Head-to-head · 33 cross-admits
When applicants got into both, 58% chose UMN. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 33 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
Median scholarship (chose UMN)
Median scholarship (chose OSU)
View all-time (45 cross-admits)
Trend · UMN's share
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Highest cycle
Admissions
Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield 2025 ABA 509Financial
Sticker price, scholarships, and debt burden 2025 ABA 509Employment & outcomes
Post-graduation placement and bar passage 2024 ABA EmploymentCross-admit by cycle
How preferences shifted over recent cyclesOverview
About UMN vs OSU
Across 33 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 58% enrolled at University of Minnesota and 42% at Ohio State University. The split has shifted +10 points across the tracked cycles.
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 Minnesota and Ohio State University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 33 applicants admitted to both.
Based on 33 applicants admitted to both schools, 58% chose to attend University of Minnesota. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.
In the U.S. News rankings, University of Minnesota is ranked #22 compared to #30 — a gap of 8 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.
University of Minnesota is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, while Ohio State University is in Columbus , Ohio. Regional placement matters: graduates tend to find employment near their law school, so location should factor into your decision alongside rankings and cost.
On cost, Ohio State University has lower tuition at $35,650 per year compared to $51,440. Combined with employment rates of 95.2% (UMN) and 94.4% (OSU), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.