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University of Michigan vs Vanderbilt University

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

Cross-Admit Decision Data

Of 55 applicants admitted to both schools:

100%
0%
Median scholarship: $120,000 Median scholarship: $120,660

Based on 55 self-reported cross-admit decisions from the last 5 cycles

View all-time data (239 cross-admits)
95% chose UMich 5% chose Vandy

239 total cross-admit decisions (all cycles)

UMich is #9 · Vandy is #20 in the LSD rankings

See full LSD.Law school rankings →
About this comparison

This page compares University of Michigan and Vanderbilt University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 55 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 55 applicants admitted to both schools, 100% 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 #14 — a gap of 6 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

University of Michigan is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 8.6% compared to Vanderbilt University's 13.3%.

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

Compare Another Pair

University of Michigan
vs
Vanderbilt University

Admissions Comparison

2025 ABA 509

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

Metric UMich Vandy
USN Rank #8 #14
LSD Rank #9 (1.211) #20 (0.085)
LSAT 25th 168 167
LSAT Median 171 170
LSAT 75th 173 171
GPA Median 3.88 3.91
Acceptance Rate 8.6% 13.3%
Class Size 343 172
Yield Rate 42.7% 20.9%

Financial Comparison

2025 ABA 509

Tuition, scholarships, and debt burden at each school.

Metric UMich Vandy
Tuition (In-State) $76,108 $76,440
Tuition (Out-of-State) $79,108 $76,440
Median Grant $32,000 $32,792
% Receiving Grants 91.0% 90.0%
Avg. Debt at Graduation - -

Employment Outcomes

2024 ABA 509

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

Metric UMich Vandy
BigLaw (501+) 50.3% 47.6%
Judicial Clerkships 17.1% 11.4%
Median Salary (Private) - $215,000
Employment Rate 95.0% 94.6%
Bar Pass Rate 95.6% 94.5%

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