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University of Pittsburgh Law School logo

University of Pittsburgh Law School

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Rank #76 (USNWR 2020)

159
LSAT
3.51
GPA
41.66%
Admit Rate
25th, 50th, 75th lines show admitted class %iles

JD Admissions & Requirements

Data from 2020 admissions cycle

159
LSAT
3.51
GPA
41.66%
Admit Rate

University of Pittsburgh Law School is a prestigious JD program located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In the competitive 2020 law school rankings, University of Pittsburgh Law School was ranked 76 by US News & World Report, making it a strong option for prospective law students in the current application cycle. For the 2020 admissions cycle, University of Pittsburgh Law School has an entering 1L class size of approximately 123 with an acceptance rate of 41.66%, positioning it among the competitive law schools for JD applicants.

Also known as
PITTSBURGH, UNIVERSITY OF
Law School Applications
1061
JD application volume in 2020 cycle
JD Acceptance Rate
41.66%
60th percentile
JD Program Size
123
22nd percentile
JD Tuition Cost
$44k

The law is a jealous mistress, and requires a long and constant courtship.

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University of Pittsburgh Law School Law School Admissions Data & Statistics
2020-2021 Cycle Overview
119 applicants
Accepted
5 / 41
Waitlisted
8
Rejected
13
-
Withdrawn
34
-

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:
  • Colorblind mode: Toggle on in the controls above for an alternative color palette
  • Export/Print: Click the menu in the top-right corner of any graph to download or print
  • 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 University of Pittsburgh Law School, 1061 candidates submitted JD applications and 442 received acceptance letters. The law school application process here is moderately selective for prospective students with an acceptance rate of 41.66%.

The JD program at University of Pittsburgh Law School enrolls a first-year class of 123 law students each year, with an admissions yield rate of 27.83%. This means that of the 442 applicants who received law school acceptance letters, 123 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 Pittsburgh 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
1061
41st percentile
Admission Offers 442
Class Size
123
22nd percentile
Acceptance Rate
41.66%
60th percentile
Yield Rate
27.83%
40th percentile
Average Statistics by Decision (LSD)
Metric Rejected All Accepted
LSAT 154.0 160.28 162.87
GPA 3.14 3.45 3.51
Softs T2.85 T3.31 T3.37
Avg Scholarship - - $96,257
* Softs are self-reported ratings (T1-T4) representing non-numeric application factors
LSAT & GPA Statistics (ABA 509)
25th 50th 75th
LSAT
65th percentile
155 159 161
GPA
63rd percentile
3.22 3.51 3.76
LSD User Stats
Metric 25th 50th 75th
LSAT 157.0 (+2.0) 160.0 (+1.0) 164.0 (+3.0)
GPA 3.2 (-0.02) 3.59 (+0.08) 3.74 (-0.02)
* Based on 119 self-reported applications
* Green/Red values show difference from ABA 509 data
Application Process Statistics
Avg Days: Sent to Decision 50 days
Avg Days: UR to Decision 32 days
Interview Invite Rate 0.8%
Interview → Acceptance Rate 100.0%

The above statistics show that University of Pittsburgh Law School typically admits students with LSAT scores ranging from 155 (25th percentile) to 161 (75th percentile), with a median of 159.

For GPA, admitted students typically have undergraduate GPAs ranging from 3.22 to 3.76, with a median of 3.51.

With an acceptance rate of 41.66%, University of Pittsburgh 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 Pittsburgh Law School Application Status Data

Application statuses submitted by LSData users

Showing 119 apps

University of Pittsburgh Law School Law School Employment Outcomes

Overview

JD Employment Rate

83.1%
51st percentile

First-Time Bar Pass

83.05%
59th percentile

Median Starting Salary

$70,000
Private Sector
32nd percentile

Employment Quality

JD Required

66.9%
38th percentile

BigLaw Placement

14.1%
79th percentile

Federal Clerkships

1.4%
48th 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 95 1 96 67.6%
JD Advantage 20 2 22 15.5%
Professional 2 1.4%
Other 4 2.8%
School-Funded 0 0 0 0.0%
Total Employed 115 3 0 0 124 87.3%
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 47.9%
53rd percentile
Judicial Clerkships 7.7%
56th percentile
Government 7.0%
19th percentile
Public Interest 9.2%
69th percentile
Business 14.1%
81st percentile
Academia 1.4%
61st percentile
Unemployment Rate: 7.7% (graduates actively seeking employment)

Judicial Clerkships

Clerkships by Type

Clerkship Type Graduates % of Class National Rank
Federal 2 1.4%
48th percentile
State/Local 9 6.3%

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

Bar Examination Performance

First-Time Pass Rate
83.05%
59th percentile
Takers: 118
Passed: 98
vs State Avg +4.0%
Ultimate Pass Rate
90.51%
52nd percentile
Takers: 137
Passed: 124
Within 2 years
Jurisdiction Weighted
79.03%
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 $70,000
32nd percentile
25th Percentile $58,240
27th percentile
Public Sector
Median Salary $45,000
2nd percentile

Career Outcomes Summary

Law school tuition at University of Pittsburgh Law School is $44k annually (calculated from semester costs). Prospective law students should budget approximately $38k for the total annual cost of attending (including tuition, fees, books, and living expenses).

After completing their JD program at University of Pittsburgh Law School, graduates entering private law firms earn a median starting salary of $70,000. JD graduates pursuing public sector legal careers start at approximately $45,000. 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 47.9% of University of Pittsburgh Law School JD graduates secure positions at law firms after graduation. Additionally, 7.7% of graduates obtain prestigious judicial clerkships, and 9.2% pursue public interest law careers. Overall, 83.1% of JD graduates were employed at jobs that required a JD within 10 months of graduation.

For JD graduates from University of Pittsburgh Law School, the first-time bar exam pass rate is 83.05%. Within two years, 90.51% of graduates ultimately pass the bar exam. The school's first-time pass rate is +4.0% 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.

The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is practice.

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