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Law School Acceptance Rates (2025) - Complete List

January 11, 2025
9 min read

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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 2025

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 Median GPA of Entering Class Median LSAT Score of Entering Class
Yale University 5.25% 4,358 3.96 174
Stanford University 8.85% 4,270 3.92 173
University of Chicago 12.73% 5,366 3.94 173
University of Pennsylvania (Carey) 9.95% 6,461 3.93 172
Harvard University 10.97% 7,231 3.95 174
Duke University 13.88% 5,395 3.89 170

Law School Acceptance Rates Number of Applicants Median GPA of Entering Class Median LSAT Score of Entering Class
New York University 16.67% 8,537 3.91 172
Columbia University 11.75% 7,671 3.90 173
University of Virginia 13.92% 5,164 3.96 172
Northwestern University 15.36% 6,327 3.95 172
University of California-Berkely 17.30% 6,463 3.87 170
University of Michigan 11.85% 6,766 3.89 170

Law School Acceptance Rates Number of Applicants Median GPA of Entering Class Median LSAT Score of Entering Class
Cornell University 23.11% 3,722 3.89 173
University of California-Los Angeles 16.10% 6,932 3.95 170
Georgetown University 20.13% 11,309 3.92 171
University of Minnesota 34.93% 2,442 3.88 169
University of Southern California (Gould) 12.41% 6,203 3.91 169
University of Texas-Austin 15.60% 5,475 3.89 171

Law School Acceptance Rates Number of Applicants Median GPA of Entering Class Median LSAT Score of Entering Class
Vanderbilt University 18.45% 4,808 3.89 169
University of Georgia 14.48% 3,640 3.91 169
Washington University-St. Louis 19.90% 4,798 3.96 173
Brigham Young University 27.76% 598 3.92 168
Ohio State University (2023 entering class stats) 33.08% 1,814 3.83 165
University of Florida 17.44% 3,642 3.90 169
University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill 15.18% 2,616 3.85 167

Law School Acceptance Rates Number of Applicants Median GPA of Entering Class Median LSAT Score of Entering Class
Wake Forest University 26.84% 2,448 3.84 166
Boston University 20.61% 6,207 3.88 170
University of Notre Dame 23.26% 2,442 3.85 169
Boston College 13.27% 6,128 3.80 167
Fordham University 22.15% 6,881 3.76 167
Texas A&M University 13.84% 4,556 3.97 168
Arizona State University 22.05% 4,118 3.90 165

Law School Acceptance Rates Number of Applicants Median GPA of Entering Class Median LSAT Score of Entering Class
George Mason University 14.60% 2,397 3.92 168
University of Utah 24.76% 1,159 3.86 165
Emory University 40.12% 3,153 3.81 165
George Washington University 32.59% 8,091 3.87 168
University of Alabama 26.58% 1,422 3.95 165
University of California-Irvine 17.38% 3,096 3.81 167
University of Iowa 59.76% 1,019 3.76 162

Law School Acceptance Rates Number of Applicants Median GPA of Entering Class Median LSAT Score of Entering Class
University of Kansas 38.30% 1,214 3.79 161
University of Wisconsin-Madison 28.93% 1,818 3.81 165
Washington and Lee University 31.68% 1,749 3.73 166
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 46.79% 1,509 3.77 165
Villanova University 21.93% 2,740 3.81 164
Indiana University-Bloomington 39.45% 1,526 3.91 164
Pepperdine University 28.44% 3,879 3.85 164
Southern Methodist University 30.39% 2,540 3.86 165
William & Mary University 32.23% 1,564 3.75 164
Baylor University 26.93% 3,012 3.73 163
University of Washington 40.50% 2,489 3.67 163

​​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. 

Increase your acceptance rate to any top law program to 94% with the help of our experts.

The Median Law School Acceptance Rate

The median acceptance rate for law schools in the United States is 41-42%, 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 14%.

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 41-42%. 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 14%, making them the hardest law schools to get into. 

If you want more information about your chances of getting accepted to law school, then you can take our law school predictor quiz down below! It will give you a comprehensive prediction of how hard or easy it might be for you to get into law school. 

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. 

The best way to increase your chances of acceptance is getting law school admissions support. Our counselors know how to take your application from average to accepted.

No more low odds—our counselors can boost your chances of getting an acceptance letter at any top law program.

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 41-42%.
  • The top 15 law schools in the United States collectively maintain an average acceptance rate of 14%.
  • On average, incoming law school students possess a GPA of 3.55.
  • In 2023, 116,851 students pursued JD degrees at ABA-accredited law schools.
  • Yale Law School, Stanford Law School, and UPenn Law School stand out as the three most challenging law schools to gain admission to.

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 of Entering Class Median LSAT Score of Entering Class
Creighton University Law School 69.57% 3.42 152
Roger Williams University School of Law 67.67% 3.44 149
Southern Illinois University School of Law 67.35% 3.38 148

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 of Entering Class Median LSAT Score of Entering Class
Yale Law School 5.25% 3.96 174
Stanford Law School 8.85% 3.92 173
University of Pennsylvania (Carey) 9.95% 3.93 172

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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