA 509
Metric
University of Michigan logo
UMich
Ann Arbor, Michigan
University of Notre Dame logo
ND
South Bend, Indiana
USN Rank
#9
#20
LSD Rank
#9 (1.112)
#17 (0.099)
LSAT 25th
168
166
LSAT Median
171
170
LSAT 75th
173
171
GPA Median
3.88
3.89
Acceptance Rate
8.6%
16.1%
Class Size
343
185
Yield Rate
42.7%
31.6%

Financial

Sticker price and scholarship aid
2025 ABA 509
Metric
University of Michigan logo
UMich
Ann Arbor, Michigan
University of Notre Dame logo
ND
South Bend, Indiana
Tuition (In-State)
$76,108
$73,430
Tuition (Out-of-State)
$79,108
$73,430
Median Grant
$32,000
$30,000
% Receiving Grants
91.0%
92.0%

Employment & outcomes

Post-graduation placement and bar passage
2025 ABA Employment
Metric
University of Michigan logo
UMich
Ann Arbor, Michigan
University of Notre Dame logo
ND
South Bend, Indiana
BigLaw (501+)
54.5%
30.5%
Federal Clerkships
9.9%
17.1%
State & Local Clerkships
5.8%
6.7%
Median Salary (Private)
-
-
Employment Rate
97.7%
95.1%
Bar Pass Rate
95.6%
92.2%

Overview

About UMich vs ND

Across 41 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 95% enrolled at University of Michigan and 5% at University of Notre Dame.

These numbers reflect every factor that goes into a real decision: scholarship offers, geographic preference, intended practice area, and fit. Choosing one school doesn't mean it's "better" — it means the pool of cross-admits, weighing their options, ended up there more often. Pair this with the scholarship distribution and employment outcomes above for full context.

Looking at a different matchup? Browse all comparisons or run a custom pair from the index.

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Detailed comparison narrative

This page compares University of Michigan and University of Notre Dame across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 41 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 41 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 #9 compared to #20 — a gap of 11 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 University of Notre Dame's 16.1%.

University of Michigan is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, while University of Notre Dame is in South Bend, Indiana. 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 30.5% for the other school. This 24 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.