The law touches nearly every aspect of society. As such, a law degree can be a stepping stone to a career that can have a meaningful impact on many lives. It can also be a pathway to a high-paying career.
Enrolling in any one of the more than 200 law schools recognized by the American Bar Association can equip students with the expertise needed for a successful career in law. However, these schools vary considerably in selectivity. While the more competitive law schools do not necessarily offer a better education, top law firms often only recruit from the most selective and elite law schools.
Get more information regarding Hardest Law Schools To Get Into, easiest law schools to get into with low gpa, easiest law schools to get into, harvard law school & harvard law school acceptance rate
hardest law schools to get into 2021
- Yale University
With an acceptance rate of just 6.9%, it’s no wonder that Yale is the hardest law school to get into. Only around 1 in 15 of their highly qualified applicants makes it through.
The median GPA score of a student enrolled at Yale University is 3.92, while the median LSAT score is 173. These stats are based on students who seek admission successfully and later enroll as full-time students. That’s different from their acceptance rate, which is based on all applicants.
In addition, when it comes to bar passage, Yale students sit comfortably in fourth place, with a stunning rate of 98.3% for first-timers.
When taking all of these statistics into account, it’s safe to say that Yale is one of the hardest law schools to get into, and it’s well worth that reputation with an incredibly high quality of education and bar pass rate.
See the class of 2019 profile at Yale law school.
- Stanford University
The second school on our list is Stanford University, with a slightly higher acceptance rate than Yale — 9.72%.
Surprisingly, students of Stanford had slightly higher GPAs than both Yale and Harvard. Stanford had a median GPA of 3.93 compared to Yale’s 3.92 and Harvard’s 3.9. However, the students at Stanford scored slightly lower in LSAT scores, at a median of 171.
See the class of 2019 profile at Stanford law school.
- Harvard University
Harvard University is certainly one of the biggest names in higher learning. Getting admitted to Harvard law school is definitely an uphill struggle, given the fact that Harvard had a 12.9% acceptance rate in 2019/2020 and a median LSAT score of 173. Additionally, the median GPA score of a student enrolled at Harvard is 3.9.
Harvard law school graduates are, however, at the top of the list for the highest salary expected in the private sector, where they have a median starting salary of approximately $180,000.
See the class of 2019 profile at Harvard law school.
- University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania law school has a low acceptance rate, at just 14.6%. However, even though the acceptance rate is higher than that of the top three on our list, it doesn’t mean they accept students with low scores.
In 2020, the median GPA score was 3.89, whilst the median LSAT score was 170.
What’s most interesting about the University of Pennsylvania law school is the employment rate after graduation. With an employment rate of 94.9%, it’s at the very top of the list. As a result, it’s no wonder why getting into this law school is challenging.
Get more info about what it takes to get into the University of Pennsylvania Law School.
- University of Virginia
One of the most important statistics in the University of Virginia’s law school is its bar passage rate. It ranks number one, with 99.0% of students passing the bar exam on their first try.
It’s not easy to get into, though. Students at the University of Virginia had the same median GPA scores as those at the University of Pennsylvania, 3.89. Additionally, they had a median LSAT score of 169. The overall acceptance rate was 15.3%
- Columbia University
Located in New York City, Columbia University is one of the more prestigious universities on our list, with high tuition fees for full-time law students and low acceptance rates. The acceptance rate for Columbia University is only 16.8%.
Interestingly, despite the low acceptance rate, the students at Columbia University had the lowest GPA scores of any school on our list, with a median GPA score of 3.75. However, the same doesn’t ring true when it comes to LSAT scores, where the median is 172. Columbia seems to place more importance on a good LSAT score than GPA.
Learn what it takes to get into Columbia Law School.
- University of Chicago
Similar to Harvard, the University of Chicago law students are expected to receive a median starting salary of $180,000 working as associates in the private sector. However, unlike Harvard, the school had an acceptance rate of 17.5%, a touch higher than Harvard’s 15.6%.
In terms of LSAT scores, the median LSAT score of a student at the University of Chicago is 171, equivalent to that of Stanford University. Regarding GPA scores, the students had an impressive median of 3.89.
Learn what it takes to get into the University of Chicago law school
- University of Southern California
The University of Southern California, fringed by palm trees and the sprawling metropolis of LA, has a reputable undergraduate school. Even more highly regarded is their law school, which easily slides into the top 10 in the nation with regards to acceptance rate, at 19.2%, but slips a bit in the overall rankings to around 20th.
With the middle 50% of their admitted class scoring between 163 and 167, it’s no surprise that around 9 of 10 of their JD students pass the bar on their first try. Watch out for the above-average price, though–the school is pretty expensive compared to others in the top tier.
- Northwestern University
Northwestern University law school had an acceptance rate of 19.3%, which puts the University at 9th place on our list.
Additionally, the median GPA score of a student at Northwestern University is quite high at 3.84. On top of that, the median LSAT score is 169. It’s easy to see why getting admitted to Northwestern University is difficult.
- University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
With a slightly higher acceptance rate than Northwestern University, 19.6% (compared to 19.3%), the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor is ninth on our list.
Interestingly, the students at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor had one of the lowest median GPA scores on our list, at 3.77. However, their median LSAT scores are slightly higher at 169, on par with the more competitive University of Virginia
What Are the Requirements to Get Into Law School
If you want to enroll in law school and become a lawyer, it is important you know the most important law school admission requirements. This will help you prepare efficiently before applying to any school.
GPA Requirements
The Juris Doctor is a postgraduate degree. For this reason, law schools generally require that you have completed or be in the process of completing a 4-year bachelor’s degree.
For your admission into any school, your GPA from your undergraduate study is very relevant. The higher your GPA, the most likely you can get into any law school in United States.
Generally, most of the law schools in the United States accept a 3.5 GPA as their minimum requirements.
Admission Test (LSAT or GRE)
A lot of prospective law students do ask “Do You Need LSAT to Get into Law School?”
The truth is that LSAT is one of the most significant requirements and also a barrier to getting into law school. LSAT is a standardized test administered to know if you have the required skills and competence to cope with the challenging law school curriculum.
LSAT is there to test your reading comprehension, analytical and logical reasoning skills, as well as a writing component. Basically, your LSAT score along with your GPA is one of the most important factors that most law schools would consider. However, some law schools are beginning to consider alternatives to the LSAT scores.
Also, the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is an integral part of law school admission in the United States, Canada, and a growing number of other countries, and is the only admission test accepted by every ABA-accredited law school.
Wondering what is the Good LSAT Score for Law School? Most law schools in the United States consider scores range from 120 to 180, but on an average of 150.
Letter of Recommendation
All law schools always request for letter of recommendation. Though it might not carry much weight than grades and test scores, yet they are still important.
So if you are still in college or out, now is the best time to build your network. Make sure to work or intern in places where you can get a good letter of recommendation. A letter of recommendation form a boss or colleagues.
Personal Statement
A personal statement is also compulsory for any law school. So make sure to tailor your statement.
The personal statement is an opportunity to show off your writing skills, so make sure to polish it until it is error-free.
50 hardest law schools to get into
50. University of Minnesota Law School
• Acceptance rate: 39.1%
• Applications for fall 2019: 2,129
• Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.75
• Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 165 out of 180
• Bar exam passage rate: 85.3%
49. Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law
• Acceptance rate: 34.2%
• Applications for fall 2019: 2,048
• Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.60
• Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 159 out of 180
• Bar exam passage rate: 78.2%
48. University of Illinois College of Law
• Acceptance rate: 36.7%
• Applications for fall 2019: 1,304
• Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.70
• Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 162 out of 180
• Bar exam passage rate: 84.8%
47. Maurer School of Law at Indiana University Bloomington
• Acceptance rate: 37.9%
• Applications for fall 2019: 1,790
• Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.79
• Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 162 out of 180
• Bar exam passage rate: 80%
46. University of Tennessee College of Law
• Acceptance rate: 34.4%
• Applications for fall 2019: 1,042
• Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.65
• Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 159 out of 180
• Bar exam passage rate: 75.2%
45. LMU Loyola Law School
• Acceptance rate: 33%
• Applications for fall 2019: 3,802
• Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.57
• Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 160 out of 180
• Bar exam passage rate: 71.7%
44. University of Colorado Law School
• Acceptance rate: 34.7%
• Applications for fall 2019: 3,187
• Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.61
• Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 163 out of 180
• Bar exam passage rate: 82.4%
43. University of North Carolina School of Law
• Acceptance rate: 33.9%
• Applications for fall 2019: 1,293
• Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.63
• Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 161 out of 180
• Bar exam passage rate: 90.8%
42. Georgia State University College of Law
• Acceptance rate: 29.3%
• Applications for fall 2019: 1,710
• Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.51
• Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 158 out of 180
• Bar exam passage rate: 84.5%
41. Washington and Lee University School of Law
• Acceptance rate: 33.2%
• Applications for fall 2019: 2,551
• Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.64
• Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 163 out of 180
• Bar exam passage rate: 86.4%
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40. Florida State University College of Law
• Acceptance rate: 32.7%
• Applications for fall 2019: 1,598
• Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.73
• Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 160 out of 180
• Bar exam passage rate: 89.1%
39. Florida International University College of Law
• Acceptance rate: 28.6%
• Applications for fall 2019: 1,665
• Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.61
• Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 157 out of 180
• Bar exam passage rate: 87.8%
38. Boston College Law School
• Acceptance rate: 31.3%
• Applications for fall 2019: 4,717
• Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.64
• Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 164 out of 180
• Bar exam passage rate: 87.6%
37. Texas A&M University School of Law
• Acceptance rate: 28.7%
• Applications for fall 2019: 2,280
• Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.62
• Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 159 out of 180
• Bar exam passage rate: 82.8%
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36. UC Davis School of Law
• Acceptance rate: 29.4%
• Applications for fall 2019: 3,103
• Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.61
• Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 162 out of 180
• Bar exam passage rate: 76%
35. Pepperdine Caruso School of Law
• Acceptance rate: 29.8%
• Applications for fall 2019: 3,006
• Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.66
• Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 161 out of 180
• Bar exam passage rate: 68.5%
34. William And Mary Law School
• Acceptance rate: 30.4%
• Applications for fall 2019: 3,291
• Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.76
• Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 163 out of 180
• Bar exam passage rate: 92.8%
33. George Washington University Law School
• Acceptance rate: 31.0%
• Applications for fall 2019: 8,019
• Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.73
• Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 166 out of 180
• Bar exam passage rate: 84.6%
32. William S. Boyd School of Law at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas
• Acceptance rate: 27.2%
• Applications for fall 2019: 947
• Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.69
• Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 159 out of 180
• Bar exam passage rate: 72.8%
31. University of Alabama School of Law
• Acceptance rate: 32.8%
• Applications for fall 2019: 1,446
• Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.91
• Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 164 out of 180
• Bar exam passage rate: 87.8%
30. Emory University School of Law
• Acceptance rate: 31.0%
• Applications for fall 2019: 4,316
• Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.80
• Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 165 out of 180
• Bar exam passage rate: 82.1%
29. University of Washington School of Law
• Acceptance rate: 27.8%
• Applications for fall 2019: 2,555
• Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.68
• Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 162 out of 180
• Bar exam passage rate: 91%
28. Fordham University School of Law
• Acceptance rate: 27.2%
• Applications for fall 2019: 5,285
• Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.64
• Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 164 out of 180
• Bar exam passage rate: 87.7%
27. James E. Rogers College of Law at the University of Arizona
• Acceptance rate: 26.3%
• Applications for fall 2019: 1,495
• Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.65
• Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 162 out of 180
• Bar exam passage rate: 64.6%
26. Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University
• Acceptance rate: 29.4%
• Applications for fall 2019: 3,710
• Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.81
• Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 164 out of 180
• Bar exam passage rate: 74.3%
25. Notre Dame Law School
• Acceptance rate: 24.0%
• Applications for fall 2019: 2,753
• Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.74
• Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 165 out of 180
• Bar exam passage rate: 87.6%
24. University of California-Irvine School of Law
• Acceptance rate: 20.8%
• Applications for fall 2019: 3,147
• Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.59
• Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 165 out of 180
• Bar exam passage rate: 70.8%
23. Boston University School of Law
• Acceptance rate: 23.1%
• Applications for fall 2019: 5,812
• Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.78
• Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 166 out of 180
• Bar exam passage rate: 91.5%
22. Washington University in St. Louis School of Law
• Acceptance rate: 24.8%
• Applications for fall 2019: 4,129
• Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.83
• Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 169 out of 180
• Bar exam passage rate: 86.8%
21. University of Georgia School of Law
• Acceptance rate: 20.8%
• Applications for fall 2019: 2,268
• Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.73
• Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 164 out of 180
• Bar exam passage rate: 83.9%
20. Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University
• Acceptance rate: 20.9%
• Applications for fall 2019: 2,964
• Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.75
• Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 164 out of 180
• Bar exam passage rate: 84.4%
19. University of California-Los Angeles School of Law
• Acceptance rate: 22.4%
• Applications for fall 2019: 6,175
• Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.79
• Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 168 out of 180
• Bar exam passage rate: 85%
18. Vanderbilt University Law School
• Acceptance rate: 21.9%
• Applications for fall 2019: 5,294
• Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.80
• Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 167 out of 180
• Bar exam passage rate: 93.9%
17. University of Florida Levin College of Law
• Acceptance rate: 20.7%
• Applications for fall 2019: 2,208
• Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.80
• Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 164 out of 180
• Bar exam passage rate: 71.6%
16. Cornell Law School
• Acceptance rate: 21.3%
• Applications for fall 2019: 4,098
• Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.81
• Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 168 out of 180
• Bar exam passage rate: 93.7%
15. New York University School of Law
• Acceptance rate: 21.6%
• Applications for fall 2019: 7,959
• Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.80
• Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 170 out of 180
• Bar exam passage rate: 97.4%
14. Georgetown University Law Center
• Acceptance rate: 19.5%
• Applications for fall 2019: 10,366
• Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.78
• Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 168 out of 180
• Bar exam passage rate: 90.2%
13. University of California-Berkeley School of Law
• Acceptance rate: 19.7%
• Applications for fall 2019: 5,843
• Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.81
• Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 168 out of 180
• Bar exam passage rate: 90.7%
12. University of Texas at Austin School of Law
• Acceptance rate: 17.5%
• Applications for fall 2019: 5,803
• Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.72
• Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 168 out of 180
• Bar exam passage rate: 90.9%
11. Duke University School of Law
• Acceptance rate: 18.9%
• Applications for fall 2019: 5,125
• Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.78
• Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 169 out of 180
• Bar exam passage rate: 94.9%
10. University of Southern California Gould School of Law
• Acceptance rate: 17.7%
• Applications for fall 2019: 5,648
• Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.80
• Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 166 out of 180
• Bar exam passage rate: 81%
9. Northwestern Pritzker School of Law
• Acceptance rate: 18%
• Applications for fall 2019: 5,441
• Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.85
• Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 169 out of 180
• Bar exam passage rate: 92%
8. University of Chicago Law School
• Acceptance rate: 18.6%
• Applications for fall 2019: 4,933
• Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.90
• Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 170 out of 180
• Bar exam passage rate: 90.3%
7. University of Michigan Law School
• Acceptance rate: 16.6%
• Applications for fall 2019: 5,629
• Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.81
• Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 169 out of 180
• Bar exam passage rate: 93.8%
6. Columbia Law School
• Acceptance rate: 15.9%
• Applications for fall 2019: 7,193
• Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.80
• Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 172 out of 180
• Bar exam passage rate: 97.3%
5. University of Virginia School of Law
• Acceptance rate: 14.7%
• Applications for fall 2019: 5,645
• Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.90
• Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 170 out of 180
• Bar exam passage rate: 95.3%
4. University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School
• Acceptance rate: 14.5%
• Applications for fall 2019: 6,483
• Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.89
• Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 170 out of 180
• Bar exam passage rate: 92.1%
3. Harvard Law School
• Acceptance rate: 12.5%
• Applications for fall 2019: 7,333
• Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.89
• Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 173 out of 180
• Bar exam passage rate: 96.5%
2. Stanford Law School
• Acceptance rate: 9.7%
• Applications for fall 2019: 3,908
• Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.91
• Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 171 out of 180
• Bar exam passage rate: 94.7%
1. Yale Law School
• Acceptance rate: 8.2%
• Applications for fall 2019: 3,198
• Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.93
• Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 173 out of 180
• Bar exam passage rate: 96.8%
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