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University of South Carolina School of Law
Track decisions and applicant data for the 2021-2022 cycle — 178 applicants reporting.
21-22 · selected
20-21 · previous
ABA 509 (2021): 1,746 apps · 668 offers · 213 enrolled · 38.26% acceptance rate
Detailed Breakdown
Accepted · 112 total (incl. 3 from waitlist) · 7.1% yield
Waitlist · 36 total · 8.3% accepted off WL
Admissions Data
| LSAT & GPA Statistics | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 25th | 50th | 75th | |
|
LSAT
(ABA · 2021)
51st percentile
|
156 | 158 | 160 |
| LSAT (LSD) | 154 | 159 | 163 |
|
GPA
(ABA · 2021)
42nd percentile
|
3.28 | 3.53 | 3.72 |
| GPA (LSD) | 3.3 | 3.59 | 3.8 |
| Average Statistics by Decision (LSD) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Metric | Rejected | All | Accepted |
| LSAT | 154.87 | 158.67 | 161.43 |
| GPA | 3.17 | 3.5 | 3.57 |
| Softs | T3.42 | T3.36 | T3.45 |
| Avg $ | - | - | $42,697 |
| Admissions Metrics (ABA 509) | |
|---|---|
| Metric | Value |
| Applications |
1746
55th percentile
|
| Admission Offers | 668 |
| Class Size |
213
61st percentile
|
| Acceptance Rate |
38.26%
55th percentile
|
| Yield Rate |
31.74%
53rd percentile
|
| Application Process Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Avg Days: Sent to Decision | 41 days |
| Avg Days: UR to Decision | 26 days |
| Interview Invite Rate | 0.0% |
| Interview → Acceptance Rate | - |
Decision Timing
Selected Cycle (2021-2022) decisions (solid) vs. 68 decisions from Previous Cycle (2020-2021) (faded). Click the previous cycle in the legend to toggle.
Where Is University of South Carolina 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
92.0% of University of South Carolina School of Law graduates secured JD-required employment, with a median private sector salary of $70,000 and a 83.33% first-time bar passage rate (2021 ABA 509 data).
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 ★ 166 (82.6% of class)
JD Advantage 19 (9.5% of class)
Professional 2 (1.0% of class)
Other 4 (2.0% 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 ★ | 165 | 1 | — | — | 166 | 82.6% |
| JD Advantage | 17 | 2 | — | — | 19 | 9.5% |
| Professional | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1.0% |
| Other | — | — | — | — | 4 | 2.0% |
| School-Funded | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0.0% |
| Total Employed | 182 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 191 | 95.0% |
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 | 52.2% |
62nd percentile
|
| Judicial Clerkships | 23.9% |
91st percentile
|
| Government | 6.5% |
18th percentile
|
| Public Interest | 4.5% |
26th percentile
|
| Business | 6.5% |
21st percentile
|
| Academia | 1.5% |
63rd percentile
|
Clerkships by Type
| Type | Graduates | % of Class | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal | 3 | 1.5% |
49th percentile
|
| State/Local | 45 | 22.4% | — |
Federal clerkships enhance careers in litigation and academia.
Bar Exam Performance
| Metric | Rate | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| First-Time Pass | 83.33% |
49th percentile
|
| Ultimate Pass | 93.58% |
63rd percentile
|
| Jurisdiction Weighted | 73.75% | — |
Salary Outcomes
Private Sector
Public Sector
Career Outcomes Summary
Law school tuition at University of South Carolina School of Law is $49k 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 South Carolina School of Law, graduates entering private law firms earn a median starting salary of $70,000. JD graduates pursuing public sector legal careers start at approximately $50,000. 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 52.2% of University of South Carolina School of Law JD graduates secure positions at law firms after graduation. Additionally, 23.9% of graduates obtain prestigious judicial clerkships, and 4.5% pursue public interest law careers. Overall, 92.0% of JD graduates were employed at jobs that required a JD within 10 months of graduation.
For JD graduates from University of South Carolina School of Law, the first-time bar exam pass rate is 83.33%. Within two years, 93.58% of graduates ultimately pass the bar exam. The school's first-time pass rate is +9.6% 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.
Cost of Attendance
Annual Tuition
Annual Fees
Cost of Living
Scholarship & Grant Aid
Students Receiving Grants
Median Grant
Grant Range (25th–75th)
Grant Distribution
Debt & ROI
Avg Debt at Graduation
Graduates Who Borrowed
Debt-to-Salary Ratio
Conditional Scholarships
This school reports no conditional scholarships.
Admissions Contact
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Read moreAbout University of South Carolina School of Law admissions
University of South Carolina School of Law is a prestigious JD program located in Columbia, South Carolina. In the competitive 2021 law school rankings, University of South Carolina School of Law was ranked 96 by US News & World Report, making it a strong option for prospective law students in the current application cycle. According to the 2021 ABA 509 Report, University of South Carolina School of Law has an entering 1L class size of approximately 213 with an acceptance rate of 38.26%, positioning it among the competitive law schools for JD applicants.
About University of South Carolina School of Law Admissions
Based on the 2021 ABA 509 Report, 1746 candidates submitted JD applications to University of South Carolina School of Law and 668 received acceptance letters. The law school application process here is selective for prospective students with an acceptance rate of 38.26%.
The JD program at University of South Carolina School of Law enrolls a first-year class of 213 law students each year, with an admissions yield rate of 31.74%. This means that of the 668 applicants who received law school acceptance letters, 212 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 South Carolina 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.
What LSAT score do I need for University of South Carolina School of Law?
The above statistics show that University of South Carolina School of Law typically admits students with LSAT scores ranging from 156 (25th percentile) to 160 (75th percentile), with a median of 158.
For GPA, admitted students typically have undergraduate GPAs ranging from 3.28 to 3.72, with a median of 3.53.
With an acceptance rate of 38.26%, University of South Carolina 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).