Cooley Law School vs. Detroit Mercy: Cost, Bar Passage & Outcomes Compared

Both are Michigan law schools. On the most recent ABA Standard 509 data, Detroit Mercy is the more selective admit (median LSAT 156 vs 147); Detroit Mercy posts the higher first-time bar passage (70.83% vs 51.54%); Cooley Law School is cheaper on sticker tuition ($45,820 vs $48,480); Detroit Mercy places more graduates in full-time JD jobs (91.6% vs 74.1%).

Side by side (ABA Standard 509)

MetricCooley Law SchoolDetroit MercyBetter
Admissions
Median LSAT147156Detroit Mercy
Median undergraduate GPA3.093.52Detroit Mercy
Acceptance rate52.9%41.4%Detroit Mercy
Cost
Resident tuition$45,820$48,480Cooley Law School
Non-resident tuition$45,820$48,480Cooley Law School
Median grant$13,746$18,636Detroit Mercy
Bar passage
First-time bar passage51.54%70.83%Detroit Mercy
Two-year ultimate bar passage57.47%77.88%Detroit Mercy
Bar passage vs. state average-22.6 pts-2.4 ptsDetroit Mercy
Employment
Full-time, long-term JD employment74.1%91.6%Detroit Mercy
Large-firm (250+) employment0.7%7.3%Detroit Mercy
Federal clerkships0%0%Tie

15-year trajectory

First-time bar passage: 63.92% in 2011 to 51.54% in 202520%40%60%80%111315182022242551.54%
First-time bar passage · 2011–2025
Cooley Law School — First-time bar passage
First-time bar passage: 77.59% in 2011 to 70.83% in 202550%60%70%80%90%111315182022242570.83%
First-time bar passage · 2011–2025
Detroit Mercy — First-time bar passage
Resident tuition: $34,340 in 2011 to $45,820 in 2025$30,000$40,000$50,000$60,0001113151719212325$45,820
Resident tuition · 2011–2025
Cooley Law School — Resident tuition
Resident tuition: $36,050 in 2011 to $48,480 in 2025$30,000$40,000$50,000$60,0001113151719212325$48,480
Resident tuition · 2011–2025
Detroit Mercy — Resident tuition

Full profiles & related

Cooley Law School full profile · Detroit Mercy full profile · All Michigan law schools

FAQ

Is Cooley Law School or Detroit Mercy harder to get into?

Detroit Mercy is the tougher admit — its median LSAT is 156 against Cooley Law School's 147.

Which is cheaper, Cooley Law School or Detroit Mercy?

Cooley Law School is cheaper on sticker: resident tuition of $45,820 versus Detroit Mercy's $48,480.

Which has better bar passage, Cooley Law School or Detroit Mercy?

Detroit Mercy has the higher first-time bar passage, 70.83% against Cooley Law School's 51.54%.

Which has better job outcomes, Cooley Law School or Detroit Mercy?

Detroit Mercy places more graduates in full-time, long-term JD jobs (91.6% vs 74.1%).

Cooley Law School vs Detroit Mercy: which is better?

It depends on what you weigh — the table above shows where each wins. Across the four headline measures (selectivity, sticker cost, first-time bar passage, and JD employment), Detroit Mercy leads on more of them, but read the row that matters most to you rather than the count.

Source: ABA Standard 509 Required Disclosures, most recent reported cycle. Last updated June 26, 2026.

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