The ranking of 11 easiest law schools to get into in US is made for future legal experts who worry that their previous academic achievement and LSAT score cannot secure them a spot at a law program. Here you can find institutions with acceptance rate as high as 85% and median GPA and LSAT results well above national average.
As most prospective law students know one of the main requirements for admission to a law program is LSAT test. The test, which assesses a student’s ability to understand complex texts, his analytical and logical reasoning, is mandatory at almost all law schools in America. Few law schools don’t need LSAT though. For instance, applicants at Harvard, Georgetown, Northwestern can submit GRE test results instead of LSAT. Note though that majority of programs require from prospective students to take LSAT and that is not possible to apply to law school without LSAT score.
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According to US news, which ranked 197 law schools in America, average median LSAT score for students enrolling in fall 2016 was 155. Ivy League universities such as Yale stand at the one side of the spectrum with median LSAT score as high as 173. On the other side, you will find law schools with a median score well above national average. All schools that are listed here have median LSAT score ranging from 142 to 148. And if you are wondering can I go to law school with a 141 LSAT score, the answer is yes. There are two schools, both located in Puerto Rico (Inter American University and Pontifical Catholic University), where median LSAT score is below 141. Although it is possible to get into law school with such score, our advise would be to improve your results.
Another important factor for admission is grade point average. Median GPA of students admitted to Yale is 3.91, and other Ivy institutions require similar results. However, there are programs which accept students with much more modest academic achievements, and here you will discover easiest law schools to get into with low GPA.
As you might expect, schools with higher GPA and LSAT score have lower acceptance rates. Higher GPA and LSAT score also reveal the quality of a law program – almost all of 12 schools with the highest LSAT score rank in the top law schools in America. If you are interested to find out more about the hardest law schools to get into you can read our article Top 5 Ivy league Colleges for Law. And for those interested in making fat paychecks we compiled the list of 10 easiest and highest paying fields of law.
To create the list of 11 easiest law schools to get into in US we relied on data of American Bar Association. Using information about acceptance rate, median LSAT score and median GPA, which can be all found at ABA website, we ranked all ABA-approved law schools in America. We also give you information about tuition, bar passage rate and employment rate among graduates for each of 11 schools that are included in our list of easiest law schools to get into in US. As you will see, some of the least competitive law schools in America have very low bar pass rate. Thus while these schools might lure you with loose admission policy be aware that some of them are not the best investment in the future.
11. Willamette University, Salem, OR
Acceptance rate: 76.16%
LSAT score 50th percentile: 152
GPA range 50th percentile: 3.18
Tuition and fees for residents and non-residents (full time): $ 42,680
School bar passage rate: 65.17%
Employment: 76%
We start today’s list of easiest law schools to get into in US with Willamette University, the oldest university in the West, which was founded in 1842. College of Law at Willamette University, established in 1883, has third highest acceptance rate among all law schools in America which is the main reason why it found a place in this ranking. Of all schools listed here, 2017 class at Willamette University had the best LSAT and GPA results. College of Law, which boasts “top employment outcomes” and “award-winning faculty” has bar passage rate of 65.17%, which is bellow the state’s average.
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10. Concordia Law School, Boise, ID
Acceptance rate: 63.09%
LSAT score 50th percentile: 147
GPA range 50th percentile: 2.9
Tuition and fees for residents and non-residents (full time): $30,343
Tuition and fees for residents and non-residents (part time): $24,493
Bar passage rate: 90.9%
Employment: 89%
The 2017 year Concordia Law School’s class had one of the lowest median LSAT score and median GPA in America. Although the school’s acceptance rate of 63.09% is the lowest among all here ranked institutions, compared to many other law schools across the US, it is relatively easy to get into Concordia. The school, which was established in 2012, received ABA provisional approval in 2015. The tuition for full time and part time students is pretty low. Moreover, all students in the 2016/17 class received some kind of financial help. And the best thing about Concordia law school are great bar exam results and employment statistics. The school bar passage rate of 90.9% exceeds state average by 14% while 89% of 2016 graduates were employed.
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9. Roger Williams University, Bristol, RI
Acceptance rate: 71.5%
LSAT score 50th percentile: 147
GPA range 50th percentile: 3.15
Tuition and fees for residents and non-residents (full time): $34,833
Bar pass rate: N/A
Employment: 88.6%
School of Law at the Roger Williams University is the only law school in Rhode Island. The school has very high acceptance rate and low admission requirements since median LSAT score for the class 2017 was 147, while median GPA was 3.15. RWU law school is also very affordable. Tuition is only $34,833 and 60% of all students receive some sort of financial help. The school is especially proud of its commitment to the community, i.e., its pro bono services, and the fact that its Public Interest Program is ranked among the best in the US.
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8. John Marshall Law School, Chicago, IL
Acceptance rate: 68.71%
LSAT score 50th percentile: 148
GPA range 50th percentile: 3.1
Tuition and fees for residents and non-residents (full time): $48,600
Tuition and fees for residents and non-residents (part time): $34,515
Bar passage rate: 65%
Employment: 86%
John Marshall Law School is one of the oldest educational institutions on this list of easiest law schools to get into in US. It was founded in 1899 and it received accreditation from ABA in 1951. The school is proud of its programs in Legal Writing, Trial Advocacy and Intellectual Property Law which are ranked among the best in America by US News. Compared to other schools on this list, John Marshall is more expensive. Around 60% of all students can count on financial help. Bar passage rate of 65% is well below the state average (77%).
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7. Loyola University, New Orleans, LA
Acceptance rate: 73.42%
LSAT score 50th percentile: 148
GPA range 50th percentile: 3.13
Tuition and fees for residents and non-residents (full time): $44,300
Tuition and fees for residents and non-residents (part time): $33,620
Bar passage rate: 76.69%
Employment: 81.6%
Loyola University ranks 7th on our list of easiest law schools to get into in US. It is a Jesuit educational institution established in 1904. Unlike other universities on this list, Loyola offers to its students services such as retreats, pastoral counseling, faith development and other. Thus it can be the right choice for young people to whom spirituality is important. Law School at Loyola University is relatively easy to get into since acceptance rate of 73.42% is fourth highest in America. Another positive thing about Loyola is bar passage rate of 76.69% which is above state’s average. Tuition of 44,300 for full-time students puts Loyola among expensive schools on this list.
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6. Southern University, Baton Rouge, LA
Acceptance rate: 65.59%
LSAT score 50th percentile: 144
GPA range 50th percentile: 2.91
Tuition and fees for residents (full time): $15,802
Tuition and fees for non-residents (full time): $28,402
Tuition and fees for residents (part time): $13,958
Tuition and fees for non-residents (part time): $26,558
Bar passage rate: 53.19%
Employment: 84%
Southern University Law Center ranks 6th on our list of easiest law schools to get into in US. It was founded in 1947 after an African American student filed a lawsuit because he could not enroll at state law school. Today the school is the most diverse one in Louisiana, and African American account for the greatest percent of student population. Law program at the Southern University is the most affordable one on this ranking with tuition of $15,802 for residents and $28,402 for non-residents. The expenses are so low that only 8% of all students receive financial help. While it might be easy to enroll at Southern University law program (median LSAT score and GPA of 2017 class were among the lowest in the country), note that the school has very low bar passage rate which is well below state’s average.
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5. Appalachian School of Law, Grundy, VA
Acceptance rate: 65.49%
LSAT score 50th percentile: 143
GPA range 50th percentile: 2.86
Tuition and fees for residents and non-residents (full time): $31,700
Bar passage rate: 58.14%
Employment: 80%
Appalachian school of law, founded in 1994, came in the spotlight in 2002 when a former student opened fire with a semi-automatic gun killing three people and wounding three students. The school, which puts a strong emphasis on professional responsibility, dispute resolution, practice skills and community service, has 65.49% acceptance rate. Its 2017 class had one of the lowest median GPAs in America. The school is affordable, and it also offers plenty of opportunities for financial aid. Bar passage rate of 58.14% is one of the lowest on this list. Note that last year American Bar Association determined that Appalachian school of law does not comply with standards since it enrolls high-risk students, i.e., students with poor academic achievements who do not appear capable of finishing studies and passing the bar. For this reason, ABA required from the school to develop reliable admission plan.
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4. Thomas Jefferson School of Law, San Diego, CA
Acceptance rate: 65.64%
LSAT score 50th percentile: 144
GPA range 50th percentile: 2.84
Tuition and fees for residents and non-residents (full time): $49,500
Tuition and fees for residents and non-residents (part time): $37,130
Bar passage rate: 30%
Employment: 65%
Up next on our list of easiest law schools to get into in US we have Thomas Jefferson School of Law that was put on probation by American Bar Association last year because of its admission policy and the fact that it enrolled so many students with low GPA and LSAT score results. Moreover, Thomas Jefferson School has the poorest bar results. Only 30% of first time takes from Thomas Jefferson managed to pass the exam in July last year. Although Thomas Jefferson might seem to lure with its loose admission requirements, prospective students should think twice before applying to this school.
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3. Southern Illinois University – Carbondale, Carbondale, IL
Acceptance rate: 72.64%
LSAT score 50th percentile: 147
GPA range 50th percentile: 3.07
Tuition and fees for residents (full time): $21,754
Tuition and fees for non-residents (full time): $44,026
Bar passage rate: 68.91%
Employment: 80%
Southern Illinois University – Carbondale ranks third on our list of easiest law schools to get into in US. It has sixth highest acceptance rate in America, which is the main reason why it ranked so high on this list. The university was founded in 1869, while college of law was approved by ABA in 1974. The law school belongs to the group of the most affordable ones in America and almost all students can count on some type of financial aid. The bar pass rate of 68.91% is higher than in previously mentioned schools but it is still significantly below state’s average.
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2. Charleston School of Law, Charleston, SC
Acceptance rate: 70.96%
LSAT score 50th percentile: 145
GPA range 50th percentile: 3.03
Tuition and fees for residents (full time): $41,548
Tuition and fees for non-residents (part time): $33,570
Bar passage rate: 44%
Employment: 88%
In July last year, only 44% students from Charleston School of Law passed the bar exam, which was a considerable drop compared to 75% bar passage rate from previous years. The school has loose admission requirements and high acceptance rate. The positive thing though is that Charleston school of law ranked as fourth for Quality of Life and tenth for Best Professors in Princeton Review.
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And now, let’s see the number one on our list of easiest law schools to get into in US.
1. Western Michigan University, Cooley Law School, Lansing, MI
Acceptance rate: 85.56%
LSAT score 50th percentile: 142
GPA range 50th percentile: 2.94
Tuition and fees for residents and non-residents (full time): $51,370
Tuition and fees for residents and non-residents (part time): $30,130
Bar passage rate: 61%
Employment: 78%
Western Michigan University Cooley Law School occupies the first place on our list of 11 easiest law schools to get into in US. The school has the highest acceptance rate, third lowest median LSAT score and eight lowest median GPA in America. For all these reasons it can be considered the least competitive law school in the country. Like some of the previously mentioned law programs that have low selective admission policy, WMU Cooley School was warned by ABA. Cooley Law School’s bar passage rate of 61% is the worst in Michigan.
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