Lawyers are sometimes portrayed as among the most despised professionals in our society. However, the law has an impact on virtually every part of daily life, and having a legal background opens up an almost limitless choice of opportunities. It’s no wonder, then, that so many people want to get a law degree. In fact, the competition to get into law school has never been fiercer.
To determine the 50 hardest law schools to get into, 24/7 Wall St. created an index based on three measures of selectivity from the American Bar Association: acceptance rate, or the number of offer letters a school sent in fall 2021 as a share of the number of applications; median LSAT score of newly enrolled students in fall 2021; and median undergraduate GPA of newly enrolled students. (We also reviewed the share of students in the class of 2018 who took the bar exam within two years of graduation and passed.)
If you want to get into any of the top 10 law schools, you’d better study. The median LSAT score of new enrollees is at least 170 out of a score of 180, and new enrollees need a median undergrad GPA of at 3.66. (Law schools aren’t the only institutions of higher education with high standards. Consider this list of the hardest college to get into in every state.)
It usually takes aspiring lawyers three years after they’ve earned a bachelor’s degree to finish law school, but it is generally considered to be worth the time and effort (and expense). A legal career path can provide job satisfaction for attorneys defending the rights of the poor and disenfranchised, while legal eagles can earn big money in corporate law. Harvard law school graduates lead the field in salary, with median starting pay of $180,000 a year in the private sector. (Not counting law, these are the highest-paying college majors.)
Law-school graduates are among the most powerful people in society. Twenty-six of our 46 presidents have been lawyers. Of the nine Supreme Court justices, only Amy Coney Barrett did not attend Ivy League law school.
Those Ivy League institutions are well represented on the list, with three of them chalking up acceptance rates of 10% or less. Of the 10 law schools with the lowest acceptance rates, in fact, eight are private (the two public ones are the University of Virginia and the University of Michigan.)
Click here to see the 50 hardest U.S. law schools to get into
Five law schools on this list have a bar-exam passage rate of 99% and above. Note that they are not all Ivy League schools.
50. University of Illinois College of Law
> Acceptance rate: 29.8%
> Applications for fall 2021: 1,926
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.66
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 164 out of 180
> Bar exam passage rate: 95.2%
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49. Northeastern University School of Law
> Acceptance rate: 24.4%
> Applications for fall 2021: 4,103
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.66
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 162 out of 180
> Bar exam passage rate: 94.2%
48. Indiana University Maurer School of Law
> Acceptance rate: 36.1%
> Applications for fall 2021: 1,766
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.77
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 164 out of 180
> Bar exam passage rate: 90.5%
47. Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law
> Acceptance rate: 33.4%
> Applications for fall 2021: 2,334
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.76
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 163 out of 180
> Bar exam passage rate: 95.7%
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Source: Courtesy of University of Arizona Law via Facebook
46. James E. Rogers College of Law at the University of Arizona
> Acceptance rate: 24.7%
> Applications for fall 2021: 1,739
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.66
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 163 out of 180
> Bar exam passage rate: 84%
Source: Courtesy of FIU College of Law Alumni via Facebook
45. Florida International University College of Law
> Acceptance rate: 20.6%
> Applications for fall 2021: 2,364
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.69
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 160 out of 180
> Bar exam passage rate: 98.5%
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44. University of Washington School of Law
> Acceptance rate: 25.6%
> Applications for fall 2021: 3,054
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.67
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 164 out of 180
> Bar exam passage rate: 100%
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43. Cardozo School of Law
> Acceptance rate: 30.8%
> Applications for fall 2021: 3,820
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.74
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 164 out of 180
> Bar exam passage rate: 97%
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
42. Ohio State University Moritz College of Law
> Acceptance rate: 32.1%
> Applications for fall 2021: 1,913
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.79
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 163 out of 180
> Bar exam passage rate: 94.9%
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Source: Courtesy of UC Davis Law School
41. University of California-Davis School of Law
> Acceptance rate: 28.3%
> Applications for fall 2021: 3,733
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.70
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 165 out of 180
> Bar exam passage rate: 95.3%
Source: Courtesy of William & Mary Law School via Facebook
40. William And Mary Law School
> Acceptance rate: 30.1%
> Applications for fall 2021: 2,642
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.78
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 164 out of 180
> Bar exam passage rate: 97.8%
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39. Brigham Young University J. Reuben Clark Law School
> Acceptance rate: 39.9%
> Applications for fall 2021: 476
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.85
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 167 out of 180
> Bar exam passage rate: 96.7%
38. Boston College Law School
> Acceptance rate: 23.5%
> Applications for fall 2021: 6,368
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.69
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 165 out of 180
> Bar exam passage rate: 95.5%
Source: Courtesy of Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law via Facebook
37. Villanova University’s Charles Widger School of Law
> Acceptance rate: 17.8%
> Applications for fall 2021: 2,972
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.70
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 162 out of 180
> Bar exam passage rate: 94.3%
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Source: Courtesy of Antonin Scalia Law School, George Mason University via Facebook
36. Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University
> Acceptance rate: 27.1%
> Applications for fall 2021: 2,139
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.81
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 164 out of 180
> Bar exam passage rate: 93.1%
35. University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law
> Acceptance rate: 25.5%
> Applications for fall 2021: 1,113
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.82
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 163 out of 180
> Bar exam passage rate: 95.8%
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Source: Courtesy of Pepperdine University
34. Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law
> Acceptance rate: 25%
> Applications for fall 2021: 4,454
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.80
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 164 out of 180
> Bar exam passage rate: 93.2%
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33. University of Minnesota Law School
> Acceptance rate: 27.6%
> Applications for fall 2021: 2,655
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.80
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 166 out of 180
> Bar exam passage rate: 97.2%
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
32. Florida State University College of Law
> Acceptance rate: 22.5%
> Applications for fall 2021: 2,372
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.82
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 163 out of 180
> Bar exam passage rate: 97%
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Source: Courtesy of Emory University School of Law via Facebook
31. Emory University School of Law
> Acceptance rate: 27.3%
> Applications for fall 2021: 5,254
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.80
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 167 out of 180
> Bar exam passage rate: 88.7%
Source: Courtesy of Fordham Law via Facebook
30. Fordham University School of Law
> Acceptance rate: 17.7%
> Applications for fall 2021: 7,882
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.70
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 166 out of 180
> Bar exam passage rate: 96.3%
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Source: Courtesy of UNC School of Law via Facebook
29. University of North Carolina School of Law
> Acceptance rate: 15.5%
> Applications for fall 2021: 2,866
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.73
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 164 out of 180
> Bar exam passage rate: 97.2%
28. University of California-Irvine School of Law
> Acceptance rate: 16.8%
> Applications for fall 2021: 3,600
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.69
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 167 out of 180
> Bar exam passage rate: 92%
Source: Courtesy of The University of Alabama School of Law via Facebook
27. University of Alabama School of Law
> Acceptance rate: 31%
> Applications for fall 2021: 1,528
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.94
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 165 out of 180
> Bar exam passage rate: 94.7%
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Source: Courtesy of Texas A&M School of Law
26. Texas A&M University School of Law
> Acceptance rate: 18.4%
> Applications for fall 2021: 3,818
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.84
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 163 out of 180
> Bar exam passage rate: 94.8%
Source: Courtesy of George Washington University Law School via Facebook
25. George Washington University Law School
> Acceptance rate: 21.6%
> Applications for fall 2021: 10,585
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.83
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 167 out of 180
> Bar exam passage rate: 97.2%
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Source: Courtesy of University of Georgia School of Law via Facebook
24. University of Georgia School of Law
> Acceptance rate: 18.5%
> Applications for fall 2021: 2,998
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.82
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 166 out of 180
> Bar exam passage rate: 95.2%
Source: Courtesy of Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law via Facebook
23. Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University
> Acceptance rate: 20.6%
> Applications for fall 2021: 5,717
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.85
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 166 out of 180
> Bar exam passage rate: 94.6%
22. Notre Dame Law School
> Acceptance rate: 17.5%
> Applications for fall 2021: 3,694
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.77
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 168 out of 180
> Bar exam passage rate: 96%
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Source: Courtesy of Boston University School of Law via Facebook
21. Boston University School of Law
> Acceptance rate: 18.3%
> Applications for fall 2021: 8,221
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.77
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 169 out of 180
> Bar exam passage rate: 99.6%
Source: Courtesy of UF Levin College of Law via Facebook
20. University of Florida Levin College of Law
> Acceptance rate: 17.4%
> Applications for fall 2021: 3,850
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.86
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 167 out of 180
> Bar exam passage rate: 92.5%
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Source: Courtesy of The University of Texas School of Law via Facebook
19. University of Texas at Austin School of Law
> Acceptance rate: 15.2%
> Applications for fall 2021: 7,679
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.80
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 169 out of 180
> Bar exam passage rate: 97.1%
18. University of Southern California Gould School of Law
> Acceptance rate: 13%
> Applications for fall 2021: 6,839
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.82
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 168 out of 180
> Bar exam passage rate: 92.8%
Source: Courtesy of UCLA School of Law via Facebook
17. University of California-Los Angeles School of Law
> Acceptance rate: 15.4%
> Applications for fall 2021: 7,939
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.82
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 170 out of 180
> Bar exam passage rate: 96.3%
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Source: Courtesy of UC Berkeley School of Law via Facebook
16. University of California-Berkeley School of Law
> Acceptance rate: 13.7%
> Applications for fall 2021: 7,948
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.83
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 169 out of 180
> Bar exam passage rate: 98.3%
Source: Courtesy of Duke Law School via Facebook
15. Duke University School of Law
> Acceptance rate: 14.4%
> Applications for fall 2021: 7,255
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.82
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 170 out of 180
> Bar exam passage rate: 98.1%
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14. Vanderbilt University Law School
> Acceptance rate: 14.3%
> Applications for fall 2021: 6,884
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.89
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 169 out of 180
> Bar exam passage rate: 98.9%
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13. Cornell Law School
> Acceptance rate: 15.4%
> Applications for fall 2021: 5,998
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.86
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 171 out of 180
> Bar exam passage rate: 99.5%
Source: Courtesy of Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law
12. Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law
> Acceptance rate: 13.9%
> Applications for fall 2021: 7,410
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.86
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 171 out of 180
> Bar exam passage rate: 92.6%
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11. Georgetown University Law Center
> Acceptance rate: 12.9%
> Applications for fall 2021: 14,049
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.85
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 171 out of 180
> Bar exam passage rate: 95.5%
Source: Courtesy of NYU School of Law via Facebook
10. New York University School of Law
> Acceptance rate: 14.5%
> Applications for fall 2021: 10,713
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.86
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 172 out of 180
> Bar exam passage rate: 98.9%
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Source: Courtesy of Washington University School of Law via Facebook
9. Washington University in St. Louis School of Law
> Acceptance rate: 15.9%
> Applications for fall 2021: 5,958
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.93
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 170 out of 180
> Bar exam passage rate: 95.5%
Source: Courtesy of University of Michigan Law School via Facebook
8. University of Michigan Law School
> Acceptance rate: 10.6%
> Applications for fall 2021: 7,693
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.84
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 171 out of 180
> Bar exam passage rate: 97.3%
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Law School via Facebook
7. Columbia Law School
> Acceptance rate: 11.4%
> Applications for fall 2021: 9,612
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.84
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 174 out of 180
> Bar exam passage rate: 97.1%
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Source: Courtesy of University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School via Facebook
6. University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School
> Acceptance rate: 9.4%
> Applications for fall 2021: 8,383
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.90
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 171 out of 180
> Bar exam passage rate: 99.2%
Source: eyfoto / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
5. University of Chicago Law School
> Acceptance rate: 11.9%
> Applications for fall 2021: 6,514
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.91
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 172 out of 180
> Bar exam passage rate: 100%
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Source: Courtesy of University of Virginia School of Law via Facebook
4. University of Virginia School of Law
> Acceptance rate: 9.7%
> Applications for fall 2021: 7,047
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.91
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 171 out of 180
> Bar exam passage rate: 99%
3. Stanford Law School
> Acceptance rate: 6.3%
> Applications for fall 2021: 5,685
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.91
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 172 out of 180
> Bar exam passage rate: 98.9%
Source: Darren McCollester / Getty Images
2. Harvard Law School
> Acceptance rate: 6.9%
> Applications for fall 2021: 9,933
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.92
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 174 out of 180
> Bar exam passage rate: 97.9%
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1. Yale Law School
> Acceptance rate: 4.1%
> Applications for fall 2021: 5,194
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.94
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 174 out of 180
> Bar exam passage rate: 99%
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