Oldest Law Schools

121 Law Schools Established Over 100 Years Ago

Among 197 ABA-accredited law schools, Marshall-Wythe School of Law is the oldest school. It established in 1779 and is serving for 186 years excepts 59 years closing which is closed in 1861 and reopened in 1920.

Harvard Law School and University of Maryland School of Law have also long histories established in 1817 and 1823 respectively.

You might want to check newest law schools.

Top 25 Oldest Law Schools

The following table compares the top 25 Oldest Law Schools with important academic indicators.

The rankings include 13 public and 12 law schools are included.

The average acceptance rate of the schools is 30.37% and the yield is 31.98%. The acceptance rate of Oldest Law Schools is low, compared to average rate of all law schools, 42.35%.

The average LSAT score submitted by enrolled students is 165 and the average GPA is 3.77 at Oldest Law Schools. Their LSAT scores are high, compared to average LSAT score of all law schools, 159.

For the Oldest Law Schools, the average 2024 tuition & fees is $41,498 state residents and $52,958 for out-of-state students in public law schools. In private law schools in the rankings, the tuition & fees is $67,849. The average financial aid amount of them is $29,240 which is 48.65% of tuition & fees.

Comparison between Oldest Law Schools
Rank	School	Established	Enrollment	Tuition & Fees	Acceptance Rate	LSAT Score	Bar Exam Pass Rate
1	Marshall-Wythe School of LawPublicWilliamsburg, VA	1779	556	$68,329	27.31%	166	92.96%
2	Harvard Law SchoolPrivateCambridge, MA	1817	2,031	$78,692	9.58%	174	96.10%
3	University of Maryland School of LawPublicBaltimore, MD	1823	786	$52,538	30.18%	163	74.87%
4	University of Virginia School of LawPublicCharlottesville, VA	1826	960	$77,700	11.46%	171	96.50%
5	University of Cincinnati College of LawPublicCincinnati, OH	1833	455	$29,010	47.66%	158	87.93%
6	Penn State Dickinson LawPublicCarlisle, PA	1834	311	$59,054	35.37%	162	77.46%
6	Penn State LawPublicUniversity Park, PA	1834	553	$57,556	36.94%	161	86.79%
8	New York University School of LawPrivateNew York, NY	1835	2,094	$80,014	16.76%	172	96.58%
9	Maurer School of LawPublicBloomington, IN	1842	611	$62,526	46.86%	164	81.48%
10	Saint Louis University School of LawPrivateQueens, NY	1843	561	$48,594	61.90%	155	86.74%
10	Yale Law SchoolPrivateNew Haven, CT	1843	705	$76,369	5.58%	175	96.79%
12	Baylor Law SchoolPrivateWaco, TX	1845	418	$64,650	17.77%	164	91.61%
12	University of North Carolina School of LawPublicChapel Hill, NC	1845	572	$51,486	16.27%	166	92.00%
14	Louis D. Brandeis School of LawPublicLouisville, LA	1846	373	$30,400	57.64%	156	74.77%
15	Cumberland School of LawPrivateBirmingham, AL	1847	487	$45,236	55.67%	155	78.36%
15	Tulane University School of LawPrivateNew Orleans, LA	1847	897	$71,172	48.01%	161	79.61%
17	Washington and Lee University School of LawPrivateLexington, VA	1849	380	$55,550	31.44%	165	83.33%
18	University of Pennsylvania Law SchoolPrivatePhiladelphia, PA	1850	1,048	$76,934	9.88%	172	96.25%
18	University of Pittsburgh Law SchoolPublicPittsburgh, PA	1850	559	$50,634	39.45%	160	84.55%
20	Albany Law SchoolPrivateAlbany, NY	1851	694	$61,136	54.87%	155	82.05%
21	University of Mississippi School of LawPublicUniversity, MS	1854	531	$38,880	43.53%	157	73.72%
22	Columbia Law SchoolPrivateNew York, NY	1858	1,748	$81,292	12.23%	173	93.72%
23	University of Georgia School of LawPublicAthens, GA	1859	694	$37,752	14.77%	169	83.73%
23	University of Michigan Law SchoolPublicAnn Arbor, MI	1859	978	$72,584	12.58%	171	97.27%
23	Northwestern Pritzker School of LawPrivateChicago, IL	1859	1,189	$74,552	15.53%	172	91.60%