Which has a higher LSAT median, Michigan State University or Wayne State University?

Wayne State University has a higher median LSAT of 164, compared to 162. This is a difference of 2 points.

Which school has better BigLaw placement, Michigan State University or Wayne State University?

Wayne State University places 5.1% of graduates into large law firms (501+ attorneys), compared to 4.1% for the other school.

Michigan State University vs Wayne State University

Q: When admitted to both Michigan State University and Wayne State University, which do students choose?

Of 22 applicants admitted to both schools, 77% chose Wayne State University. This is based on cross-admit decisions self-reported by LSD.Law users.

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

Cross-Admit Decision Data

Of 22 applicants admitted to both schools:

Chose Michigan State Chose Wayne State

23%

77%

Median scholarship: $123,348 Median scholarship: $110,504

Based on 22 self-reported cross-admit decisions from the last 5 cycles

View all-time data (60 cross-admits)

48% chose Michigan State 52% chose Wayne State

60 total cross-admit decisions (all cycles)

Michigan State is Top 75 · Wayne State is #44 in the LSD rankings

See full LSD.Law school rankings →

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About this comparison

This page compares Michigan State University and Wayne State University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 22 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 22 applicants admitted to both schools, 77% chose to attend Wayne State University. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, Wayne State University is ranked #71 compared to #115 — a gap of 44 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

Both schools are located in Michigan — Michigan State University in East Lansing and Wayne State University in Detroit — meaning graduates often compete in the same regional legal market.

Among cross-admitted applicants, Michigan State University offered a median scholarship of $123,348 compared to $110,504, a difference of $12,844 that may factor into enrollment decisions.

Compare Another Pair

Admissions Financial Employment Trends Related

Admissions Comparison

2025 ABA 509

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

Metric	Michigan State	Wayne State
USN Rank	#115	#71 ▲
LSD Rank	Top 75 (0.005)	#44 (0.010) ▲
LSAT 25th	158 ▲	157
LSAT Median	162	164 ▲
LSAT 75th	164	166 ▲
GPA Median	3.73	3.89 ▲
Acceptance Rate	26.0%	24.8% ▲
Class Size	150	129
Yield Rate	37.8%	40.0% ▲

Financial Comparison

2025 ABA 509

Tuition, scholarships, and debt burden at each school.

Metric	Michigan State	Wayne State
Tuition (In-State)	$43,480	$38,861 ▲
Tuition (Out-of-State)	$48,222	$42,632 ▲
Median Grant	$42,682 ▲	$34,636
% Receiving Grants	100.0% ▲	83.0%
Avg. Debt at Graduation	-	-

Employment Outcomes

2024 ABA 509

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

Metric	Michigan State	Wayne State
BigLaw (501+)	4.1%	5.1% ▲
Judicial Clerkships	5.0%	5.1% ▲
Median Salary (Private)	$89,000	$135,000 ▲
Employment Rate	89.1%	94.2% ▲
Bar Pass Rate	78.3%	86.0% ▲