Head-to-head · 11 cross-admits
When applicants got into both, 82% chose UMich. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 11 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.
Cross-admit decision
Chose UMich
Typical aid · ABA 509 · 2025
per yearCross-admits who enrolled · self-reported, 3-yr award
Admissions
Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield 2025 ABA 509
Financial
Sticker price and scholarship aid 2025 ABA 509
Employment & outcomes
Post-graduation placement and bar passage 2025 ABA Employment
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Overview
About UMich vs Utah
Across 11 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 82% enrolled at University of Michigan and 18% at University of Utah.
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.
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Detailed comparison narrative
This page compares University of Michigan and University of Utah across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes using official ABA 509 disclosures.
In the U.S. News rankings, University of Michigan is ranked #9 compared to #44 — a gap of 35 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 Utah's 25.3%.
University of Michigan is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, while University of Utah is in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 4.3% for the other school. This 50 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.
On cost, University of Utah has lower tuition at $34,721 per year compared to $76,108. Combined with employment rates of 97.7% (UMich) and 96.8% (Utah), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.
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