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44 Best Midwest Law Schools 2026

Explore 44 ABA-accredited law schools across the Midwest region with comprehensive data on rankings, admissions statistics, and career outcomes.

44
Total Law Schools
12
States in Region
156
Avg LSAT Median

All Midwest Law Schools

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#4
LSAT Median: 173
GPA Median: 3.94

University of Michigan

Ann Arbor, Michigan
#9
LSAT Median: 171
GPA Median: 3.85

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#12
LSAT Median: 173
GPA Median: 3.96

University of Notre Dame

South Bend, Indiana
#17
LSAT Median: 163
GPA Median: 3.64

Washington University in St. Louis

St. Louis, Missouri
#19
LSAT Median: 166
GPA Median: 3.62

University of Minnesota

Minneapolis, Minnesota
#24
LSAT Median: 169
GPA Median: 3.88

University of Wisconsin

Madison, Wisconsin
#29
LSAT Median: 161
GPA Median: 3.62

Ohio State University

Columbus , Ohio
#32
LSAT Median: 165
GPA Median: 3.83

University of Illinois—Urbana Champaign

Champaign, Illinois
#32
LSAT Median: 165
GPA Median: 3.77

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa
#38
LSAT Median: 160
GPA Median: 3.64

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#38
LSAT Median: 161
GPA Median: 3.72

University of Missouri

Columbia, Missouri
#44
LSAT Median: 161
GPA Median: 3.72

Wayne State University

Detroit, Michigan
#44
LSAT Median: 156
GPA Median: 3.29

Case Western Reserve University

Cleveland, Ohio
Top 75
LSAT Median: 160
GPA Median: 3.70

University of Kansas

Lawrence, Kansas
Top 75
LSAT Median: 156
GPA Median: 3.42

Marquette University

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Top 75
LSAT Median: 158
GPA Median: 3.70

University of Cincinnati

Cincinnati, Ohio
Top 75
LSAT Median: 158
GPA Median: 3.73

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan
Top 75
LSAT Median: 160
GPA Median: 3.63

University of Nebraska

Lincoln, Nebraska
75+
LSAT Median: 160
GPA Median: 3.81

Loyola University—Chicago

Chicago , Illinois
75+
LSAT Median: 161
GPA Median: 3.70

Drake University

Des Moines, Iowa
75+
LSAT Median: 156
GPA Median: 3.67

Saint Louis University

St. Louis, Missouri
75+
LSAT Median: 155
GPA Median: 3.46

University of St. Thomas (Minnesota)

Minneapolis, Minnesota
75+
LSAT Median: 154
GPA Median: 3.48

Illinois Institute of Technology (Kent)

Chicago, Illinois
75+
LSAT Median: 159
GPA Median: 3.67

University of Detroit Mercy

Detroit, Michigan
75+
LSAT Median: 156
GPA Median: 3.52

Cleveland State University

Cleveland, Ohio
75+
LSAT Median: 153
GPA Median: 3.29

DePaul University

Chicago, Illinois
75+
LSAT Median: 158
GPA Median: 3.61

University of Illinois—Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
75+
LSAT Median: 152
GPA Median: 3.38

Capital University

Columbus, Ohio
LSAT Median: 148
GPA Median: 3.15

Creighton University

Omaha, Nebraska
LSAT Median: 152
GPA Median: 3.26

Indiana University - Indianapolis

Indianapolis, Indiana
LSAT Median: 152
GPA Median: 3.32

Mitchell Hamline

St Paul, Minnesota
LSAT Median: 154
GPA Median: 3.29

Northern Illinois University

DeKalb, Illinois
LSAT Median: 150
GPA Median: 3.41

Ohio Northern University

Ada, Ohio
LSAT Median: 149
GPA Median: 3.34

Southern Illinois University—Carbondale

Carbondale, Illinois
LSAT Median: 149
GPA Median: 3.38

University of Akron

Akron, Ohio
LSAT Median: 152
GPA Median: 3.25

University of Dayton

Dayton, Ohio
LSAT Median: 156
GPA Median: 3.66

University of Missouri—Kansas City

Kansas City, Missouri
LSAT Median: 156
GPA Median: 3.65

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota
LSAT Median: 149
GPA Median: 3.21

University of South Dakota

Vermillion, South Dakota
LSAT Median: 152
GPA Median: 3.47

University of Toledo

Toledo, Ohio
LSAT Median: 151
GPA Median: 3.33

Valparaiso University

Valparaiso, Indiana
LSAT Median: 145
GPA Median: 3.10

Washburn University

Topeka, Kansas
LSAT Median: 151
GPA Median: 3.28

Western Michigan University (Cooley)

Lansing, Michigan
LSAT Median: 145
GPA Median: 2.90

About Midwest Law Schools

The Midwest region offers excellent value in legal education with generally lower costs of living compared to coastal markets. Chicago serves as the region's primary legal hub, with strong corporate law opportunities. Other metropolitan areas like Detroit, Minneapolis, and Cleveland offer robust legal markets in manufacturing, insurance, and healthcare law.

Regional Legal Market Overview

The Midwest region offers diverse opportunities for legal education and practice, with schools ranging from nationally-ranked institutions to strong regional programs focused on local legal markets.

Top Considerations for Midwest Law Schools

  • Regional bar exam requirements and reciprocity agreements
  • Cost of living variations across different states
  • Employment rates and starting salaries in regional markets
  • Specializations aligned with regional industries
  • Alumni network strength in key metropolitan areas