Michigan State University vs University of South Carolina
Where graduates end up, what each school really costs, and who gets in, side by side from each school's official ABA data. Add your LSAT and GPA to see your chances and scholarship estimates at both.
VS
Add your numbersSee your admission chances and scholarship estimates at both schools.
The short version
- South Carolina places more graduates in BigLaw or federal clerkships: 10.0% of the Class of 2025, against 6.6% at Michigan State.
- Michigan State costs about $51K less over three years after the average scholarship: $115K against $166K, and more of its students get a scholarship (100% vs 90%).
- Michigan State is harder to get into: a 162 median LSAT and a 26.0% acceptance rate, against 162 and 29.9% at South Carolina.
- South Carolina has the higher first time bar pass rate: 90.0% against 77.3%.
Michigan State
vs
South Carolina
Where graduates go
South Carolina leads 4 of 5
6.6%
BigLaw + federal clerkships
✓10.0%
4.6%
BigLaw (501+ attorney firms)
✓8.4%
✓2.0%
Federal clerkships
1.6%
93.9%
Graduates employed
✓94.7%
77.3%
First time bar passage
✓90.0%
What it costs
Michigan State leads 4 of 4
✓$115K
Three year net cost
$166K
✓100%
Students receiving a scholarship
90%
✓$42,682/yr
Median scholarship (recipients)
$12,562/yr
✓$37,353/yr
Average scholarship (all students)
$11,710/yr
Who gets in
Acceptance rate: Michigan State 26.0% · South Carolina 29.9%
LSAT
Bars run from the 25th to the 75th percentile, with the median marked.
Michigan State
158162164
South Carolina
160162164
156158160162164166
GPA
Undergraduate GPA of the entering class, same scale for both schools.
Michigan State
3.473.733.87
South Carolina
3.433.673.86
3.353.453.553.653.753.853.95
Michigan State University
University of South Carolina
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Frequently asked questions
Is Michigan State or South Carolina better for BigLaw?
South Carolina placed more of its Class of 2025 in BigLaw or federal clerkships: 10.0% against 6.6%. By BigLaw alone (firms of 501+ attorneys), Michigan State placed 4.6% and South Carolina placed 8.4%. Federal clerkships were 2.0% at Michigan State and 1.6% at South Carolina.
Which is harder to get into, Michigan State or South Carolina?
Michigan State's Fall 2025 entering class had a median LSAT of 162 and a median GPA of 3.73, with a 26.0% acceptance rate. South Carolina's had 162 and 3.67, with 29.9%. Add your LSAT and GPA above to see your estimated chances at both.
Which costs less, Michigan State or South Carolina?
After the average scholarship, three years cost about $115K at Michigan State and $166K at South Carolina, including living costs. Public schools are shown at out of state tuition. Your own scholarship can move these numbers a lot, so add your numbers above for an estimate.
Which gives more scholarship money, Michigan State or South Carolina?
100% of Michigan State students receive a scholarship, with a median award of $42,682 a year among recipients. 90% of South Carolina students receive a scholarship, with a median award of $12,562 a year among recipients.
Which has the better bar passage rate?
77.3% of Michigan State's first time takers passed in 2025, against 90.0% at South Carolina. Each school's profile shows how that compares with the states where its graduates sat.
Should I choose Michigan State or South Carolina?
It depends on your goals, your odds and your offers. Compare where each school's graduates end up, then add your LSAT and GPA above to see your estimated chances and scholarships at both. Your scholarship offer usually changes the cost more than anything else.
What a higher LSAT changes
Move the LSAT slider in the admissions calculator to watch your odds and scholarship estimates change at every school.
Figures come from each school’s official ABA disclosures. Admission chances and scholarship estimates are modeled from that data and are not predictions of any individual decision. Our data and methodology