Northwestern University vs University of Minnesota

This page compares Northwestern University and University of Minnesota across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 34 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 34 applicants admitted to both schools, 91% chose to attend Northwestern University. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, Northwestern University is ranked #10 compared to #20 — a gap of 10 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

Northwestern University is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 12.3% compared to University of Minnesota's 26.7%.

Northwestern University is located in Evanston, Illinois, while University of Minnesota is in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Regional placement matters: graduates tend to find employment near their law school, so location should factor into your decision alongside rankings and cost.

Employment outcomes differ substantially: Northwestern University places 64.1% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 16.1% for the other school. This 48 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

On cost, University of Minnesota has lower tuition at $51,440 per year compared to $79,772. Combined with employment rates of 95.6% (NU) and 95.2% (UMN), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, University of Minnesota offered a median scholarship of $139,233 compared to $120,000, a difference of $19,233 that may factor into enrollment decisions.