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Side-by-side comparison of admissions, costs, and outcomes
Cross-Admit Decision Data
Of 20 applicants admitted to both schools:
Based on 20 self-reported cross-admit decisions from the last 5 cycles
View all-time data (68 cross-admits)
68 total cross-admit decisions (all cycles)
OSU is #32 · Cincinnati is Top 75 in the LSD rankings
See full LSD.Law school rankings →About this comparison
This page compares Ohio State University and University of Cincinnati across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 20 applicants admitted to both.
Based on 20 applicants admitted to both schools, 85% chose to attend Ohio State University. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.
In the U.S. News rankings, Ohio State University is ranked #28 compared to #71 — a gap of 43 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.
There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: Ohio State University has a median LSAT of 168 compared to 159, a gap of 9 points. This suggests applicants to Ohio State University face a more competitive admissions pool.
Both schools are located in Ohio — Ohio State University in Columbus and University of Cincinnati in Cincinnati — meaning graduates often compete in the same regional legal market.
On cost, University of Cincinnati has lower tuition at $24,010 per year compared to $35,650. Combined with employment rates of 94.4% (OSU) and 88.5% (Cincinnati), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.
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Admissions Comparison
2025 ABA 509How these schools compare on LSAT, GPA, selectivity, and class composition.
| Metric | OSU | Cincinnati |
|---|---|---|
| USN Rank | #28 ▲ | #71 |
| LSD Rank | #32 (0.019) ▲ | Top 75 (0.007) |
| LSAT 25th | 163 ▲ | 156 |
| LSAT Median | 168 ▲ | 159 |
| LSAT 75th | 169 ▲ | 161 |
| GPA Median | 3.91 ▲ | 3.80 |
| Acceptance Rate | 24.6% ▲ | 32.7% |
| Class Size | 159 | 139 |
| Yield Rate | 28.0% | 30.5% ▲ |
Financial Comparison
2025 ABA 509Tuition, scholarships, and debt burden at each school.
| Metric | OSU | Cincinnati |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition (In-State) | $35,650 | $24,010 ▲ |
| Tuition (Out-of-State) | $50,902 | $29,010 ▲ |
| Median Grant | $29,984 ▲ | $19,000 |
| % Receiving Grants | 90.0% | 100.0% ▲ |
| Avg. Debt at Graduation | - | - |
Employment Outcomes
2024 ABA 509Post-graduation employment placement, salaries, and bar passage.
| Metric | OSU | Cincinnati |
|---|---|---|
| BigLaw (501+) | 12.8% ▲ | 6.2% |
| Judicial Clerkships | 6.7% ▲ | 6.2% |
| Median Salary (Private) | $105,000 ▲ | $71,000 |
| Employment Rate | 94.4% ▲ | 88.5% |
| Bar Pass Rate | 92.0% ▲ | 85.6% |
Cross-Admit Decisions by Cycle
How cross-admit preferences have shifted over recent application cycles.
| Cycle | Split | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-2025 |
80%
|
5 |
| 2022-2023 |
80%
|
5 |
| 2021-2022 |
86%
|
7 |
| 2020-2021 |
100%
|
5 |
| 2017-2018 |
80%
|
5 |
| 2009-2010 |
100%
|
7 |
| 2008-2009 |
83%
|
6 |
| 2004-2005 |
100%
|
5 |
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