Head-to-head · 13 cross-admits
When applicants got into both, 100% chose UMich. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 13 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
View all-time (23 cross-admits)
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 Wayne State
Across 13 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 100% enrolled at University of Michigan and 0% at Wayne State University.
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 Wayne State University 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 #62 — a gap of 53 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 164, a gap of 7 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 Wayne State University's 24.8%.
Both schools are located in Michigan — University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and Wayne State University in Detroit — meaning graduates often compete in the same regional legal market.
Employment outcomes differ substantially: University of Michigan places 54.5% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 4.8% for the other school. This 50 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.
On cost, Wayne State University has lower tuition at $38,861 per year compared to $76,108. Combined with employment rates of 97.7% (UMich) and 96.8% (Wayne State), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.
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