University of Michigan vs University of Illinois—Urbana Champaign

This page compares University of Michigan and University of Illinois—Urbana Champaign across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 24 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 24 applicants admitted to both schools, 96% 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 #8 compared to #48 — a gap of 40 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 166, a gap of 5 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 University of Illinois—Urbana Champaign's 32.9%.

University of Michigan is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, while University of Illinois—Urbana Champaign is in Champaign, 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: University of Michigan places 50.3% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 34.0% for the other school. This 16 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

On cost, University of Illinois—Urbana Champaign has lower tuition at $36,500 per year compared to $76,108. Combined with employment rates of 95.0% (UMich) and 96.6% (UIUC), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, University of Illinois—Urbana Champaign offered a median scholarship of $112,050 compared to $97,500, a difference of $14,550 that may factor into enrollment decisions.