In 2024, 196 law schools are active with ABA accreditation. By institutional control type, There are 86 public and 110 private law schools. The following table shows the 2024 important law school statistics at a glance.
2024 ABA-accredited Law School Statistics Summary
|
Number of Schools | 196 (86 public, 110 private) |
Tuition & Fees | $30,970 In-State, $51,478 Out-of-State |
LSAT Score | 158.5 |
GPA | 3.61 |
Acceptance Rate | 31.55% |
Applicants Total | 414,758 |
Accepted Total | 130,837 |
Matriculated Total | 37,889 |
Total Number of Students | 139,883 |
JD Enrollment | 116,851 |
Non-JD Enrollment | 23,032 |
Bar Exam Pass Rate | 75.49% |
LSAT Score and GPA
For 2024 admission, the average (mean) LSAT score is 158.5. In public law schools, the average LSAT score is 159.0 and private law schools' average is 158.2. The median LSAT score is 157.0, where public law schools'median LSAT is 158.5 and private law schools' median LSAT is 156.0.
The mean and median LSAT score is similar to previous year(2023)'s score.
For 2024 admission, the average (mean) GPA is 3.61. In public law schools, the average GPA is 3.64 and private law schools' average is 3.58. The median GPA is 3.61, where public law schools'median GPA is 3.69 and private law schools' median GPA is 3.59.
Both 2024 mean and median GPA are higher than previous year (2023)'s GPA.
LSAT score Statistics
| | 2024 | 2023 |
Total | Mean | 158.5 | 158.4 |
Median | 157.0 | 157.0 |
Public | Mean | 159.0 | 158.8 |
Median | 158.5 | 158.0 |
Private | Mean | 158.2 | 158.1 |
Median | 156.0 | 156.0 |
GPA Statistics
| | 2024 | 2023 |
Total | Mean | 3.61 | 3.58 |
Median | 3.61 | 3.61 |
Public | Mean | 3.64 | 3.62 |
Median | 3.69 | 3.65 |
Private | Mean | 3.58 | 3.56 |
Median | 3.59 | 3.55 |
Admission Statistics
For 2024 admission, the average acceptance rate is 31.55%. In public law schools, the average acceptance rate is 31.24% and private law schools' average is 31.72%.
The median acceptance rate is 39.57%, where public law schools'median rate is 37.57% and private law schools' median rate is 38.46%.
Both 2024 mean and median acceptance rate are higher than previous year (2023)'s rate.
For 2024 admission, the average number of applicants is 2,116. In public law schools, the average number of applicants is 1,743 and private law schools' average is 2,408.
The median number of applicants is 1,460, where public law schools'median value is 1,286 and private law schools' median value is 1,685.
Acceptance Rate Statistics
| | 2024 | 2023 |
Total | Mean | 31.55% | 30.09% |
Median | 39.57% | 38.46% |
Public | Mean | 31.24% | 30.15% |
Median | 37.57% | 36.40% |
Private | Mean | 31.72% | 30.05% |
Median | 38.46% | 37.79% |
Number of Applicants
| | 2024 | 2023 |
Total | Total | 414,758 -12,345 | 427,103 |
Mean | 2,116 | 2,179 |
Median | 1,460 | 1,469 |
Public | Total | 149,858 -4,206 | 154,064 |
Mean | 1,743 | 1,791 |
Median | 1,286 | 1,298 |
Private | Total | 264,900 -4,206 | 273,039 |
Mean | 2,408 | 2,482 |
Median | 1,685 | 1,764 |
Number of Accepted Applicants
| | 2024 | 2023 |
Total | Total | 130,837 2,337 | 128,500 |
Mean | 668 | 656 |
Median | 578 | 565 |
Public | Total | 46,819 369 | 46,450 |
Mean | 544 | 540 |
Median | 483 | 473 |
Private | Total | 84,018 1,968 | 82,050 |
Mean | 764 | 746 |
Median | 648 | 667 |
2024 Tuition & Fees - Mean and Median
For the academic year 2023-2024, the average tuition & fees is $51,478. In public law schools, the average tuition & fees is $30,970 for state residents and $43,784 for out-of-state students. In private law school, the average tuition & fees is $57,067.
The median law school tuition & fees is $50,002. As you might expect, public law school's tuition is lower than private school's tuition. In particular, median tuition is even lower than mean tuition. This means that there are actually many public law schools that charge lower-than-average tuition.
Both 2024 mean and median law school tuition & fees are higher than previous year (2023)'s tuition.
2024 Tuition & Fees by School Type
| | | 2024 | 2023 |
Total | Mean | $51,478 7.80% | $47,753 |
Median | $50,002 2.85% | $48,617 |
Public | In-State | Mean | $30,970 7.45% | $28,824 |
Median | $26,024 4.92% | $24,803 |
Out-of-State | Mean | $43,784 6.16% | $41,243 |
Median | $39,721 -0.26% | $39,825 |
Private | Mean | $57,067 8.11% | $52,785 |
Median | $55,775 4.67% | $53,286 |
Student Population
For the academic year 2023-2024, a total of 139,883 students enrolled in U.S. law schools. Public law schools have 54,717 students and private law schools have 85,166 students.
Of that, 116,851 students (83.53%) enrolled for Juris Doctor (J.D>) program and 23,032 students (16.47%) enrolled in non-JD program.
Although the overall student population decreased compared to 2023, the J.D. enrollment increased.
For 2024 admission, 37,889 first-year students enrolled, 14,245 in public and 23,644 in private law schools. By gender, there are 16,002 male and 21,307 female students enrolled.
Although the number of first-year students decreased compared to 2023, the number of female students increased.
Total Student Population
| | 2024 | 2023 |
Total | Total | 139,883 -1,002 | 140,885 |
J.D. Enrollment | 116,851 124 | 116,727 |
Non-J.D. Enrollment | 23,032 -1,126 | 24,158 |
Public | Total | 54,717 45 | 54,672 |
J.D. Enrollment | 44,711 -156 | 44,867 |
Non-J.D. Enrollment | 10,006 201 | 9,805 |
Private | Total | 85,166 -1,047 | 86,213 |
J.D. Enrollment | 72,140 280 | 71,860 |
Non-J.D. Enrollment | 13,026 -1,327 | 14,353 |
First-year Enrollment
| | 2024 | 2023 |
Total | Total | 37,889 -173 | 38,062 |
Men Students | 16,002 -469 | 16,471 |
Women Students | 21,307 48 | 21,259 |
Public | Total | 14,245 -212 | 14,457 |
Men Students | 6,271 -243 | 6,514 |
Women Students | 7,783 -58 | 7,841 |
Private | Total | 23,644 39 | 23,605 |
Men Students | 9,731 -226 | 9,957 |
Women | 13,524 106 | 13,418 |
Bar Exam Pass Rate and Statistics
For the first-time exam takers, the average bar exam pass rate is 77.17% in 2024. A total of 33,456 took the exam and 26,491 passed.
Acceptance Rate Statistics
| | 2024 | 2023 |
Total | Mean | 77.17% | 75.49% |
Median | 78.74% | 76.90% |
Public | Mean | 78.26% | 76.66% |
Median | 81.10% | 79.41% |
Private | Mean | 76.29% | 74.57% |
Median | 77.51% | 75.55% |
Bar Exam Takers and Passers
| | 2024 | 2023 |
Total | Exam Takers | 33,456 | 33,721 |
Passers | 26,491 | 26,217 |
Public | Exam Takers | 12,704 | 12,961 |
Passers | 10,099 | 10,170 |
Private | Exam Takers | 20,752 | 20,760 |
Passers | 16,392 | 16,047 |