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Tulane Law School: Acceptance Rate + Admission Requirements

April 17, 2024
8 min read

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Reviewed by:

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

Reviewed: 4/17/24

Are you interested in joining a law school that prepares its students for leadership and success in their careers? If so, read on to learn about the Tulane Law School acceptance rate, what it takes to get in, and how this school can kickstart your legal career!

Despite being the 12th oldest in the nation, Tulane University’s law school has always been a place of intense creativity, new ideas, and innovation. 

Since its early beginnings in 1847, Tulane has taken a unique approach by exposing students to the common law systems of the Anglo-American world, and the civil law systems of the rest of the globe. 

As the first law school in the nation to require pro bono service from its students, Tulane has a strong global perspective and a deep commitment to its own community. The institution also prepares its students for practice through hands-on experience.

If you’re convinced Tulane might be the perfect school for you, this guide will tell you everything you need to know about this established law school and how to get into it!

Tulane Law School Acceptance Rate: 48%

In the 2023-2024 admissions cycle, Tulane received 1,860 applications and offered admission to 893 students. As such, Tulane Law School has an acceptance rate of 48%.

According to Tulane’s admissions data, its acceptance rate has stayed relatively consistent over the last few years:

Year Number of Applicants Number of Accepted Students Acceptance Rate
2023-24 1860 893 48%
2022-23 1864 807 43.3%
2021-2022 2182 874 40%
2020-2021 1511 806 53.3%
2019-2020 1510 793 52.5%

How Hard Is It to Get Into Tulane Law School?

Getting into Tulane Law School is moderately difficult. Around 4 out of 10 applicants are offered admission, providing significantly better odds than higher-ranking schools which often accept only 1 out of 10 applicants.

Tulane Law School Programs Offered & Ranking

Depending on how far you are in your legal education, Tulane offers several degrees to help you advance your career:

Programs Offered Length of Program Key Information
Juris Doctor (JD) 3 years A typical JD degree
Master of Laws (LLM) 1 year A specialized degree in your choice of law
Doctor of Juridical Science (JSD) Up to 4 years A highly selective research doctorate program
Clinical Education Program Up to 1 year Allows students to participate in various clinics
Water Resources Law and Policy Program Up to 1 year Allows students to participate in environmental policy-making for projects proposed to save South Louisiana
Regulation and Coordination Program Up to 1 year A program that examines traditional approaches to regulation and emerging strategies
Sports Law Program Up to 1 year Provides students with experience handling legal problems unique to the sports industry

Aside from these programs, JD students also have the option to concentrate in the following legal areas:

  • Admiralty and Maritime Law
  • Energy and Environmental Law
  • International and Comparative Law
  • Sports Law

With such a diverse set of programs and specializations, Tulane Law School has something for every aspiring law student!

Ranking

Tulane Law School ranks 71st in the nation. This school particularly shines in its environmental law program, which ranks 26th.

Tulane Law School Admissions Statistics

Position yourself as a competitive applicant with these scores:

Tulane Law School Average GPA: 3.64

The Tulane Law School average GPA is 3.64. However, Tulane has admitted students with GPAs as low as 3.4. In order to be considered for admission, students need a GPA of at least 2.0.

Tulane Law School Average LSAT Score: 161

Tulane Law School’s average LSAT score is 161. The class of 2027 saw LSAT scores in the range of 157-163. 

Tulane Law School Requirements

Since the Tulane Law School acceptance rate is nearly 50%, meaning they accept almost half of their applicants, you have a fairly good chance of getting. That means you need to think about starting your application! Here’s what you’ll need to apply:

  • A bachelor’s degree
  • Undergraduate transcripts submitted to LSAC
  • LSAT scores
  • A personal essay (suggested length of 2-3 double-spaced pages)
  • 2-3 letters of recommendation, ideally from professors
  • A resume
  • A $60 application fee (fee is waived for JD applicants who apply via the LSAC by December 31)

Tulane School of Law Letters of Recommendation

While Tulane states submitting letters of recommendation is optional, you should definitely submit at least two and up to three. 

To ensure these letters of recommendation convince the admissions committee of your candidacy, they should be written by professors who worked closely with you and can attest to your academic potential. 

Tulane School of Law Personal Essay

The personal essay is considered one of the most important parts of a law student’s application. This statement humanizes applicants and tells the committee information that can’t be found on the rest of their application.

Tulane gives students the option of answering at least one and up to three of the following essay prompts for their personal essay:

Essay Prompt 1

“Submit a personal story about an experience (or experiences)  that has/have significantly shaped your life, values, or aspirations.   While optional, we encourage you to “write your own question(s)”:  At the top of your essay, before your first paragraph,  you can let us know what question (or questions) this essay submission answers about you and your potential contributions to our law school community as reflected in your retelling of this story.”

Essay Prompt 2

“Describe a significant challenge or issue your community has faced and how you creatively addressed or contributed to finding solutions. How did your life experiences, background, and unique perspectives shape your approach to tackling this problem? Provide specific examples of your actions and their impact on the community.  In answering this prompt, definite the word “community” as you personally see fit.”

Essay Prompt 3

“Describe a situation where you took a stand for a cause or principle you strongly believed was right, even when it was challenging or unpopular. How did your personal values and life history motivate you to advocate for this cause? Share the actions you took and the results you achieved through your advocacy.”

Essay Prompt 4

“Reflect on an experience where you demonstrated empathy and understanding towards someone with different perspectives, beliefs, or backgrounds. How did your ability to empathize and see the world from their viewpoint contribute to resolving a conflict or fostering a positive relationship?  Provide specific instances of how you practiced empathy in your interactions.”

Essay Prompt 5

“Share an experience in which you successfully built meaningful connections with people who had vastly different views, values, or backgrounds from your own. How did you approach these relationships, and how did they shape your own beliefs or actions? Discuss how these connections have enriched your perspective.”

Essay Prompt 6

“Describe a situation where you effectively managed your time to support the needs of others while juggling various other responsibilities such as education, extracurricular activities, or employment. How did your organizational skills and commitment to serve others enable you to make a meaningful impact on causes you care about or the lives of those you hold dear?  Explain the steps and strategies you have implemented to optimize your time management.” 

Essay Prompt 7

“Share an experience, challenge, issue, or situation in which your own background and/or identity has played a significant role. How has your background and/or identity influenced your perspective and action? Feel free to share ways in which your background and/or identity might inform your interest in the legal profession.”

Essay Prompt 8

“If you have a particularly strong reason you wish to study law at Tulane,  in  New Orleans, or in our region of the country/world, what experiences, challenges, issues, or aspirations inform this connection? Whether you were raised in the vibrant city of New Orleans, have previously attended Tulane University, have deep ties to the State of Louisiana, or find one of the law school's areas of academic excellence to be a match with your interests, how will attending Tulane Law support your personal growth, academic pursuits, or career aspirations?”

Tulane Law School Tuition and Scholarships

Let’s break down exactly what you can expect to spend in your first year at Tulane:

Expense Type Cost
Tuition $66,264
Student Fees $4,908
Housing $11,506
Meals $6,688
Transportation $2,836
Miscellaneous $2,096
Health/Medical $4,000
Books $1,500
Total $100,014

Law school is an investment both money-wise and time-wise, and Tulane is no exception. Students can expect to pay $71,172 per year for tuition and fees

With the additional estimated costs of living and personal expenses, the total cost of attending Tulane is approximately $100,014 a year.

Scholarships

To help cover these high costs, Tulane offers a range of merit and needs-based scholarships, tuition waivers, and grants to entering JD students. In most cases, these scholarships are renewable for students in their second and third years at Tulane Law School! Financial aid options like loans are also available.

Tulane Law School Application Deadlines

Tulane Law School’s applications open in September and have a suggested deadline of March 1st, 2024. However, considering Tulane begins reviewing applications in mid-November, it’s recommended you submit your application as early as possible.

To give you a better sense of just how long the application process is, here are all of the important Tulane Law School application deadlines you should keep in mind:

Dates & Deadline Application Stage
September 15 Applications open
October 15 Tulane begins processing applications
November 15 Tulane begins reviewing applications
December 15 Tulane begins announcing admission decisions
March 1 Suggested application deadline
April 1 Most admission decisions made

Tulane Law School Bar Passage Rate: 74.7%

Tulane Law has a bar passage rate of 74.7%. Considering this rate nearly matches the national average of 75.23%, it’s clear that Tulane equips its students well for success in the legal profession.

How to Get Into Tulane Law School: 3 Tips to Improve Your Admission Chances

When it comes to getting into Tulane Law School, there are a few things to keep in mind. While considering the Tulane Law School acceptance rate is important, remember that it's just one piece of the puzzle. Follow these tips to get into Tulane Law School:

Show Resilience In Your Personal Essay

Students are highly encouraged to get creative and dig deep with their personal essays. In particular, Tulane appreciates when students explain adversity they experienced and how they overcame it. 

Have Significant Extracurricular and Public Service Involvement

Another top strategy to maximize your chances of acceptance to Tulane Law is to have long-term commitments, leadership positions, and volunteer work in the public service sector. Tulane seeks motivated students who are committed to improving the world around them.

Ensure Your Letters of Recommendation Have a Personal Touch

Students tend to underestimate the importance of their letters of recommendation, which can negatively impact their admission chances. It’s essential your recommendations have a personal touch so they aren’t overlooked by the admissions officers. 

You should offer your writers a resume or guide to ensure they're highlighting all your achievements.

What Does Tulane Law School Look For?

What Tulane Law School looks for is students who demonstrate the potential to succeed as both law students and lawyers, and who will contribute to Tulane’s community and the larger legal community. 

To demonstrate these characteristics, it’s essential you have the right GPA and LSAT scores, have significant extracurricular involvement in the public sector, and have compelling personal statements that share exactly what you can contribute to Tulane’s community. 

FAQs: Tulane University School of Law

If you have any remaining questions about Tulane University School of Law, read on to find your answers.

1. Is Tulane a Good Law School?

Yes, Tulane is a leading law school that is well-known for its clinical legal education, world-class faculty, and extensive curriculum. It is also an excellent option for students with lower LSAT scores!

2. Is Tulane a Top Tier Law School?

By ranking alone, Tulane is not considered to be a top-tier school as it ranks 78th in the nation.

3. What Is Tulane Known For?

Tulane Law is best known for its focus on experiential learning, its dedication to providing students with a global perspective, its environmental law program, and its international law program. 

4. How Long Is Law School at Tulane?

It will take you three years to complete a JD at Tulane.

5. Where Is Tulane Law School Located?

Tulane Law School is located in New Orleans.

6. How Much Does It Cost to Attend Tulane Law School?

Yearly tuition and fees to attend Tulane are around $67,780. With other expenses like housing and textbooks, the total annual estimated cost to attend Tulane is $95,440. 

Final Thoughts

Whether you’d like to join Tulane to participate in their pro bono clinics and gain valuable hands-on experience, or to specialize in one of the nation’s best environmental law programs, this law school can provide you with the education and support needed for a prosperous legal career!

Remember, while considering factors like the Tulane Law School acceptance rate is important, it's just one aspect to take into account. Focus on your LSAT scores, undergraduate GPA, letters of recommendation, personal statement, and relevant experiences to strengthen your application. Best of luck!

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