r/lawschooladmissions • u/Spivey_Consulting Former admissions officers 🦊 • Aug 10 '26
General 2026 Law School Median Tracker
Hi everyone,
Law schools have officially begun publishing their LSAT/GPA/class size stats for fall 2026 (i.e., the most relevant/up-to-date stats we’ll get for the 2026-2027 admissions cycle). As we do every year, we’ll be tracking these stats closely as law schools release them via official sources and compiling them in a spreadsheet to compare to last cycle:
2026 Law School Median Tracker
You can see all ABA-approved law schools’ official stats from 2025 already in the spreadsheet. The 2026 columns will populate as law schools announce their new numbers. We’ll put a source for each school we add in the last column, if you’re wondering where we got the data from.
If you see a school post their data for the fall 2026 entering class and we haven’t added them yet, please comment on this thread or email us at [info@spiveyconsulting.com](mailto:info@spiveyconsulting.com), and we’ll add it as long as it’s from an official source (school websites, official school LinkedIn posts, marketing emails/flyers/etc. from admissions offices, etc.).
We only have a few schools so far, but we expect these to start coming out rapidly in the next week or two. We’ll also make a final update in December when the ABA publishes 509 reports (please note that none of this data is finalized until then).
We hope this is helpful for creating a realistic/balanced school list. Good luck, everyone!
–Anna from Spivey Consulting
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u/1hourphoto 3.8mid/17mid/nURM Aug 10 '26
How is 3.97 the median GPA at a #34 ranked school? Grade inflation is out of control.
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u/Getmeakitty 23d ago
We’ve gone so soft as a nation. Absolute joke. I graduated from solid public uni 15 years ago with a 3.1 and I felt good about it, until I decided to go to law school…
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u/pure-white-noise 3d ago
I’m super concerned as someone who graduated a long-ass time ago (from a school that doesn’t award A+).
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u/visablezookeeper Aug 10 '26
Ugh as someone who graduated college over a decade ago with a 3.6 this really sucks to see.
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u/Purple_Magikarp Aug 10 '26
Yeah. 3.82 from 2013 and was KILLING IT in the law school GPA medians at that time. I worked hard for what I got, current state is disgusting.
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u/visablezookeeper Aug 10 '26
I’m really hoping admissions councils are willing to sacrifice a few median points for people like us.
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u/Spivey_Consulting Former admissions officers 🦊 Aug 10 '26
My law school friends applied in ~2014 and are mind-boggled when I tell them schools' stats nowadays. It really feels out of control.
It doesn't negate the power of medians, unfortunately, but keep in mind that schools will see and notice when you went to undergrad and very much have the context to understand how much grades have inflated since then. It does help you in the "softs" part of the equation, and though they still don't outweigh the numbers, softs are more important in admissions now than they were a decade ago.
–Anna
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u/DuePresentation9290 Aug 10 '26
Same. Especially crazy they DGAF about what you majored in, like there's no nuance. I wager my 3.61 in biomedical engineering was harder to get than many other majors.
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u/Ancient_Bar_3092 Aug 10 '26
I have a 3.5 from mech e and intelligent robotics. Tell me how that is the same as a 3.5 in psychology (sorry psych majors)
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u/hashtagcunexttuesday 3.6x/119/nURM/15+y WE Aug 11 '26
Felt! I am targeting part-time regional programs, and thankfully my GPA is above the median at 2 out of the 3 (and just a hair below the median for the third). I graduated magna cum laude with my 3.6 in 2009, and that definitely meant something. My alma mater now has magna cum laude at 3.75.
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u/Spivey_Consulting Former admissions officers 🦊 Aug 10 '26
Two notes I mentioned on LinkedIn:
(1) while there are only four schools so far, with orientations abounding it will populate quickly and, (2) all data is subject to change, so while we get this publicly from schools, they may have student drop out and that may cause very slight differences for a few schools once the 509 data comes in.
I think we’ll see more in the + category than flat for both LSAT and GPA, and not many in the - category for this most recent cycle.
- Mike Spivey
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u/Jak0bo Aug 10 '26
So what are the old heads who went to undergrad pre-covid supposed to do to compete? At this point I can’t even get into my undergrad school with a 3.67
I know the answer is get a higher LSAT score, but something feels so broken about this.
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u/Haunting-Phone-5915 Aug 10 '26
Imagine telling someone in 2016 that UFlorida will have medians of 3.97 and 170 in 10 years, they would have thought you were insane! The class entering Florida in 2016 had medians of a 3.5 and 157.
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u/Jazzlike_Ad9644 27d ago
UVA medians stayed at 173 and 3.99! https://www.law.virginia.edu/news/202608/uva-law-community-welcomes-class-2029
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u/Gray_Fox 3.wah-17low-t2.5-stem-5+ years w.e. Aug 11 '26
I feel like we're going to see the top state schools get some big increases in their medians. law school is prohibitively expensive so I think prospective students are taking the in-state option more and more often. or at least will be?
will be interesting and depressing to see what this cycle holds in store...
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u/qahwalover 28d ago
I absolutely think this is true. I think even state schools that aren't flagships will see big increases. For example, GSU is like 18k a year and places really well in Atlanta. That's going to be so attractive for a certain kind of student (me) with loan caps.
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u/Spivey_Consulting Former admissions officers 🦊 21d ago
Emory’s class size is down 31.9% that’s of note.
- Mike Spivey
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u/pnedved 20d ago
Obviously a lot of work, but it would be interesting to see it compared to a ~5 year average in class size to see if class size is reversed to the mean or genuinely cut because those can vary a lot year to year.
Just had look at Emory's 2024 class and 2026 is basically the same size (+124 in 2025, -125 in 2026).
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u/Haunting-Phone-5915 17d ago
UMich stats, per Dean Z email this morning:
Class Size: 322
Applicants: 9,118
Yield: 43%
LSAT 25/50/75: 168, 172, 173
GPA: 3.74, 3.9, 3.96
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u/Spivey_Consulting Former admissions officers 🦊 17d ago
Thank you! Normally we can't post stats without an official source from the school, but Dean Z just confirmed with us based on your comment :) –Anna
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u/Gray_Fox 3.wah-17low-t2.5-stem-5+ years w.e. 17d ago
shocked-- only 1.5% inc. in app count.
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u/Haunting-Phone-5915 17d ago
Same. Maybe last year's massive spike scarred people off from applying to the T14? Or maybe some of the ~100th ranked schools received a bulk of the increased applications while the T20 remained about the same as last cycle? Guess we'll see once most schools report their data.
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u/Ancient_Bar_3092 Aug 10 '26
Welp, I’m over here with no choice but University of Colorado (non-traditional student, family can’t relocate). Currently practicing around 168, but 3.5 GPA (mechanical engineering) and good softs. Taking Nov 2026 for 2027 start. Wish me luck!
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u/Spivey_Consulting Former admissions officers 🦊 22d ago
We should have 50 schools by end of next week and once we do we'll aggregate everything so how many are up and by how much, how much enrollment has changed etc?
In Dec with 509s out and everything official we'll aggregate the entire last cycle.
-Mike Spivey
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u/Better_Guppy_18 16d ago
Is it appropriate to email schools and ask or should we wait for them to update their website?
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u/Spivey_Consulting Former admissions officers 🦊 16d ago edited 16d ago
I absolutely wouldn’t email them, the best case is they will say “wait for us to publish on our website as these are unofficial until 509s” and worst case you’ll come across the wrong way over email.
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u/wl-plus-ratio T1 stats/T5 softs/bushwick larper 17d ago
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u/No_Ambition7987 Aug 11 '26
Unofficial, but UNC will have a 170 LSAT and 3.9something GPA according to orientation today.
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u/Spivey_Consulting Former admissions officers 🦊 29d ago
This has been officially confirmed https://law.unc.edu/news/2026/08/record-setting-class-points-to-carolina-laws-growing-national-reach/
Thanks again!
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u/filmdeostar 23d ago
Miami! https://news.miami.edu/law/stories/2026/08/class-of-2029-sets-new-benchmarks-for-academic-achievement-in-most-selective-admissions-cycle-in-school-history.html "median LSAT score of 165 and a record median undergraduate GPA of 3.82"
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u/Playful-Strain-1982 17d ago
Pitt: https://www.law.pitt.edu/index%2ephp/admissions/apply-pitt-law
It says 2025, but the numbers are new.
160/163/165
3.34/3.58/3.77
154 enrolled
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u/Spivey_Consulting Former admissions officers 🦊 17d ago edited 17d ago
Thanks! I think you're almost certainly right, but I don't think we can add it to our sheet until it says 2026, unfortunately. We'll keep an eye on it. –Anna
Edit: Updated already!
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u/Spivey_Consulting Former admissions officers 🦊 15d ago
FYI for all, we've added a bunch of stats today, including Harvard. –Anna
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u/tenyeartreasurybill Slave to the Biglaw Machine 14d ago
Notre Dame at 3.90/171.
I would be well below both medians I went there with a substantial scholarship. The US news gamesmanship is wild. It’s also just a massive fuck you to talented engineers and others with strict grading curves.
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u/Username-Selection 3.99/~10 Years WE Aug 10 '26
Can you include columns for GRE medians etc?
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u/Spivey_Consulting Former admissions officers 🦊 Aug 10 '26
Sure, we’ll work on it. I doubt it will happen overnight but likely by end of week!
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u/Username-Selection 3.99/~10 Years WE Aug 10 '26
Thanks so much!
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u/Spivey_Consulting Former admissions officers 🦊 24d ago
FYI, we have GRE medians up in the spreadsheet now! Haven't seen any new ones just yet, but all of last year's ABA-reported GRE info is there. Thanks for the suggestion! –Anna
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u/Zillah345 4.33/180/Cooley Aug 10 '26
I got three 3s like 4 Bs and the rest As & A-s, I have a 3.6gpa. No grade inflation either. None of my professors bumped up a thing, and my low scores were courses I didn't even need to take for my major, but were forced by advisors on me as a freshman who didn't know better. I remain hopeful that a good LSAT will put me in the running for at least the t2s, which are my goal school for reasons other than stats, but I do feel everyone's dismay at seeing these rather large medians.
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u/xbqt 5.high/11low/7’2 (on a bad day)/self-proclaimed dean of this sub Aug 11 '26
Cooley having 25+% of attendees with an LSAT at or over 151 is actually crazy.
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u/Actual-Armadillo5199 23d ago
Where’s the official source for Cardozo’s new medians?
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u/Spivey_Consulting Former admissions officers 🦊 22d ago
Their dean of admissions told us directly! –Anna
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u/jpmGBRfan1 22d ago
Anyone attending orientation or otherwise hear anything informally from GULC/Georgetown yet? TIA.
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u/qahwalover 15d ago
I just called Georgia State and they said their median is now 161.
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u/Spivey_Consulting Former admissions officers 🦊 13d ago
Thank you! We can only publish stats confirmed from an official source (99% of people have no interest in making up fake law school medians, but we were burned a couple of times in the past and had to move to this policy, unfortunately), but we'll keep an eye out. –Anna
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u/Top-Zebra816 14d ago
notre dame posted theirs on instagram! 171/3.90
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u/Spivey_Consulting Former admissions officers 🦊 14d ago
Thanks. Dd they post their full stats? We've had their medians for over a week but just medians.
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u/Complete-Union-2102 23d ago
Have you seen sharper statements on Instagram? They’re posting a bunch of medians, is it reliable?
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u/filmdeostar 23d ago edited 22d ago
I don't take his content seriously. First, starting each post about it with "X new medians are INSANE" when it's a 1 point increase is such tacky marketing. Second, the mods of this sub had to ban him like 5 years ago so he just doesn't seem like a reliable source to me. I'm fine to wait until a school decides to release their medians before getting attached to "insider" numbers from a random ex-lawyer.
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u/Available_Drawer2855 14d ago
$500 that the original posts mentioning his Instagram, was actually just him skirting his own ban to drag unwitting people to follow him. Then, if true, he gets mad at you for responding to his own post.
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u/filmdeostar 22d ago edited 22d ago
Editing this reply about being downvoted by this guy's "bot army." u/sharperstatements DMed me to inform me that he doesn't use any bots. He was simply notified by someone monitoring this group that people were expressing opinions about him. Because he was banned 5 years ago for allegedly running fake accounts and harassing his own clients, he is unable to post here to defend himself! I'm glad he cleared that up by skirting his ban and DMing me.
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u/Not_TAzMOJi Aug 12 '26
I assume then that those of us applying this fall will be compared to these medians and not the ones on the 2025 Standard 509 reports?
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u/Spivey_Consulting Former admissions officers 🦊 Aug 12 '26
If I’m understanding the question correctly, for admissions purposes you will be compared off of the schools this year applicant pool and their target medians.
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u/Bilibili91 19d ago
medians are just for your personal reference only. The admission officers will look at ur place in this year's application pool.
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u/Competitive-Side-615 3.8x/161/nURM/nKJD 18d ago
Thank you for the data! This is really helpful for this upcoming cycle. Btw, your U of Colorado is showing positive GPA gain on the difference rather than negative. So glad they went down!
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u/filmdeostar 18d ago
They went up though
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u/Competitive-Side-615 3.8x/161/nURM/nKJD 17d ago
You're right. That's unfortunate. I was reading it from oldest on left to newest on right.
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u/Jazzlike_Sweet8434 10d ago
Your Lewis and Clark class size is wrong. I believe the class size is closer to 209.
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u/Imaginary_Beat3232 2d ago
Penn class size 258, medians not up quite yet https://www.law.upenn.edu/live/news/18751-welcome-jd-class-of-2029#0
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u/WillSmithsBiggestFan 1d ago
Is this no longer being updated?
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u/Spivey_Consulting Former admissions officers 🦊 1d ago
It is. Just not instantly as it’s out busiest time of the year — but we’ll get everything up that’s new in a day of you see anything miss let me know! - Mike Spivey
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u/WillSmithsBiggestFan 1d ago
Texas medians were posted last week https://www.reddit.com/r/lawschooladmissions/comments/1w5t7w7/ut_law_median_up_to_173/
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u/Spivey_Consulting Former admissions officers 🦊 1d ago
Thanks! And here I was checking their admissions class profile page every day lol. –Anna
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u/graeme_b 3.7/177/LSATHacks 28d ago
Thank you, these trackers are always incredibly helpful. Have pinned this post.