Many college students say they’re “pre-law,” but spoiler alert: pre-law isn’t an actual major if you want to go to law school, this is exactly what it means, a pre-law program in other for you to get into law school.
It’s more of a declaration of your intent to apply to law school after getting your bachelor’s degree to attend law school. The good news? Law colleges and universities welcome students from all kinds of academic backgrounds who would like to eventually obtain a law career!
The top pre-law schools equip students with the skills needed for law school, offer law-related experiences, and provide personalized guidance for the law school application process.
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How We Made This List
Since there’s no specific pre-law major or required courses for law school, we’ve compiled a list of the 10 best pre-law schools by considering popular pre-law majors like political science, psychology, criminal justice, English, history, and economics.
We also looked at the size of these programs and how many school students they send to top law schools.
Discover the10 Best Pre Law Schools
Yale University
Location: New Haven, CT
Undergrad Enrollment: 5,900
Acceptance Rate: 7%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1480-1560/31-35
Yale is a superstar in the law school world, one of the best law schools out there.
In 2024, they accepted just 214 out of 5,296 applicants, with a yield rate of 87%. The median GPA for admitted students was 3.94, and the average LSAT score was 174. Yale’s Office of Career Strategy has a pre-law advisor, plus law-related extracurriculars like the Yale Undergraduate Legal Aid Association and Yale Mock Trial Association. Taking the lsat is also necessary.
Harvard University
Location: Cambridge, MA
Undergrad Enrollment: 9,900
Acceptance Rate: 5%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1480-1580/33-36
Harvard’s prestige gives law school hopefuls a big boost as it is another one of the best colleges out there.
Harvard’s residential system assigns students to “houses” that have their own pre-law advisors, typically current law students. The Office of Career Services also helps with resumes, activity lists, and finding internships.
University of Chicago
Location: Chicago, IL
Undergrad Enrollment: 6,600
Acceptance Rate: 7%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1510-1560/33-35
UChicago’s Careers in Law program is packed with resources like workshops, panels, job shadowing, and internships. They offer one-on-one advising and help students craft strong law school applications.
Princeton University
Location: Princeton, NJ
Undergrad Enrollment: 5,400
Acceptance Rate: 6%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1470-1560/33-35
Princeton’s Center for Career Development offers comprehensive pre-law advising. They also host info sessions, workshops, and panels with law school representatives. Unique “Princetonships” pair students with alumni in the legal field for short-term experiences.
University of Pennsylvania (UPenn)
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Undergrad Enrollment: 11,800
Acceptance Rate: 9%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1480-1570/33-35
UPenn is a powerhouse for pre-law students. They provide pre-law advisors, a pre-law honor society, and a pre-law newsletter. In recent years, UPenn has sent numerous students to top law schools like Harvard, Yale, and NYU.
Georgetown University
Location: Washington, D.C.
Undergrad Enrollment: 7,400
Acceptance Rate: 17%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1380-1530/32-35
Georgetown’s Cawley Career Education Center offers a pre-law guide and pre-law advisors to assist with everything from law school lists to personal statements. They also host workshops and visits from top law schools.
Columbia University
Location: New York, NY
Undergrad Enrollment: 8,200
Acceptance Rate: 7%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1480-1560/33-35
Columbia’s Pre-Law Society connects students with attorneys, educators, and law students. It’s a fantastic place to ask about the law school admissions process and the legal profession in general.
Duke University
Location: Durham, NC
Undergrad Enrollment: 6,600
Acceptance Rate: 8%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1480-1560/34-35
Duke has a pre-law process rather than a program, focusing on developing skills like research and negotiation. The Pre-Law Advising Office and organizations like the Duke Bench & Bar Pre-Law Society support pre-law students with various activities and events.
Stanford University
Location: Stanford, CA
Undergrad Enrollment: 7,000
Acceptance Rate: 5%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1470-1560/34-35
Stanford offers majors that build skills for law school, like communication and critical thinking. Pre-law advisors help with applications, LSAT prep, and personal statements. Students can also join the Stanford Pre-Law Society and shadow alumni in the legal field.
Dartmouth College
Location: Hanover, NH
Undergrad Enrollment: 4,400
Acceptance Rate: 9%
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1430-1550/32-35
Dartmouth offers majors like economics and philosophy that prep students for law school. A pre-law coordinator helps with everything from choosing law schools to writing personal statements. Students can gain experience through clerkships and internships.
Final Words
There you have it, the top 10 of the best pre-law schools. Each offers unique opportunities and resources to help you on your journey to law school.
Get ready to explore, engage, and embark on your legal career!
Good luck!
