For those looking to leave their mark on the world, few careers allow for greater meaningful impact than law.
Laws are the foundation of society — and the implementation of new laws can have profound implications in people’s lives. As a result, law is one of a select few professions to require years of specialized education beyond an undergraduate degree.
As with any type of higher education institutions, law schools vary in quality and selectivity. For many aspiring lawyers, getting into the right school can be critical for their career. 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data on LSAT scores, undergraduate GPAs of enrollees, and acceptance rates for over 200 top law schools from the American Bar Association to determine the hardest law schools to get into. Law schools are listed by the university they are associated with.
Many of the most powerful people in the United States have attended the most selective schools on this list. All nine justices of the Supreme Court graduated from elite Ivy League law schools. Similarly, the last three U.S. presidents with law backgrounds were trained in those same institutions: Gerald Ford and Bill Clinton at Yale Law School, and Barack Obama at Harvard Law. In fact, most U.S. presidents have been lawyers. Here is each president’s path to the oval office.
Law school is a massive investment of time and money, often costing over $150,000 in tuition over the course of three years. Because of the investment and high level of expertise, an education in law — regardless of the selectivity of the institution — is a pathway to many exceptionally high-paying legal careers. For example, law school is a necessary prerequisite for several of these 25 highest paying jobs in America.
Click here to see the 50 hardest law schools to get into
Click here to read our methodology
50. University of San Diego
> Acceptance rate: 6.8%
> Applications for fall 2018: 3,511
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.53 out of 4.0
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 159 out of 180
[in-text-ad]
49. Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles
> Acceptance rate: 7.7%
> Applications for fall 2018: 4,012
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.58 out of 4.0
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 160 out of 180
48. University of Iowa
> Acceptance rate: 8.4%
> Applications for fall 2018: 1,708
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.61 out of 4.0
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 161 out of 180
47. University of Minnesota
> Acceptance rate: 11.2%
> Applications for fall 2018: 1,966
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.76 out of 4.0
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 164 out of 180
[in-text-ad-2]
46. Wake Forest University
> Acceptance rate: 8.1%
> Applications for fall 2018: 2,197
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.58 out of 4.0
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 162 out of 180
45. University of Illinois
> Acceptance rate: 8.9%
> Applications for fall 2018: 1,380
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.65 out of 4.0
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 162 out of 180
[in-text-ad]
44. University of Houston
> Acceptance rate: 7.6%
> Applications for fall 2018: 2,596
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.61 out of 4.0
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 160 out of 180
43. University of California, Irvine
> Acceptance rate: 7.7%
> Applications for fall 2018: 2,904
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.57 out of 4.0
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 163 out of 180
42. University of Richmond
> Acceptance rate: 7.4%
> Applications for fall 2018: 1,908
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.59 out of 4.0
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 161 out of 180
[in-text-ad-2]
41. Ohio State University
> Acceptance rate: 9.3%
> Applications for fall 2018: 1,962
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.75 out of 4.0
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 161 out of 180
40. Baylor University
> Acceptance rate: 6.8%
> Applications for fall 2018: 2,531
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.59 out of 4.0
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 160 out of 180
[in-text-ad]
39. University of Florida
> Acceptance rate: 9.4%
> Applications for fall 2018: 2,541
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.72 out of 4.0
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 163 out of 180
38. University of Georgia
> Acceptance rate: 8.8%
> Applications for fall 2018: 2,354
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.67 out of 4.0
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 163 out of 180
37. Pennsylvania State
> Acceptance rate: 6.3%
> Applications for fall 2018: 2,016
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.58 out of 4.0
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 159 out of 180
[in-text-ad-2]
36. Northeastern University
> Acceptance rate: 7.0%
> Applications for fall 2018: 2,809
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.6 out of 4.0
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 161 out of 180
35. Fordham University
> Acceptance rate: 7.7%
> Applications for fall 2018: 5,319
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.6 out of 4.0
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 164 out of 180
[in-text-ad]
34. Indiana University Bloomington
> Acceptance rate: 8.6%
> Applications for fall 2018: 2,000
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.72 out of 4.0
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 162 out of 180
24/7 Wall St.
33. University of California, Davis
> Acceptance rate: 6.4%
> Applications for fall 2018: 3,179
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.63 out of 4.0
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 162 out of 180
32. University of Arizona
> Acceptance rate: 7.0%
> Applications for fall 2018: 1,627
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.7 out of 4.0
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 161 out of 180
[in-text-ad-2]
31. Arizona State University
> Acceptance rate: 8.1%
> Applications for fall 2018: 3,363
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.76 out of 4.0
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 163 out of 180
30. Pepperdine University
> Acceptance rate: 5.2%
> Applications for fall 2018: 2,982
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.63 out of 4.0
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 160 out of 180
[in-text-ad]
29. Washington And Lee University
> Acceptance rate: 4.2%
> Applications for fall 2018: 2,914
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.51 out of 4.0
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 163 out of 180
24/7 Wall St.
28. University of Washington
> Acceptance rate: 5.7%
> Applications for fall 2018: 2,946
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.69 out of 4.0
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 163 out of 180
27. George Mason University
> Acceptance rate: 6.5%
> Applications for fall 2018: 2,435
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.76 out of 4.0
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 163 out of 180
[in-text-ad-2]
26. University of Notre Dame
> Acceptance rate: 6.4%
> Applications for fall 2018: 2,907
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.71 out of 4.0
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 165 out of 180
25. Boston College
> Acceptance rate: 4.3%
> Applications for fall 2018: 5,251
> Median undergrad GPA of accepted students: 3.62 out of 4.0
> Median LSAT score of accepted students: 164 out of 180
[in-text-ad]
24. University of Texas at Austin
> Acceptance rate: 6.7%
> Applications for fall 2018: 5,580
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.74 out of 4.0
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 167 out of 180
23. University of Alabama
> Acceptance rate: 7.6%
> Applications for fall 2018: 1,526
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.88 out of 4.0
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 164 out of 180
22. University of Colorado
> Acceptance rate: 4.7%
> Applications for fall 2018: 3,581
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.71 out of 4.0
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 162 out of 180
[in-text-ad-2]
21. William & Mary
> Acceptance rate: 5.4%
> Applications for fall 2018: 3,579
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.76 out of 4.0
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 162 out of 180
20. Emory University
> Acceptance rate: 5.8%
> Applications for fall 2018: 4,570
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.79 out of 4.0
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 165 out of 180
[in-text-ad]
19. University of Michigan
> Acceptance rate: 6.1%
> Applications for fall 2018: 5,698
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.77 out of 4.0
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 169 out of 180
18. Boston University
> Acceptance rate: 4.8%
> Applications for fall 2018: 5,876
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.74 out of 4.0
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 166 out of 180
17. University of California, Los Angeles
> Acceptance rate: 4.8%
> Applications for fall 2018: 6,243
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.72 out of 4.0
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 168 out of 180
[in-text-ad-2]
16. Georgetown University
> Acceptance rate: 5.5%
> Applications for fall 2018: 10,093
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.8 out of 4.0
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 167 out of 180
15. Washington University
> Acceptance rate: 5.8%
> Applications for fall 2018: 4,151
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.81 out of 4.0
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 168 out of 180
[in-text-ad]
14. Columbia University
> Acceptance rate: 5.7%
> Applications for fall 2018: 6,957
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.75 out of 4.0
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 172 out of 180
24/7 Wall St.
13. New York University
> Acceptance rate: 5.5%
> Applications for fall 2018: 7,493
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.79 out of 4.0
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 170 out of 180
12. University of California, Berkeley
> Acceptance rate: 5.0%
> Applications for fall 2018: 6,019
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.8 out of 4.0
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 168 out of 180
[in-text-ad-2]
11. Cornell University
> Acceptance rate: 4.5%
> Applications for fall 2018: 4,126
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.82 out of 4.0
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 167 out of 180
10. University of Southern California
> Acceptance rate: 3.4%
> Applications for fall 2018: 5,695
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.78 out of 4.0
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 166 out of 180
[in-text-ad]
9. Duke University
> Acceptance rate: 4.1%
> Applications for fall 2018: 5,558
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.78 out of 4.0
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 169 out of 180
8. University of Virginia
> Acceptance rate: 5.3%
> Applications for fall 2018: 5,631
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.89 out of 4.0
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 169 out of 180
7. Vanderbilt University
> Acceptance rate: 3.4%
> Applications for fall 2018: 5,143
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.8 out of 4.0
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 167 out of 180
[in-text-ad-2]
6. Northwestern University
> Acceptance rate: 4.5%
> Applications for fall 2018: 5,313
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.84 out of 4.0
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 169 out of 180
5. Harvard University
> Acceptance rate: 6.4%
> Applications for fall 2018: 7,551
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.9 out of 4.0
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 173 out of 180
[in-text-ad]
4. University of Pennsylvania
> Acceptance rate: 3.7%
> Applications for fall 2018: 6,413
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.89 out of 4.0
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 170 out of 180
3. Yale University
> Acceptance rate: 4.7%
> Applications for fall 2018: 3,473
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.92 out of 4.0
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 173 out of 180
2. University of Chicago
> Acceptance rate: 3.6%
> Applications for fall 2018: 5,110
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.89 out of 4.0
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 171 out of 180
[in-text-ad-2]
1. Stanford University
> Acceptance rate: 3.8%
> Applications for fall 2018: 4,360
> Median undergrad GPA of new enrollees: 3.93 out of 4.0
> Median LSAT score of new enrollees: 171 out of 180
Methodology
To determine the hardest law schools to get into, 24/7 Wall St. constructed an index using data from the American Bar Association. The index consists of a law school’s acceptance rate, the median LSAT score of newly enrolled students in fall 2018, and median undergraduate GPA of newly enrolled students.
The #1 Thing to Do Before You Claim Social Security (Sponsor)
Choosing the right (or wrong) time to claim Social Security can dramatically change your retirement. So, before making one of the biggest decisions of your financial life, it’s a smart idea to get an extra set of eyes on your complete financial situation.
A financial advisor can help you decide the right Social Security option for you and your family. Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you.
Click here to match with up to 3 financial pros who would be excited to help you optimize your Social Security outcomes.
Have questions about retirement or personal finance? Email us at [email protected]!
By emailing your questions to 24/7 Wall St., you agree to have them published anonymously on a673b.bigscoots-temp.com.
By submitting your story, you understand and agree that we may use your story, or versions of it, in all media and platforms, including via third parties.
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.
Latest from 24/7
