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Head-to-head · 20 cross-admits

When applicants got into both, 90% chose UMN. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 20 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.

20
cross-admits
3
cycles
-17pt
YoY shift

Cross-admit decision

Of 20 applicants admitted to both schools
Last 5 cycles
University of Minnesota logo Chose UMN
90%
Chose UWashington University of Washington logo
10%

Typical aid · ABA 509 · 2025

per year
$35,000
94.0% get a grant
$16,440 net tuition
$14,000
70.0% get a grant
$31,927 net tuition

Cross-admits who enrolled · self-reported, 3-yr award

$90,000
n = 16
—
n < 5
View all-time (48 cross-admits)
73% chose UMN 27% chose UWashington

Trend · UMN's share

2021–2024

Lowest cycle

83%

Highest cycle

100%
3 cycles
100 50 0 21 22 24 2021: 100% 2022: 83% 2024: 83%
UMN #23 · UWashington #45 LSD n≈6/yr

Admissions

Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield
2025 ABA 509
Metric
University of Minnesota logo
UMN
Minneapolis, Minnesota
University of Washington logo
UWashington
Seattle, Washington
USN Rank
#22
#52
LSD Rank
#23 (0.029)
#45 (0.008)
LSAT 25th
166
162
LSAT Median
171
165
LSAT 75th
173
167
GPA Median
3.88
3.76
Acceptance Rate
26.7%
19.6%
Class Size
228
207
Yield Rate
24.8%
30.2%

Financial

Sticker price and scholarship aid
2025 ABA 509
Metric
University of Minnesota logo
UMN
Minneapolis, Minnesota
University of Washington logo
UWashington
Seattle, Washington
Tuition (In-State)
$51,440
$45,927
Tuition (Out-of-State)
$61,845
$57,810
Median Grant
$35,000
$14,000
% Receiving Grants
94.0%
70.0%

Employment & outcomes

Post-graduation placement and bar passage
2025 ABA Employment
Metric
University of Minnesota logo
UMN
Minneapolis, Minnesota
University of Washington logo
UWashington
Seattle, Washington
BigLaw (501+)
17.6%
15.3%
Federal Clerkships
3.2%
1.7%
State & Local Clerkships
23.0%
6.8%
Median Salary (Private)
-
-
Employment Rate
95.5%
88.7%
Bar Pass Rate
94.1%
91.7%

Overview

About UMN vs UWashington

Across 20 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 90% enrolled at University of Minnesota and 10% at University of Washington. The split has shifted -17 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.

Looking at a different matchup? Browse all comparisons or run a custom pair from the index.

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Detailed comparison narrative

This page compares University of Minnesota and University of Washington 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, 90% 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 #52 — a gap of 30 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 165, a gap of 6 points. This suggests applicants to University of Minnesota face a more competitive admissions pool.

University of Minnesota is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, while University of Washington is in Seattle, Washington. 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, University of Washington has lower tuition at $45,927 per year compared to $51,440. Combined with employment rates of 95.5% (UMN) and 88.7% (UWashington), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.