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Head-to-head · 71 cross-admits

When applicants got into both, 56% chose UVA. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 71 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.

71
cross-admits
22
cycles
-12pt
YoY shift

Cross-admit decision

Of 71 applicants admitted to both schools
Last 5 cycles
University of Michigan logo Chose UMich
44%
Chose UVA University of Virginia logo
56%

Median scholarship (chose UMich)

$135,000 / yr

Median scholarship (chose UVA)

$97,500 / yr
View all-time (298 cross-admits)
49% chose UMich 51% chose UVA

Trend · UMich's share

2003–2025

Lowest cycle

15%

Highest cycle

82%
22 cycles
100 50 0 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 2003: 57% 2004: 38% 2005: 53% 2006: 75% 2007: 67% 2008: 25% 2009: 58% 2011: 33% 2012: 30% 2013: 15% 2014: 38% 2015: 67% 2016: 43% 2017: 64% 2018: 82% 2019: 50% 2020: 45% 2021: 35% 2022: 19% 2023: 56% 2024: 78% 2025: 45%
UMich #9 · UVA #7 LSD n≈13/yr

Admissions

Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield
2025 ABA 509
Metric
University of Michigan logo
UMich
Ann Arbor, Michigan
University of Virginia logo
UVA
Charlottesville, Virginia
USN Rank
#9
#4
LSD Rank
#9 (1.112)
#7 (1.553)
LSAT 25th
168
168
LSAT Median
171
173
LSAT 75th
173
175
GPA Median
3.88
3.99
Acceptance Rate
8.6%
10.2%
Class Size
343
309
Yield Rate
42.7%
44.1%

Financial

Sticker price and scholarship aid
2025 ABA 509
Metric
University of Michigan logo
UMich
Ann Arbor, Michigan
University of Virginia logo
UVA
Charlottesville, Virginia
Tuition (In-State)
$76,108
$74,078
Tuition (Out-of-State)
$79,108
$76,396
Median Grant
$32,000
$35,000
% Receiving Grants
91.0%
66.0%

Employment & outcomes

Post-graduation placement and bar passage
2025 ABA Employment
Metric
University of Michigan logo
UMich
Ann Arbor, Michigan
University of Virginia logo
UVA
Charlottesville, Virginia
BigLaw (501+)
54.5%
64.0%
Federal Clerkships
9.9%
10.7%
State & Local Clerkships
5.8%
1.3%
Median Salary (Private)
-
-
Employment Rate
97.7%
98.7%
Bar Pass Rate
95.6%
95.0%

Overview

About UMich vs UVA

Across 71 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 44% enrolled at University of Michigan and 56% at University of Virginia. The split has shifted -12 points across the tracked cycles.

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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Compare another pair

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Detailed comparison narrative

This page compares University of Michigan and University of Virginia across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 71 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 71 applicants admitted to both schools, 56% chose to attend University of Virginia. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, University of Virginia is ranked #4 compared to #9 — a gap of 5 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

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

Among cross-admitted applicants, University of Michigan offered a median scholarship of $135,000 compared to $97,500, a difference of $37,500 that may factor into enrollment decisions.