Key Takeaways
- Law school acceptance rates show the percentage of applicants admitted, and they vary significantly by school.
- The average national acceptance rate for fall 2024 was 41.6% based on U.S. News analysis of American Bar Association law school admissions data.
- Top-ranked law schools are much more selective, with some admitting well under 15% of applicants.
- Pair acceptance rate data with LSAT/GPA medians to build a balanced list of reach, match, and safety schools.
Law School Acceptance Rates: What You Need to Know
Understanding acceptance rates as well as law school requirements is a key part of the law school application process. They help you set realistic expectations, identify schools that align with your academic profile, and make strategic decisions about where to apply.
A law school acceptance rate is the percentage of applicants a school admits during a given admissions cycle. For example, if a school receives 5,000 applications and admits 1,000 students, its acceptance rate is 20%.
What Is the Average Law School Acceptance Rate?
The national average law school acceptance rate for fall 2024 was 41.6%, based on data from U.S. News and the American Bar Association. This means that out of every 100 applicants, about 42 were admitted.
However, this figure includes all 196 ranked law schools — from the most elite programs with single-digit admission rates to schools with much higher acceptance rates. To get a clearer picture, it’s important to look at rates by school tier.
Top Law Schools: The Most Competitive Programs
Elite law schools — often referred to as the T14 (Top 14) — are known for their extremely selective admissions. These institutions typically require exceptional LSAT scores, GPAs, and resumes.
According to U.S. News & World Report Law School Rankings 2025 data, here are the hardest law schools to get into and their acceptance rate:
| Rank | Law School | Acceptance Rate % 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stanford Law School (CA) | 8.85% |
| 1 | Yale Law School (CT) | 5.25% |
| 3 | University of Chicago Law School (IL) | 12.73% |
| 4 | University of Virginia School of Law | 13.92% |
| 5 | University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School | 9.95% |
| 6 | Harvard Law School (MA) | 10.97% |
| 6 | Duke University School of Law (NC) | 13.88% |
| 8 | University of Michigan Law School | 11.85% |
| 8 | New York University School of Law | 16.67% |
| 10 | Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law (IL) | 15.36% |
| 10 | Columbia Law School (NY) | 11.75% |
| 12 | University of California - Los Angeles School of Law | 16.1% |
| 13 | University of California - Berkeley School of Law | 17.3% |
| 14 | University of Texas at Austin School of Law | 15.6% |
| 14 | Washington University Law School | 19.9% |
| 14 | Vanderbilt University Law School | 18.45% |
| 14 | Georgetown University Law Center (DC) | 20.13% |
Across these top-ranked programs, the average acceptance rate is about 14%, nearly 30 percentage points lower than the national average of 41.6%.
Mid-Tier Law Schools: Balanced Selectivity
Schools ranked below the T14 offer rigorous programs with more attainable acceptance rates. These schools typically admit 20-40% of applicants.
They’re ideal “match” schools for strong candidates with solid academic performance who still want prestige and opportunity. Examples include Boston University, Ohio State University, University of Alabama, and University of Washington.
Law Schools with Higher Acceptance Rates
At the other end of the spectrum, some law schools are much more accessible. U.S. News reports that New England Law Boston had the highest acceptance rate at 76.27%, admitting 2,588 of 3,393 applicants.
Two other ranked law schools also had acceptance rates above 70%. These schools can be great “safety” options — especially for applicants seeking flexibility, regional placement, or evening programs while maintaining a balanced application list.
What Impacts a Law School’s Acceptance Rate?
Several factors influence how selective a law school is:
- Applicant volume – More applicants mean higher competition.
- LSAT and GPA medians – Higher medians tighten selectivity.
- Yield rates – The percentage of accepted students who enroll affects future admissions.
- Program reputation – Specialized tracks (like IP or Environmental Law) attract niche applicants.
How to Use Acceptance Rate Data for Your Application Strategy
- Compare your LSAT and GPA to the medians of your target schools to identify reach, match, and safety programs.
- Apply strategically: a balanced list gives you a higher chance of at least one acceptance.
- Track year-over-year trends since acceptance rates can fluctuate with applicant volume.
Your Path to Law School Success
The law school landscape is highly competitive, especially among top programs where only a small percentage of applicants are admitted. But understanding acceptance rate data helps you apply smarter, not harder.
At College Ave, we help students plan both their academic and financial journeys. Whether you’re preparing for the LSAT or planning how to fund law school, our goal is to make your financial path to law school clearer.
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