University of Michigan vs Wayne State University

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 #8 compared to #71 — a gap of 63 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 50.3% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 5.1% for the other school. This 45 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 95.0% (UMich) and 94.2% (Wayne State), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, University of Michigan offered a median scholarship of $112,500 compared to $101,802, a difference of $10,698 that may factor into enrollment decisions.