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SMU Dedman School of Law (SMU)
Track decisions and applicant data for the 2024-2025 cycle — 592 applicants reporting.
24-25 · selected
23-24 · previous
ABA 509 (2024): 2,540 apps · 772 offers · 227 enrolled · 30.39% acceptance rate
Detailed Breakdown
Accepted · 242 total · 9.9% yield
Waitlist · 120 total
Admissions Data
| LSAT & GPA Statistics | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 25th | 50th | 75th | |
|
LSAT
(ABA · 2024)
78th percentile
|
161 | 165 | 166 |
| LSAT (LSD) | 160 | 165 | 168 |
|
GPA
(ABA · 2024)
81st percentile
|
3.60 | 3.86 | 3.93 |
| GPA (LSD) | 3.38 | 3.7 | 3.89 |
| Average Statistics by Decision (LSD) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Metric | Rejected | All | Accepted |
| LSAT | 158.43 | 164.1 | 168.03 |
| GPA | 3.3 | 3.58 | 3.68 |
| Softs | T3.27 | T3.28 | T3.31 |
| Avg $ | - | - | $111,382 |
| Admissions Metrics (ABA 509) | |
|---|---|
| Metric | Value |
| Applications |
2540
73rd percentile
|
| Admission Offers | 772 |
| Class Size |
227
71st percentile
|
| Acceptance Rate |
30.39%
73rd percentile
|
| Yield Rate |
28.89%
46th percentile
|
| Application Process Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Avg Days: Sent to Decision | 75 days |
| Avg Days: UR to Decision | 43 days |
| Interview Invite Rate | 0.8% |
| Interview → Acceptance Rate | 100.0% |
Decision Timing
Selected Cycle (2024-2025) decisions (solid) vs. 303 decisions from Previous Cycle (2023-2024) (faded). Click the previous cycle in the legend to toggle.
Where Is SMU Dedman School of Law Trending?
Historical LSAT, GPA, and acceptance rate data from ABA 509 reports. Rising medians or falling acceptance rates indicate increasing competitiveness.
LSAT and GPA bands show 25th/50th/75th percentiles; acceptance rate is lower = more selective. Click legend items to show/hide metrics.
Overview
Employment outcomes data from ABA 509 disclosures is shown below.
JD Employment Rate
First-Time Bar Pass
Median Starting Salary
Employment Quality
JD Required
BigLaw Placement
Federal Clerkships
Employment Quality Distribution
Law Firm Employment by Size
Employment Quality Matrix
Bar Required ★ 219 (88.7% of class)
JD Advantage 22 (8.9% of class)
Professional 0 (0.0% of class)
Other 0 (0.0% of class)
School-Funded 0 (0.0% of class)
| Employment Type | Full-Time Long-Term |
Full-Time Short-Term |
Part-Time Long-Term |
Part-Time Short-Term |
Total | % of Grads |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bar Required ★ | 219 | 0 | — | — | 219 | 88.7% |
| JD Advantage | 21 | 1 | — | — | 22 | 8.9% |
| Professional | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0.0% |
| Other | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0.0% |
| School-Funded | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0.0% |
| Total Employed | 240 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 241 | 97.6% |
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
Sector Details
| Sector | % of Graduates | National Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Law Firms | 75.7% |
97th percentile
|
| Judicial Clerkships | 3.6% |
29th percentile
|
| Government | 7.3% |
16th percentile
|
| Public Interest | 1.2% |
0th percentile
|
| Business | 9.3% |
77th percentile
|
| Academia | 0.4% |
22nd percentile
|
Clerkships by Type
| Type | Graduates | % of Class | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal | 6 | 2.4% |
63rd percentile
|
| State/Local | 3 | 1.2% | — |
Federal clerkships enhance careers in litigation and academia.
Bar Exam Performance
| Metric | Rate | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| First-Time Pass | 84.93% |
69th percentile
|
| Ultimate Pass | 95.61% |
76th percentile
|
| Jurisdiction Weighted | 78.97% | — |
Salary Outcomes
Private Sector
Public Sector
Career Outcomes Summary
Law school tuition at SMU Dedman School of Law is $117k annually (calculated from semester costs). Prospective law students should budget approximately $29k for the total annual cost of attending (including tuition, fees, books, and living expenses).
For JD graduates from SMU Dedman School of Law, the first-time bar exam pass rate is 84.93%. Within two years, 95.61% of graduates ultimately pass the bar exam. The school's first-time pass rate is +6.0% 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.
Cost of Attendance
Annual Tuition
Annual Fees
Cost of Living
Scholarship & Grant Aid
Students Receiving Grants
Median Grant
Grant Range (25th–75th)
Grant Distribution
Conditional Scholarships
Admissions Contact
Also known as
Wisdom from SMU Dedman School of Law Admits
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Read moreAbout SMU Dedman School of Law admissions
SMU Dedman School of Law , commonly known as SMU, is a prestigious JD program located in Dallas, Texas. According to the 2024 ABA 509 Report, SMU Dedman School of Law has an entering 1L class size of approximately 227 with an acceptance rate of 30.39%, positioning it among the competitive law schools for JD applicants.