University of Michigan vs Stanford University

This page compares University of Michigan and Stanford University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 35 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 35 applicants admitted to both schools, 94% chose to attend Stanford University. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, Stanford University is ranked #1 compared to #8 — a gap of 7 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

University of Michigan is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, while Stanford University is in Stanford, California. 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 40.2% for the other school. This 10 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

Among cross-admitted applicants, Stanford University offered a median scholarship of $184,107 compared to $172,500, a difference of $11,607 that may factor into enrollment decisions.