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Chapman University Fowler School of Law logo

Chapman University Fowler School of Law

Orange, California

Rank #111 (USNWR 2020)

159
LSAT
3.52
GPA
32.55%
Admit Rate
25th, 50th, 75th lines show admitted class %iles

JD Admissions & Requirements

Data from 2020 admissions cycle

159
LSAT
3.52
GPA
32.55%
Admit Rate

Chapman University Fowler School of Law is a prestigious JD program located in Orange, California. In the competitive 2020 law school rankings, Chapman University Fowler School of Law was ranked 111 by US News & World Report, making it a strong option for prospective law students in the current application cycle. For the 2020 admissions cycle, Chapman University Fowler School of Law has an entering 1L class size of approximately 153 with an acceptance rate of 32.55%, positioning it among the competitive law schools for JD applicants.

Also known as
CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY
Law School Applications
1868
JD application volume in 2020 cycle
JD Acceptance Rate
32.55%
80th percentile
JD Program Size
153
38th percentile
JD Tuition Cost
$56k

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Chapman University Fowler School of Law Law School Admissions Data & Statistics
2020-2021 Cycle Overview
139 applicants
Accepted
4 / 39
Waitlisted
35
Rejected
7
-
Withdrawn
41
-

Admissions Graphs

25th, 50th, 75th lines show admitted class %iles

LSAT Score: Law School Admission Test score (120-180 scale)

GPA: Undergraduate Grade Point Average (0.0-4.3+ scale)

This chart shows when decisions were made throughout the application cycle. Use the filters above to refine the data.

How to Use These Graphs
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  • Toggle series: Click on any legend item to show/hide that category (accepted, waitlisted, rejected, unknown)
Advanced Features:
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  • Cycle selection: Use the dropdown in the controls above to view data from different application cycles
  • Demographic filters: Filter by International, URM, Military, or Early Decision status to compare specific groups
  • Custom axes: On the LSAT vs. GPA graph, select different metrics to compare (dates, scholarships, etc.)
  • Compare your stats: Your own stats will appear as a blue diamond when viewing these graphs

Selectivity & Competitiveness Trends

How to interpret this chart:

  • LSAT (blue): Shows the 25th/50th/75th percentiles as a shaded band with median line. Hover to see exact values in format: 165/170/175
  • GPA (green): Shows the 25th/50th/75th percentiles as a shaded band with median line. Hover to see exact values in format: 3.45/3.65/3.85
  • Acceptance Rate (orange): Percentage of applicants who received offers (lower = more selective)
  • Applications (purple dashed): Total number of applications received each year

Rising LSAT/GPA medians, narrowing bands, or falling acceptance rates indicate increasing competitiveness. Click legend items to show/hide metrics.

For law school applicants interested in the 2020 admissions cycle at Chapman University Fowler School of Law, 1868 candidates submitted JD applications and 608 received acceptance letters. The law school application process here is selective for prospective students with an acceptance rate of 32.55%.

The JD program at Chapman University Fowler School of Law enrolls a first-year class of 153 law students each year, with an admissions yield rate of 25.0%. This means that of the 608 applicants who received law school acceptance letters, 152 chose to enroll. Understanding these law school admission statistics can help prospective JD applicants evaluate their chances and plan their application strategy.

For a competitive law school application to Chapman University Fowler School of Law, students should aim to meet or exceed the median statistics shown below. Meeting these GPA and LSAT targets significantly improves your chances of admission.

JD Admission Requirements & Application Statistics

Admissions Metrics (ABA 509)
Metric Value
Applications
1868
67th percentile
Admission Offers 608
Class Size
153
38th percentile
Acceptance Rate
32.55%
80th percentile
Yield Rate
25.0%
24th percentile
Average Statistics by Decision (LSD)
Metric Rejected All Accepted
LSAT 155.86 158.87 161.94
GPA 2.89 3.32 3.39
Softs T3.29 T3.23 T3.16
Avg Scholarship - - $131,966
* Softs are self-reported ratings (T1-T4) representing non-numeric application factors
LSAT & GPA Statistics (ABA 509)
25th 50th 75th
LSAT
59th percentile
154 159 160
GPA
38th percentile
3.26 3.52 3.66
LSD User Stats
Metric 25th 50th 75th
LSAT 155.0 (+1.0) 159.0 (0.0) 162.0 (+2.0)
GPA 3.01 (-0.25) 3.4 (-0.12) 3.67 (+0.01)
* Based on 139 self-reported applications
* Green/Red values show difference from ABA 509 data
Application Process Statistics
Avg Days: Sent to Decision 53 days
Avg Days: UR to Decision 41 days
Interview Invite Rate 0.0%
Interview → Acceptance Rate -

The above statistics show that Chapman University Fowler School of Law typically admits students with LSAT scores ranging from 154 (25th percentile) to 160 (75th percentile), with a median of 159.

For GPA, admitted students typically have undergraduate GPAs ranging from 3.26 to 3.66, with a median of 3.52.

With an acceptance rate of 32.55%, Chapman University Fowler School of Law is considered a selective law school in terms of admissions.

What these numbers mean
  • Percentiles: The 25th/50th/75th percentiles show the distribution of scores among admitted students.
  • Applications: Total number of people who applied to this law school.
  • Acceptance Rate: Percentage of applicants who received offers (lower = more selective).
  • Yield Rate: Percentage of admitted students who enrolled (higher = more desirable).

Application Status Data

Chapman University Fowler School of Law Application Status Data

Application statuses submitted by LSData users

Showing 139 apps

Chapman University Fowler School of Law Law School Employment Outcomes

Overview

JD Employment Rate

85.2%
59th percentile

First-Time Bar Pass

56.36%
7th percentile

Median Starting Salary

$75,000
Private Sector
41st percentile

Employment Quality

JD Required

69.7%
46th percentile

BigLaw Placement

1.3%
26th percentile

Federal Clerkships

0.0%
11th percentile

Employment Quality Distribution

Law Firm Employment by Size

Employment Quality Matrix

Employment Type Full-Time
Long-Term
Full-Time
Short-Term
Part-Time
Long-Term
Part-Time
Short-Term
Total % of Grads
Bar Required 108 6 114 73.5%
JD Advantage 12 6 18 11.6%
Professional 1 0.6%
Other 1 0.6%
School-Funded 0 0 0 0.0%
Total Employed 120 12 0 0 134 86.5%
School-Funded: May inflate stats

Generally, if you attend law school, you want to secure a bar-required position. However, at prestigious institutions, students may target specific JD advantage positions such as private equity or elite consulting roles.

Employment by Sector

Distribution

Sector Details

Employment Sector % of Graduates National Percentile
Law Firms 65.8%
93rd percentile
Judicial Clerkships 0.0%
0th percentile
Government 8.4%
30th percentile
Public Interest 1.9%
5th percentile
Business 10.3%
57th percentile
Academia 0.0%
0th percentile
Unemployment Rate: 12.3% (graduates actively seeking employment)

Judicial Clerkships

Bar Examination Performance

First-Time Pass Rate
56.36%
7th percentile
Takers: 165
Passed: 93
vs State Avg -12.8%
Ultimate Pass Rate
91.67%
58th percentile
Takers: 144
Passed: 132
Within 2 years
Jurisdiction Weighted
69.18%
State average for jurisdictions where graduates took the bar
Understanding bar passage metrics

First-time: Immediate readiness indicator

Ultimate: Long-term success within 2 years

vs State: Performance relative to state average

Bar Passage Rates Comparison

Salary Outcomes

Private Sector
Median Salary $75,000
41st percentile
25th Percentile $52,000
11th percentile
Public Sector
Median Salary $68,000
97th percentile

Career Outcomes Summary

Law school tuition at Chapman University Fowler School of Law is $56k annually (calculated from semester costs). Prospective law students should budget approximately $67k for the total annual cost of attending (including tuition, fees, books, and living expenses).

After completing their JD program at Chapman University Fowler School of Law, graduates entering private law firms earn a median starting salary of $75,000. JD graduates pursuing public sector legal careers start at approximately $68,000. These post-law school employment outcomes are important factors for evaluating the return on investment for your legal education.

For law school applicants interested in specific legal career paths, it's worth noting that 65.8% of Chapman University Fowler School of Law JD graduates secure positions at law firms after graduation. Additionally, 0.0% of graduates obtain prestigious judicial clerkships, and 1.9% pursue public interest law careers. Overall, 85.2% of JD graduates were employed at jobs that required a JD within 10 months of graduation.

For JD graduates from Chapman University Fowler School of Law, the first-time bar exam pass rate is 56.36%. Within two years, 91.67% of graduates ultimately pass the bar exam. The school's first-time pass rate is -12.8% compared to the weighted state average. These bar passage metrics are important indicators of how well the law school prepares its students for this crucial professional licensing examination.