University of Michigan vs Washington University in St. Louis

This page compares University of Michigan and Washington University in St. Louis across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 54 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 54 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 #14 — a gap of 6 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: Washington University in St. Louis has a median LSAT of 175 compared to 171, a gap of 4 points. This suggests applicants to Washington University in St. Louis face a more competitive admissions pool.

University of Michigan is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 8.6% compared to Washington University in St. Louis's 19.0%.

University of Michigan is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, while Washington University in St. Louis is in St. Louis, Missouri. 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 39.3% for the other school. This 11 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

Among cross-admitted applicants, Washington University in St. Louis offered a median scholarship of $166,875 compared to $120,000, a difference of $46,875 that may factor into enrollment decisions.