Top Law Coach School Profile: Columbia Law School
My Top Line: New York City is a hub of American and international law, and Columbia Law School is the only law school in the New York area consistently ranked in the top five. Columbia Law boasts many leading scholars, research centers, and a robust alumni network. Columbia Law has few rivals in international law, constitutional law, corporate law, criminal law, gender law, and legal theory. However, students may find Columbia Law a bit stuffy and aloof, especially if they are not interested in a well-defined track like Big Law or government service.
Columbia Law School, known as Columbia Law, is the law school of Columbia University, one of the eight elite Ivy League universities in the country, located in New York City, New York. Columbia Law was founded in 1858 and is one of the oldest law schools in the country. The school is widely known as one of the most prestigious law institutions in the United States.
Is Columbia Law Hard To Get Into?
Given its status as one of the Ivy League law schools, acceptance at Columbia Law is competitive. In 2021, the acceptance rate was 11.4, the lowest it’s been in the last ten years. The school accepted around 479 students into its 2021 JD class, however, a slight increase from previous years.
What GPA Do I Need To Get Into Columbia Law?
To secure a seat at Columbia Law, you should have a GPA of 3.75 or more. The 25th and 75th percentiles for GPA in Fall 2021 admissions were 3.75 and 3.92, respectively. The median GPA was 3.84, the highest median GPA recorded in the last decade (2011-2021).
What LSAT Score Do I Need To Get Into Columbia Law?
Columbia Law has one of the highest median LSAT scores for new admissions of all law schools in the United States. For Fall 2021 admissions, the 25th and 75th percentiles of LSAT scores were 172 and 176, respectively. The median LSAT score was 174, the highest median LSAT score recorded in the last decade (2011-2021). Columbia Law, Harvard Law, and Yale Law have the highest median LSAT score of all law schools in the country.
[Next Read: Law School Admissions Trends Since the Pandemic]
Is Columbia Law a Good School?
Columbia Law is one of the best law schools in the country. Its stellar reputation explains its standing as one of the most competitive law schools in the world.
Columbia Law Ranking
Columbia Law is one of the highest-ranked law schools in the United States. The U.S. News & World Report, one of the most credible sources for law school rankings, has consistently ranked Columbia Law in the top five schools. In 2022, it was ranked fourth, tied with Harvard Law School.
Columbia Law Acceptance Rate
Columbia Law had an acceptance rate of 11.4 percent for the Fall 2021 admissions. Of those accepted, 479 students, or 39 percent, enrolled full-time in the 1L class for Fall 2021. The percentage of students enrolling at Columbia Law has steadily increased in the past two years, since 2019.
Columbia Law Graduation Outcomes
According to the latest available employment data from 2020, the median salary for 2016-17 Columbia Law graduates was $185,760. Approximately 71.7 percent of these graduates made at least $180,000. Of the 460 total Columbia Law Class of 2021 graduates, 72.6 percent were employed in national law firms, 12.2 percent in public service, and 5.7 percent in federal clerkships. Less than one percent of graduates were employed by small law firms throughout the country.
How Much Does Columbia Law Cost?
According to the 2019-20 data, the average tuition at Columbia Law was $72,360. The total cost of living in New York City, including books and living expenses, was $25,447. This amount has increased by 3.65 percent per year over the last five years. All students reported to having secured discounts on tuition, with half successfully securing at least $15,000 in scholarships.
Columbia Law does not provide any conditional scholarships to students. You can learn more about scholarships and student financial aid on the school’s official website.
Does Columbia Law Accept the GRE?
In addition to the LSAT, Columbia Law accepts standardized tests like the GRE. The school does not have a preference for any standardized exam. However, if you use your GRE score to apply for Columbia Law, you must submit all scores from the past five years. You can also submit your application before taking the LSAT or GRE, but your application will only be considered complete once the school receives your scores.
[Check out Top Law Coach School Profiles for Yale Law, Harvard Law, and NYU Law]
