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University of Michigan vs University of California—Los Angeles

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

Cross-Admit Decision Data

Of 70 applicants admitted to both schools:

83%
17%
Median scholarship: $135,000 Median scholarship: $100,750

Based on 70 self-reported cross-admit decisions from the last 5 cycles

View all-time data (255 cross-admits)
85% chose UMich 15% chose UCLA

255 total cross-admit decisions (all cycles)

UMich is #9 · UCLA is #13 in the LSD rankings

See full LSD.Law school rankings →
About this comparison

This page compares University of Michigan and University of California—Los Angeles across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 70 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 70 applicants admitted to both schools, 83% 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 #12, separated by just 4 positions, making cross-admit data especially useful for deciding between them.

University of Michigan is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, while University of California—Los Angeles is in Los Angeles, California. Regional placement matters: graduates tend to find employment near their law school, so location should factor into your decision alongside rankings and cost.

On cost, University of California—Los Angeles has lower tuition at $59,084 per year compared to $76,108. Combined with employment rates of 95.0% (UMich) and 94.4% (UCLA), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, University of Michigan offered a median scholarship of $135,000 compared to $100,750, a difference of $34,250 that may factor into enrollment decisions.

Compare Another Pair

University of Michigan
vs
University of California—Los Angeles

Admissions Comparison

2025 ABA 509

How these schools compare on LSAT, GPA, selectivity, and class composition.

Metric UMich UCLA
USN Rank #8 #12
LSD Rank #9 (1.211) #13 (0.259)
LSAT 25th 168 166
LSAT Median 171 171
LSAT 75th 173 172
GPA Median 3.88 3.95
Acceptance Rate 8.6% 12.1%
Class Size 343 328
Yield Rate 42.7% 31.0%

Financial Comparison

2025 ABA 509

Tuition, scholarships, and debt burden at each school.

Metric UMich UCLA
Tuition (In-State) $76,108 $59,084
Tuition (Out-of-State) $79,108 $71,329
Median Grant $32,000 $24,456
% Receiving Grants 91.0% 83.0%
Avg. Debt at Graduation - -

Employment Outcomes

2024 ABA 509

Post-graduation employment placement, salaries, and bar passage.

Metric UMich UCLA
BigLaw (501+) 50.3% 50.5%
Judicial Clerkships 17.1% 6.2%
Median Salary (Private) - -
Employment Rate 95.0% 94.4%
Bar Pass Rate 95.6% 94.2%

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