BYU Law School

Brigham Young University Law School

It seems safe to say that the law school experience of a student at Brigham Young University Law School is unlike that of any other law school in the nation.  The school's Mormon ownership, its Honor Code, and its location in a town dominated by followers of the Mormon religion combine to create a unique law school experience that is unlikely to be appealing to most applicants. On the other hand, those who are attracted to this unique experience will gain a good legal education at a true bargain and will be a part of an intimate community for three years and long thereafter.  For Mormon applicants and those comfortable with the ideologies and practices of the religion, BYU Law is a truly unique and refreshingly inexpensive option.

The Mormon Factor: It is difficult to discuss BYU Law without emphasizing that the school is owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as the Mormon Church.  The vast majority of applicants and students at BYU Law are of the Mormon faith, and all are expected to live within the boundaries set by Mormon beliefs and practices.  The university's honor code rules out alcohol, tobacco use, and the drinking of tea or coffee, as well as pre-marital sexual relations, and also advocates against the "promoting [of] homosexual relations as being morally acceptable."  The honor code also rules out any form of revealing clothing and sets forth limitations on hairstyles, facial hair, and piercings.  Of course, this effectively rules out BYU Law as an option for most applicants, evidenced by the fact that the school receives fewer than 800 applications in a typical year, whereas similarly ranked schools usually receive more than 2,000. Non-Mormons considering applying to BYU would be wise to visit the school before enrolling if accepted.

History

The J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University (BYU Law) was founded in 1973 and has grown into one of the nation's leading law schools. The BYU Law faculty is committed to teaching excellence and innovation, with a focus on preparing students for leadership roles within their communities and around the world. BYU Law is affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and as such, provides an education that develops not only students' intellectual skills but also their character. This commitment to producing morally upright leaders is one of the distinguishing features of a BYU Law School education.

Admissions

Brigham Young University’s J. Reuben Clark Law School offers a highly respected and competitive admissions process for its 2025 JD and LL.M. programs. For the JD program, applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and submit either LSAT or GRE scores—though the LSAT is more commonly used, with recent entering classes showing a median LSAT of 168 and a median GPA of 3.92. The admissions process is holistic, considering academic achievement, character, service, and commitment to the university’s Honor Code, which includes an ecclesiastical endorsement. Applicants are required to submit their application through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC), including transcripts, test scores, a personal statement, a résumé, and letters of recommendation. The final deadline to apply for Fall 2025 is June 30, 2025, though earlier deadlines apply for those applying as visiting or winter-entry students. The law school also offers a one-year LL.M. program designed for foreign-trained lawyers, with applications opening October 1, 2024, and closing December 31, 2024. BYU Law is known for its generous financial aid, offering merit scholarships to all admitted students, which may cover partial to full tuition. Admission decisions are typically made within four to six weeks of an application being marked complete, and applicants are allowed to submit updated materials even after submitting their application. The law school maintains a selective acceptance rate of around 27.8%, reflecting its commitment to academic excellence and values-based education.

Statistics

In the 2024–25 admissions cycle, BYU Law received 598 JD applications and extended offers to 166 applicants, resulting in an acceptance rate of 27.8%. Of those admitted, 117 students enrolled, reflecting a high matriculation rate of 70.5%. The entering class posted a median LSAT score of 168, with an interquartile range between 164 and 170, and a median undergraduate GPA of 3.92, with a 25th–75th percentile spread of 3.70 to 3.98. These figures highlight the school’s rigorous academic standards and competitive applicant pool. Tuition for the 2025 academic year is approximately $31,056 per year. Total enrollment across JD and non-JD programs stands at 359 students, with 350 in the JD track and 9 in other programs. Notably, the school maintains a strong first-time bar passage rate of approximately 95.4%, reflecting the effectiveness of its legal education and preparation.

Admissions Stats
Class of:	2023-2024	2024-2025
25th - 50th - 75th percentile LSAT	162 - 168 - 170	164 - 168 - 170
25th - 50th - 75th percentile GPA	3.74 - 3.94 - 3.97	3.7 - 3.92 - 3.98
Acceptance rate	31.4%	27.8%
Applications received	504	598
Acceptances	145	166
Matriculants	99	116

The University of Minnesota Law School has a median LSAT score of 167, with the 25th percentile 163 and the 75th percentile 169. The median GPA is 3.85, with the 25th percentile being 3.51 and the 75th percentile being 3.93.

Acceptance Rate

For Fall 2025 entry into BYU’s J. Reuben Clark Law School JD program, the school received 598 applications and issued 166 offers, resulting in an acceptance rate of approximately 27.8%. Of those offered admission, 117 students enrolled, yielding a strong matriculation rate of about 70.5%. Compared to the national average acceptance rate for law schools, which is typically around 42%, BYU Law remains highly selective, reflecting its strong academic reputation and value-driven approach to legal education.

Application Review Process

The BYU Law School Admissions Committee reviews applications on a rolling basis. Typically, applicants can expect a response in 4 to 6 weeks. A decision from the committee will be acceptance, denial, or an invitation to join the waitlist.

Some of the factors the committee considers are:

• Undergraduate GPA
• LSAT/GRE score
• Prior work experience
• Advanced degrees
• Diverse life experiences

Transfer

JD applicants who have completed up to three full-time semesters (or four part-time semesters) at another accredited law school may apply to transfer into BYU Law. Transfer students must submit transcripts, a resume, letters of recommendation, and a personal statement, similar to JD applicants, and must also commit to the university’s Honor Code. Credit transfers are evaluated individually by the Associate Dean for Research and Academic Affairs. Eligible coursework must meet BYU’s grading standard (equivalent to at least a 2.2 GPA), must not duplicate courses already offered at BYU Law, and may fulfill up to two years of credit toward the JD degree.

Although BYU Law also accepts visiting students for Winter entry, specific transfer admission statistics—such as acceptance rates and GPA medians for transfer students—are not publicly available. Prospective transfer applicants are encouraged to contact the Admissions Office early to discuss credit transfer evaluations and ensure alignment with graduation timelines. To read a fantastic article about transferring, click here.

Tuition and Expenses

Brigham Young University establishes tuition and general fees for all academic programs annually. BYU is a non-profit corporation affiliated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Significant portions of university operating costs are paid with church members' tithes. In recognition of this support, Church members are assessed lower tuition fees than those not. This practice is similar in principle to that of state universities charging higher tuition to nonresidents. Students are considered members of the Church if they have been baptized at any time during the semester or term.

The University of Minnesota Law School is a great choice for students seeking an affordable education. The school's total cost of attendance is just $29,272 for non-Latter-day Saints students and $14,636 for Latter-day Saints. This makes the University of Minnesota Law School one of the most affordable options for students seeking a quality education.

Academics & Curriculum

A seemingly rare similarity between Brigham Young University Law School and most other law schools is the core set of classes required of all 1L students.  Also, although BYU Law's entering classes are much smaller than those of similarly ranked law schools, its section sizes are not significantly smaller in the first year, and 1Ls enroll in classes usually filled with 100 or more students.  The workload during this first year is tremendous, perhaps contributing to the school's decision to establish its Academic Success Program, which offers weekly tutorial sessions in each first-year course, alongside many other services aimed at helping students adjust to the workload at BYU Law. After this rigorous first year, students are free to choose from among 100 elective courses in rounding out their JD degrees and can also choose to pursue various joint degrees. It bears mention that students of BYU Law are not required to enroll in any religious courses, and non-Mormon students are not at any academic disadvantage.  Of course, any classroom dominated by Mormon students will naturally have a Mormon tint, but it seems that professors and students try their best to carry on discussions inclusive to members of all faiths.

Quality of Life

There is no alcohol. This overarching fact will provide a very high or very low quality of life for BYU Law School students, depending of course on whether they share in Mormon principles and beliefs.  The ban on alcohol effectively eliminates the typical law school social scene that revolves around bars and replaces it with a social scene largely dominated by married couples, which make up a much larger portion of the student body than at other law schools.  Life in Provo is also likely to be much more enjoyable for Mormons, as the town is largely homogenous and dominated by members of the Church.  All students, however, will likely enjoy the city's lack of crime and traffic and its low cost of living, and its proximity to great ski resorts and other mountain-related activities.  Additionally, Provo is ruggedly beautiful as towering mountains surround the BYU campus.  In all, Mormons and those comfortable with the lifestyle of Mormons will likely enjoy an excellent quality of life at BYU Law that is unlikely to be matched elsewhere. At the same time, those who wish to have a more typical law school experience should look elsewhere.

Employment Prospects & Bar Passage

Brigham Young University Law School

For the Class of 2025 at BYU’s J. Reuben Clark Law School, employment and bar passage outcomes remain strong indicators of the school’s quality and value. Graduates achieved a 95% first-time bar passage rate in 2025, with 109 students sitting for the exam and 104 passing on their initial attempt. This performance significantly exceeds the national average of around 77% for the same year. Additionally, the school’s ultimate bar passage rate within two years reaches an impressive 99.5%.

In terms of employment, 96.2% of the 105 graduates seeking work secured positions within 10 months of graduation. Of these, 98 accepted full-time positions while 3 found part-time employment. Nearly half of the employed graduates (49.5%) remained in Utah, with others obtaining legal roles in larger markets such as California (11.9%) and Washington, D.C. (4%). These outstanding employment and licensure outcomes affirm BYU Law’s reputation as a top-value law school, offering graduates strong preparation and pathways to meaningful careers.

Synopsis

For Mormon applicants, the Brigham Young University Law School is an obvious choice, as the school is both a bargain and a haven.  Those who are comfortable living the Mormon lifestyle should also consider the school seriously, as they are unlikely to find such a "clean" atmosphere elsewhere.  Applicants who are not comfortable with the boundaries set by Mormon practices and beliefs, on the other hand, should steer clear of the school, as they are likely to experience an uncomfortable three years in Mormon-dominated Provo, Utah.

Contact Information

340 JRCB, Box 2800
Provo, Utah 84602-8000
801.422.4277
admissions@lawgate.byu.edu
http://www.law.byu.edu/

Summary

Established	1973
Location	Provo, Utah
Dean	David H. Moore
2025 US News Ranking	28th
LSAT Median Score	168
GPA Median Score	3.92
Bar Passage Rate	95.4% (2025)
Employment Rate	81.1% (2025)
Cost	"$15,528 (LDS member, full-time), $31,056 (Non-LDS member, full-time) "
Average Debt	$54,678
Application Deadline	May 1, 2025

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Reference

https://law.byu.edu/
LSD Law
Rank #28
LSAC Guide
How to Learn to Do Well on a Law School Exam
Success in Law School - A Unique Perspective
The Guide to Law School Loans

News: https://law.byu.edu/news/