Law school is a lot like juggling. With chainsaws. While on a unicycle.

✨ Enjoy an ad-free experience with LSD+

Wayne State University Law School logo

Wayne State University Law School

Detroit, Michigan

Rank #72 (USNWR 2021)

161
LSAT
3.75
GPA
37.0%
Admit Rate
25th, 50th, 75th lines show admitted class %iles

JD Admissions & Requirements

Data from 2021 admissions cycle

161
LSAT
3.75
GPA
37.0%
Admit Rate

Wayne State University Law School is a prestigious JD program located in Detroit, Michigan. In the competitive 2021 law school rankings, Wayne State University Law School was ranked 72 by US News & World Report, making it a strong option for prospective law students in the current application cycle. For the 2021 admissions cycle, Wayne State University Law School has an entering 1L class size of approximately 123 with an acceptance rate of 37.0%, positioning it among the competitive law schools for JD applicants.

Also known as
WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY
Law School Applications
940
JD application volume in 2021 cycle
JD Acceptance Rate
37.0%
64th percentile
JD Program Size
123
12th percentile
JD Tuition Cost
$76k

The end of law is not to abolish or restrain, but to preserve and enlarge freedom.

✨ Enjoy an ad-free experience with LSD+

Wayne State University Law School Law School Admissions Data & Statistics
2021-2022 Cycle Overview
68 applicants
Accepted
8 / 31
Waitlisted
13
Rejected
1
-
Withdrawn
14
-

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:
  • Zoom: Click and drag to zoom into a specific area
  • Reset zoom: Double-click anywhere on the graph
  • 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 2021 admissions cycle at Wayne State University Law School, 940 candidates submitted JD applications and 309 received acceptance letters. The law school application process here is selective for prospective students with an acceptance rate of 37.0%.

The JD program at Wayne State University Law School enrolls a first-year class of 123 law students each year, with an admissions yield rate of 39.81%. This means that of the 309 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 Wayne State University 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
940
29th percentile
Admission Offers 309
Class Size
123
12th percentile
Acceptance Rate
37.0%
64th percentile
Yield Rate
39.81%
83rd percentile
Average Statistics by Decision (LSD)
Metric Rejected All Accepted
LSAT 148.0 161.09 164.05
GPA 3.5 3.54 3.57
Softs T3.0 T3.32 T3.28
Avg Scholarship - - $88,359
* Softs are self-reported ratings (T1-T4) representing non-numeric application factors
LSAT & GPA Statistics (ABA 509)
25th 50th 75th
LSAT
73rd percentile
157 161 164
GPA
79th percentile
3.41 3.75 3.87
LSD User Stats
Metric 25th 50th 75th
LSAT 157.0 (0.0) 161.0 (0.0) 166.25 (+2.25)
GPA 3.31 (-0.1) 3.56 (-0.19) 3.83 (-0.04)
* Based on 68 self-reported applications
* Green/Red values show difference from ABA 509 data
Application Process Statistics
Avg Days: Sent to Decision 70 days
Avg Days: UR to Decision 54 days
Interview Invite Rate 1.5%
Interview → Acceptance Rate 0.0%

The above statistics show that Wayne State University Law School typically admits students with LSAT scores ranging from 157 (25th percentile) to 164 (75th percentile), with a median of 161.

For GPA, admitted students typically have undergraduate GPAs ranging from 3.41 to 3.87, with a median of 3.75.

With an acceptance rate of 37.0%, Wayne State University Law School 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).

Application Status Data

Wayne State University Law School Application Status Data

Application statuses submitted by LSData users

Showing 68 apps

Wayne State University Law School Law School Employment Outcomes

Overview

JD Employment Rate

93.7%
88th percentile

First-Time Bar Pass

87.95%
64th percentile

Median Starting Salary

$115,000
Private Sector
79th percentile

Employment Quality

JD Required

83.3%
81st percentile

BigLaw Placement

1.6%
27th percentile

Federal Clerkships

2.4%
61st 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 105 0 105 83.3%
JD Advantage 13 0 13 10.3%
Professional 2 1.6%
Other 1 0.8%
School-Funded 0 0 0 0.0%
Total Employed 118 0 0 0 121 96.0%
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 58.7%
80th percentile
Judicial Clerkships 6.3%
44th percentile
Government 5.6%
10th percentile
Public Interest 13.5%
94th percentile
Business 10.3%
49th percentile
Academia 1.6%
65th percentile

Judicial Clerkships

Clerkships by Type

Clerkship Type Graduates % of Class National Rank
Federal 3 2.4%
61st percentile
State/Local 5 4.0%

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

Bar Examination Performance

First-Time Pass Rate
87.95%
64th percentile
Takers: 141
Passed: 124
vs State Avg +9.8%
Ultimate Pass Rate
89.92%
45th percentile
Takers: 129
Passed: 116
Within 2 years
Jurisdiction Weighted
78.15%
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 $115,000
79th percentile
25th Percentile $80,000
79th percentile
Public Sector
Median Salary $66,000
88th percentile

Career Outcomes Summary

Law school tuition at Wayne State University Law School is $76k annually (calculated from semester costs). Prospective law students should budget approximately $46k for the total annual cost of attending (including tuition, fees, books, and living expenses).

After completing their JD program at Wayne State University Law School, graduates entering private law firms earn a median starting salary of $115,000. JD graduates pursuing public sector legal careers start at approximately $66,000. 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 58.7% of Wayne State University Law School JD graduates secure positions at law firms after graduation. Additionally, 6.3% of graduates obtain prestigious judicial clerkships, and 13.5% pursue public interest law careers. Overall, 93.7% of JD graduates were employed at jobs that required a JD within 10 months of graduation.

For JD graduates from Wayne State University Law School, the first-time bar exam pass rate is 87.95%. Within two years, 89.92% of graduates ultimately pass the bar exam. The school's first-time pass rate is +9.8% 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.

You win some, you lose some, and some you just bill by the hour.

✨ Enjoy an ad-free experience with LSD+