National Comparison: Overview of Facts
How SMU Law compares to 196 ABA-approved law schools
LSAT Composite
SMU Law ranks #34 in LSAT composite (166.0), an average of its 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile LSAT scores (163 · 167 · 168). This reveals both the lower bound and upper bound of admitted students' LSAT performance.
Overall Employment Rate
SMU Law ranks #40 in overall employment at 10 months (96.2%).
Bar Passage Rate
SMU Law ranks #45 in terms of bar passage rate among first-time test takers (90.2%), and it outperforms by +8.8% the state of Texas's overall bar passage rate of 81.4%. (A national comparison on this metric should be taken in a qualified sense and with caution, because every state has a different bar passage rate.)
Acceptance Rate
SMU Law ranks #51 in terms of student selectivity with an acceptance rate of 24.6% among those who applied for admission.
Bar-Required Employment
SMU Law ranks #51 in bar-required employment (86.9%)—full-time, long-term positions requiring bar passage.
GPA Composite
SMU Law ranks #57 in GPA composite (3.75), an average of its 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile GPAs (3.52 · 3.81 · 3.92). This reveals both the lower bound and upper bound of admitted students' undergraduate performance.
Federal Clerkship Rate
SMU Law ranks #75 in federal clerkships (2.1%) and 86.9% of graduates hold bar-required positions 10 months after graduation.
Presence of Minority Faculty
SMU Law ranks #82 in terms of the highest percentage of faculty who are racial or ethnic minority (19.7%).
Student to Faculty Ratio
SMU Law is tied for #83 in terms of lowest student to faculty ratio (11.4:1).
Highest Tuition
SMU Law ranks #162 in terms of highest tuition among full-time law students ($60,844). These rankings are based on 275 distinct tuition rates from 196 law schools (schools with different in-state and out-of-state tuition are counted twice).
Presence of Female Faculty
SMU Law is tied for #175 in terms of the highest percentage of faculty who are female (36.9%).
Admissions Statistics
What does it take to get in?
| Metric | 2025 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptance Rate | 24.6% | 47.2% |
| LSAT Score (Median) | 167 | 161 |
| LSAT Score (25th-75th) | 163-168 | 155-163 |
| GPA (Median) | 3.81 | 3.68 |
| GPA Range (25th-75th) | 3.52-3.92 | 3.43-3.80 |
Bar Exam & Employment Outcomes
What happens after graduation?
Bar Exam Performance
| Metric | 2025 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Bar State | Texas | Texas |
| School's Bar Passage Rate | 90.2% | 85.0% |
| State Overall Rate | 81.4% | 74.5% |
| vs. State Average | +8.8% | +10.5% |
Employment Statistics (10 Months After Graduation)
Tuition & Expenses
What will this really cost?
| Expense | 2025 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Full-Time) | $60,844 | $54,094 |
| Room & Board | $17,834 | $19,800 |
Tuition Rank: SMU Law ranks #162 in highest tuition among 196 law schools (275 distinct tuition rates when counting in-state/out-of-state separately).
Students & Faculty
Who will you study and learn with?
Student Body (672 Total)
Racial Demographics
Faculty (198 Total)
| Student-to-Faculty Ratio | 11.4 : 1 |
|---|---|
| Female Faculty | 36.9% |
| Male Faculty | 63.1% |
| Minority Faculty | 19.7% |
#82 in Faculty Representation
Tied #175 in Female Faculty Representation
About This Report
Data sources and methodology
Data Currency
This report was released in December 2025 using the latest ABA 509 disclosures. LSAT/GPA data reflects Fall 2025 entering class. Bar passage and employment data is from 2024.
Why "2026 Rankings"?
ILRG designates this as the 2026 Rankings because it's built for applicants planning to start law school in Fall 2026. We align the report year with your start date.
Employment Definitions
"Bar-Required" shows full-time, long-term positions requiring bar admission. Judicial clerkships are counted separately from bar-required positions.
Next Release
Our 2027 report is slated for publication in December 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
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ILRG designates this analysis as the 2026 Law School Rankings because it is built for applicants planning to start law school in fall 2026. The rankings rely on the ABA's most recent 509 disclosures (released December 2025), which report the fall 2025 entering class, 2024 bar passage, and 2024 employment outcomes. By aligning the report year with your start date, we give you a clear, dependable basis for your law school decisions.
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The bar passage rates reflect those among first-time test takers for the winter and summer 2024 administrations of the bar examinations. The state noted is that in which the greatest number of the law school's graduates took the bar exam for the reported period.
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"Bar-required" jobs are full-time, long-term positions that require bar admission. "JD advantage" positions are those where the employer requires a JD or considers it an advantage, but bar admission is not required. In determining salaries, JD advantage jobs have been excluded to give you a clearer picture of legal practice outcomes.
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The salary statistics are those of full-time, long-term employed law graduates for the Class of 2023, reported ten months after graduation, as self-reported by the graduates. Private sector salaries show the 25th percentile, median, and 75th percentile among graduates working in private practice as law firm associates.
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A national comparison on bar passage should be taken with caution because every state has a different bar passage rate. The most meaningful comparison is between a school's passage rate and the state's overall rate for the same exam administration. That's why we show both figures and the differential.