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Law School Acceptance Rates (2024) - Complete List

December 12, 2023
9 min read
Contents

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Reviewed by:

David Merson

Former Head of Pre-Law Office, Northeastern University, & Admissions Officer, Brown University

Reviewed: 12/12/23

Follow along for recent law school acceptance rates. Here, we'll go over how hard it is to get into law school and provide acceptance rates.

Applying for law school can be a very stressful and tedious process. However, with much hard work and dedication, getting accepted and earning your JD can become a reality.

If you’re unsure which institution you’d like to attend, looking at what law schools academically require and how much they cost is an excellent way to make an informed decision. You can determine if you can get into a specific law school and tailor your application accordingly. 

Below, we’ll cover the acceptance rates, GPAs, and LSAT scores of several top ABA-accredited law schools in the U.S. This information will give you a good overview of what law schools are looking for in applicants. Let’s get started!

Law School Acceptance Rates in 2024

Below is a list of some competitive law schools in the U.S., the number of applicants, their acceptance rates, GPAs, and LSAT scores.

Law School Acceptance Rates Number of Applicants Average GPA LSAT Score
Yale University 5.5% 4,471 3.96 175
Stanford University 7% 4,500 3.92 173
University of Chicago 14.2% 5,246 3.91 173
University of Pennsylvania (Carey) 3.8% 6,518 3.92 172
Harvard University 9.5% 8,393 3.93 174
Duke University 10.7% 6,205 3.87 170

Law School Acceptance Rates Number of Applicants Average GPA LSAT Score
New York University 15.6% 8,874 3.90 172
Columbia University 12.2% 7,754 3.90 173
University of Virginia 5.0% 6,031 3.94 171
Northwestern University 15.0% 6,225 3.89 172
University of California-Berkely 12.4% 6,719 3.87 170
University of Michigan 13.5% 6,439 3.85 171

Law School Acceptance Rates Number of Applicants Average GPA LSAT Score
Cornell University 13.7% 4,453 3.90 172
University of California-Los Angeles 15.5% 6,457 3.92 170
Georgetown University 17.6% 11,325 3.86 171
University of Minnesota 37.1% 2,171 3.85 168
University of Southern California (Gould) 12.5% 4,850 3.88 169
University of Texas-Austin 14.5% 6,325 3.84 170

Law School Acceptance Rates Number of Applicants Average GPA LSAT Score
Vanderbilt University 14.5% 5,817 3.89 170
University of Georgia 14.8% 2,953 3.83 169
Washington University-St. Louis 18.0% 5,511 3.94 172
Brigham Young University 31.4% 503 3.92 168
Ohio State University 37.1% 1,633 3.86 164
University of Florida 17.0% 3,987 3.91 169
University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill 14.6% 2,815 3.78 166

Law School Acceptance Rates Number of Applicants Average GPA LSAT Score
Wake Forest University 32.9% 2,116 3.79 165
Boston University 16.3% 7,312 3.86 170
University of Notre Dame 24.5% 2,476 3.83 169
Boston College 10.1% 5,668 3.77 167
Fordham University 18.7% 6,359 3.75 167
Texas A&M University 16.3% 4,017 3.97 166
Arizona State University 19.6% 5,546 3.90 167

Law School Acceptance Rates Number of Applicants Average GPA LSAT Score
George Mason University 19.6% 2,114 3.89 168
University of Utah 31.9% 961 3.85 164
Emory University 32.1% 4,125 3.80 168
George Washington University 25.0% 8,000 3.85 168
University of Alabama 25.7% 1,634 3.95 167
University of California-Irvine 19.4% 2,629 3.72 167
University of Iowa 41.2% 1,417 3.75 163

Law School Acceptance Rates Number of Applicants Average GPA LSAT Score
University of Kansas 55.3% 629 3.71 160
University of Wisconsin-Madison 35.1% 2041 3.73 165
Washington and Lee University 32.7% 2,022 3.72 165
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 34.7% 2,035 3.75 165
Villanova University 22.5% 2,351 3.80 164
Indiana University-Bloomington 43.3% 1,384 3.86 164

Law School Acceptance Rates Number of Applicants Average GPA LSAT Score
Pepperdine University 27.6% 3,971 3.85 164
Southern Methodist University 33.9% 2,253 3.83 164
William & Mary University 46.0% 2,248 3.77 166
Baylor University 23.8% 3,029 3.72 163
University of Washington 30.2% 2,671 3.74 164

​​From looking at these law school numbers, you can see that these law schools are very competitive. However, with hard work and professional guidance, you'll have a significant advantage in reaching your goals.

Juris Education offers law school admissions consulting and tutoring to help applicants get into their dream law school. Our team is composed of professionals who have been a part of the admissions committees at some of the most prestigious law schools in the U.S. If you're interested, book a free consultation to get started. 

The Median Law School Acceptance Rate

The median acceptance rate for law schools in the United States is 41%, with some institutions boasting acceptance rates surpassing 65%.

Gaining admission to the top 15 law schools, such as Stanford and Yale, is more challenging, as they have an average acceptance rate of 12.6%.

How Hard Is It To Get Into Law School? 

Getting accepted into law school in the U.S. is extremely difficult. For context, the average admission rate for all law schools is 41%. This means that less than half of applicants are getting admitted. With that being said, the top 15 law schools in America have an average acceptance rate of 11%, making them the hardest law schools to get into. 

How to Increase Your Chances of Getting Into Law School

Here are some tips to help you increase your chances of getting into law school.

Boost Your GPA

One of the requirements for the law school application is a bachelor's degree. While there's no specific field of study you’re required to pursue, applicants must have a high GPA score upon graduation.

Some law schools may require a higher GPA score than others. For instance, if you apply to an Ivy League law school, you'll need at least a 3.9 GPA. In contrast, law schools with a lower rank may require a minimum of a 3.0 GPA. 

Nevertheless, achieving and maintaining such a high GPA score can be tough but beneficial. With the rise of law school applications, competition also increases. Ensure you're on top of your work and maintain that high GPA.

Get a Great LSAT Score

The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is another requirement for law school applications. Its analytical and logical components are known to be tricky.

Many potential applicants hire private tutors, study, take courses, and purchase LSAT textbooks in hopes of passing the exam. As you can see, preparing for the LSAT is a challenging and lengthy process.

What makes the LSAT so challenging are the time limits combined with the trickiness of the exam’s logical and analytical components. The logical and analytical sections of the LSAT consist of tricky passages and questions designed to keep you on your toes. The best way to prepare for this exam is to review LSAT practice exams.

If you take the LSAT and don’t get a good score, you can retake the exam to improve your score. Ensure you implement tips and strategies to help you ace the LSAT

Obtain Glowing Letters of Recommendation

Letters of recommendation are another key component of the law school application. Most law schools ask for two letters of recommendation, with at least one written by a professor, to gauge your academic performance and achievements. 

Developing a close, professional relationship with your professors is key to receiving glowing recommendation letters. Doing so allows them to get to know you better and can even open up research opportunities for you.

Securing letters of recommendation might be difficult for an individual if they're not used to building relationships with their professors. However, establishing these connections can be a great way to jump-start your legal career.

Write a Stellar Personal Statement

The personal statement and cover letter are great ways to sell yourself to the admissions committee and gain admissions by allowing you to discuss your interests, extracurriculars, and achievements in greater detail.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when you’re drafting your personal statement:

  • Provide new information. You don't want to regurgitate what's already in your resume.
  • Tell a story. Talk about where you come from, your life experiences, and where you want to go.
  • Be selective with your examples. Think of an experience that changed your life forever. Ensure you write your personal statement around that and tie it to a theme.
  • Keep your writing clear and concise. The admissions committee must understand what you're trying to say. Avoid using overly complex or flowy language and exceeding the word count.
  • Revise, Revise, Revise. Ensure you check your spelling, grammar, and punctuation. First impressions are everything.

Writing a law school personal statement can be complicated and overwhelming, but these effective tips will help you write an amazing personal statement. 

Top Law School Admissions Statistics

Here are some law school admissions statistics to keep in mind when applying. 

  • The median acceptance rate for law schools is 41%.
  • The top 15 law schools in the United States collectively maintain an average acceptance rate of 12.6%.
  • On average, incoming law school students possess a GPA of 3.55.
  • In the past year, 38,019 JD students enrolled in law schools.
  • Yale Law School, Stanford Law School, and Harvard Law School stand out as the three most challenging law schools to gain admission to.
  • Southern University Law Center, Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School, and Texas Southern University Thurgood Marshall School of Law are the easiest institutions.

Law School Admissions Statistics: FAQs

If you still have questions, check out these frequently asked questions.

1. What Law School Is The Easiest To Get Into? 

Below is a table of law schools with high acceptance rates.

Law School Acceptance Rates Median GPA Median LSAT Score
Creighton University Law School 79% 3.39 153
Roger Williams University School of Law 67% 3.33 150
Southern Illinois University School of Law 56% 3.35 150

As you can see from the table, these law schools are relatively easy to get into and are not competitive compared to the rest.

2. What Law School Is The Hardest To Get Into?

Below is a table of the hardest law schools to get into.

Law School Acceptance Rates Median GPA Median LSAT Score
Yale Law School 5.5% 3.96 174
Stanford Law School 7% 3.92 173
Harvard Law School 9.5% 3.93 174

As you can see from the table above, these law schools have lowest acceptance rates making them hard to get into.

Final Thoughts

Law school is one of the most demanding educational endeavors a person can embark on. If you're interested in applying, you must assess the law school acceptance rate and the accepted applicants' average GPA and LSAT scores. 

It's also essential that you do your research on the schools you want to go to. Make sure they offer the things you're looking for and that getting into law school is attainable. 

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