Law Schools in Michigan
5 ABA-approved schools · ABA disclosures · updated November 2, 2026
Michigan has five ABA-approved law schools: three public and two private. Median LSAT scores for the class that entered in fall 2025 run from 147 at Cooley Law School to 171 at the University of Michigan.
Michigan law schools compared
| School | Median LSAT | Median GPA | Accepted | Tuition | Bar pass | Lawyer jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Michigan Law School Ann Arbor · Public | 171 | 3.88 | 8.6% | $76,680 | 94.2% | 95.9% |
| Wayne State University Law School Detroit · Public | 164 | 3.89 | 24.8% | $42,594 | 73.8% | 84.7% |
| Michigan State University College of Law East Lansing · Public | 162 | 3.73 | 26% | $43,868 | 77.3% | 81.2% |
| University of Detroit Mercy School of Law Detroit · Private | 156 | 3.52 | 41.4% | $48,807 | 71.5% | 88.4% |
| Thomas M. Cooley Law School Lansing · Private | 147 | 3.09 | 52.9% | $48,040 | 51.5% | 58.7% |
Tuition is full-time tuition and fees for 2025-26, at the in-state rate for public schools. Bar pass is the first-time rate on 2025 exams in every state where graduates sat; lawyer jobs is the share of 2025 graduates in full-time, long-term jobs requiring bar passage. Each school's page has the detail.
The University of Michigan had the highest first-time bar passage rate, 94.2%. The University of Michigan placed the largest share of 2025 graduates in lawyer jobs, 95.9%. The University of Michigan was the hardest to get into, accepting 8.6% of applicants. Wayne State University charged the least, $42,594.
The Michigan bar exam
In 2025, 71.3% of graduates of ABA-approved law schools who took the Michigan bar exam for the first time passed, as the ABA reports it. That is the yardstick each school's rate is compared with when its graduates sit here.
Graduates of these schools took it most often in 2025 (schools with at least 10 first-time takers here):
| School | Takers | Passed | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Detroit Mercy | 136 | 97 | 71.3% |
| Michigan State University | 131 | 102 | 77.9% |
| Wayne State University | 126 | 92 | 73% |
| Cooley Law School | 62 | 31 | 50% |
| University of Michigan | 44 | 40 | 90.9% |
| University of Toledo | 19 | 14 | 73.7% |
| University of Notre Dame | 11 | 11 | 100% |
Out-of-state schools that send graduates to Michigan
Each school reports the three states where most of its employed graduates work. These schools outside Michigan count it among their top three:
- University of Toledo (OH): 17 employed 2025 graduates
- Ohio Northern University (OH): 5 employed 2025 graduates
- Cleveland State University (OH): 2 employed 2025 graduates
Practicing in Michigan: Michigan Rules of Civil Procedure · Michigan procedural guides · Divorce in Michigan.
Check your own numbers against these schools with the LSAT and GPA school finder.
Frequently asked questions
How many law schools are in Michigan?
Michigan has 5 ABA-approved law schools: Michigan State University College of Law, Thomas M. Cooley Law School, University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, University of Michigan Law School, Wayne State University Law School.
Which Michigan law school has the highest bar passage rate?
University of Michigan Law School, where 94.2% of first-time takers passed in 2025.
What is the cheapest law school in Michigan?
Wayne State University Law School, at $42,594 a year in full-time tuition and fees for 2025-26 (in-state rate).
What is the hardest law school to get into in Michigan?
By acceptance rate, University of Michigan Law School, which accepted 8.6% of applicants for fall 2025, with a median LSAT of 171.
What is the Michigan bar exam pass rate?
In 2025, 71.3% of first-time takers from ABA-approved law schools passed the Michigan bar exam, as the ABA reports it.