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Side-by-side comparison of admissions, costs, and outcomes
Cross-Admit Decision Data
Of 14 applicants admitted to both schools:
Based on 14 self-reported cross-admit decisions from the last 5 cycles
View all-time data (36 cross-admits)
36 total cross-admit decisions (all cycles)
UMN is #24 · St. Thomas (Minnesota) is 75+ in the LSD rankings
See full LSD.Law school rankings →About this comparison
This page compares University of Minnesota and University of St. Thomas (Minnesota) across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes using official ABA 509 disclosures.
In the U.S. News rankings, University of Minnesota is ranked #20 compared to #94 — a gap of 74 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.
There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: University of Minnesota has a median LSAT of 171 compared to 159, a gap of 12 points. This suggests applicants to University of Minnesota face a more competitive admissions pool.
University of Minnesota is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 26.7% compared to University of St. Thomas (Minnesota)'s 57.6%.
Both schools are located in Minnesota — University of Minnesota in Minneapolis and University of St. Thomas (Minnesota) in Minneapolis — meaning graduates often compete in the same regional legal market.
Employment outcomes differ substantially: University of Minnesota places 16.1% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 2.5% for the other school. This 14 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.
Among cross-admitted applicants, University of St. Thomas (Minnesota) offered a median scholarship of $137,695 compared to $60,000, a difference of $77,695 that may factor into enrollment decisions.
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Admissions Comparison
2025 ABA 509How these schools compare on LSAT, GPA, selectivity, and class composition.
| Metric | UMN | St. Thomas (Minnesota) |
|---|---|---|
| USN Rank | #20 ▲ | #94 |
| LSD Rank | #24 (0.029) ▲ | 75+ (0.003) |
| LSAT 25th | 166 ▲ | 155 |
| LSAT Median | 171 ▲ | 159 |
| LSAT 75th | 173 ▲ | 162 |
| GPA Median | 3.88 ▲ | 3.72 |
| Acceptance Rate | 26.7% ▲ | 57.6% |
| Class Size | 228 | 168 |
| Yield Rate | 24.8% | 33.6% ▲ |
Financial Comparison
2025 ABA 509Tuition, scholarships, and debt burden at each school.
| Metric | UMN | St. Thomas (Minnesota) |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition (In-State) | $51,440 | $50,998 ▲ |
| Tuition (Out-of-State) | $61,845 | $50,998 ▲ |
| Median Grant | $35,000 ▲ | $26,865 |
| % Receiving Grants | 94.0% | 100.0% ▲ |
| Avg. Debt at Graduation | - | - |
Employment Outcomes
2024 ABA 509Post-graduation employment placement, salaries, and bar passage.
| Metric | UMN | St. Thomas (Minnesota) |
|---|---|---|
| BigLaw (501+) | 16.1% ▲ | 2.5% |
| Judicial Clerkships | 23.9% ▲ | 22.0% |
| Median Salary (Private) | $177,500 ▲ | $91,250 |
| Employment Rate | 95.2% ▲ | 88.1% |
| Bar Pass Rate | 94.1% ▲ | 74.7% |
Cross-Admit Decisions by Cycle
How cross-admit preferences have shifted over recent application cycles.
| Cycle | Split | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-2025 |
67%
|
6 |
| 2023-2024 |
80%
|
5 |
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