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University of Montana Law School logo

University of Montana Law School

Missoula, Montana

Rank #96 (USNWR 2023)

154
LSAT
3.48
GPA
66.1%
Admit Rate
25th, 50th, 75th lines show admitted class %iles

JD Admissions & Requirements

Data from 2023 admissions cycle

154
LSAT
3.48
GPA
66.1%
Admit Rate

University of Montana Law School is a prestigious JD program located in Missoula, Montana. In the competitive 2023 law school rankings, University of Montana Law School was ranked 96 by US News & World Report, making it a strong option for prospective law students in the current application cycle. For the 2023 admissions cycle, University of Montana Law School has an entering 1L class size of approximately 96 with an acceptance rate of 66.1%, positioning it among the competitive law schools for JD applicants.

Also known as
MONTANA, UNIVERSITY OF
Law School Applications
498
JD application volume in 2023 cycle
JD Acceptance Rate
66.1%
4th percentile
JD Program Size
96
7th percentile
JD Tuition Cost
$89k

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University of Montana Law School Law School Admissions Data & Statistics
2023-2024 Cycle Overview
47 applicants
Accepted
2 / 13
Waitlisted
1
Rejected
10
-
Withdrawn
11
-

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
Graph Navigation:
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  • View details: Hover over any point to see detailed information
  • Visit profile: Click on any point to open that user's profile page
  • 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 2023 admissions cycle at University of Montana Law School, 498 candidates submitted JD applications and 356 received acceptance letters. The law school application process here is moderately selective for prospective students with an acceptance rate of 66.1%.

The JD program at University of Montana Law School enrolls a first-year class of 96 law students each year, with an admissions yield rate of 26.97%. This means that of the 356 applicants who received law school acceptance letters, 96 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 University of Montana Law School, 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
498
7th percentile
Admission Offers 356
Class Size
96
7th percentile
Acceptance Rate
66.1%
4th percentile
Yield Rate
26.97%
39th percentile
Average Statistics by Decision (LSD)
Metric Rejected All Accepted
LSAT 153.8 158.32 161.19
GPA 3.03 3.29 3.47
Softs T3.56 T3.33 T3.3
Avg Scholarship - - $30,571
* Softs are self-reported ratings (T1-T4) representing non-numeric application factors
LSAT & GPA Statistics (ABA 509)
25th 50th 75th
LSAT
37th percentile
150 154 158
GPA
26th percentile
3.23 3.48 3.69
LSD User Stats
Metric 25th 50th 75th
LSAT 154.0 (+4.0) 158.0 (+4.0) 161.0 (+3.0)
GPA 3.0 (-0.23) 3.42 (-0.06) 3.57 (-0.12)
* Based on 47 self-reported applications
* Green/Red values show difference from ABA 509 data
Application Process Statistics
Avg Days: Sent to Decision 41 days
Avg Days: UR to Decision 24 days
Interview Invite Rate 2.1%
Interview → Acceptance Rate 100.0%

The above statistics show that University of Montana Law School typically admits students with LSAT scores ranging from 150 (25th percentile) to 158 (75th percentile), with a median of 154.

For GPA, admitted students typically have undergraduate GPAs ranging from 3.23 to 3.69, with a median of 3.48.

With an acceptance rate of 66.1%, University of Montana Law School is considered a moderately 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

University of Montana Law School Application Status Data

Application statuses submitted by LSData users

Showing 47 apps

University of Montana Law School Law School Employment Outcomes

Overview

JD Employment Rate

92.3%
74th percentile

First-Time Bar Pass

83.1%
65th percentile

Median Starting Salary

$80,000
Private Sector
25th percentile

Employment Quality

JD Required

89.7%
88th percentile

BigLaw Placement

0.0%
4th percentile

Federal Clerkships

6.4%
88th percentile

School-Funded Positions

1.3%

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 70 0 70 89.7%
JD Advantage 2 0 2 2.6%
Professional 2 2.6%
Other 0 0.0%
School-Funded 0 1 1 1.3%
Total Employed 72 1 0 0 75 96.2%
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 38.5%
15th percentile
Judicial Clerkships 23.1%
91st percentile
Government 12.8%
56th percentile
Public Interest 14.1%
89th percentile
Business 6.4%
38th percentile
Academia 1.3%
53rd percentile

Judicial Clerkships

Clerkships by Type

Clerkship Type Graduates % of Class National Rank
Federal 5 6.4%
88th percentile
State/Local 12 15.4%
Tribal 1 1.3%

Federal clerkships are highly prestigious positions that significantly enhance career prospects in litigation and academia.

Bar Examination Performance

First-Time Pass Rate
83.1%
65th percentile
Takers: 71
Passed: 59
vs State Avg +7.6%
Ultimate Pass Rate
96.92%
81st percentile
Takers: 65
Passed: 63
Within 2 years
Jurisdiction Weighted
75.49%
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 $80,000
25th percentile
25th Percentile $68,250
22nd percentile
Public Sector
Median Salary $72,000
80th percentile

Career Outcomes Summary

Law school tuition at University of Montana Law School is $89k annually (calculated from semester costs). Prospective law students should budget approximately $53k for the total annual cost of attending (including tuition, fees, books, and living expenses).

After completing their JD program at University of Montana Law School, graduates entering private law firms earn a median starting salary of $80,000. JD graduates pursuing public sector legal careers start at approximately $72,000. 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 38.5% of University of Montana Law School JD graduates secure positions at law firms after graduation. Additionally, 23.1% of graduates obtain prestigious judicial clerkships, and 14.1% pursue public interest law careers. Overall, 92.3% of JD graduates were employed at jobs that required a JD within 10 months of graduation.

For JD graduates from University of Montana Law School, the first-time bar exam pass rate is 83.1%. Within two years, 96.92% of graduates ultimately pass the bar exam. The school's first-time pass rate is +7.6% 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.