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Colorado Law
Located at the base of the Rocky Mountains in beautiful Boulder, the University of Colorado School of Law is considered by many to be the best law school in the Mountain West region, and offers a nationally ranked environmental law program. Especially for applicants who hope to land employment in Colorado and its neighboring states, the University of Colorado Law School is a promising option. Residents of the state of Colorado should also consider the school seriously, as its public standing allows the school to offer residents a lower tuition rate.
Contents
History
The University of Colorado Law School has a long and rich history, dating back to 1892. The first woman graduated from law school in 1894, and the first students of color entered in 1897. In 1901, the school became a charter member of the Association of American Law Schools. The law school has been on the American Bar Association's list of approved law schools since 1923. The school has seen 16 deans and has educated thousands of students who have gone on to successful legal careers. Today, Colorado Law is known as a national leader in legal education and continues to be a vibrant community of learners and scholars.
Admissions
For the fall 2025 entering class, Colorado Law admitted a highly competitive cohort. The acceptance rate stood at approximately 36.4%, with around 2,860 applications received, of which about 1,042 offers were extended—and around 184 students enrolled, resulting in a yield of roughly 17.7%. The median academic profile of the class reflects strong credentials: a median LSAT score of 164 (ranging from the 25th percentile at 160 to the 75th at 166) and a median GPA of 3.79 (ranging from 3.55 to 3.88). Tuition for the 2025 academic year was $36,494 for Colorado residents and $44,324 for out‑of‑state students, with 87% of full‑time students receiving scholarships or grants, averaging $12,800, covering close to 29% of tuition. Furthermore, interest appears to be increasing—Colorado Law saw 3,482 applications for the current cycle, a 20.5% jump over the previous year.
Statistics
| Admissions Stats | ||
| Class of: | 2023-2024 | 2024-2025 |
| 25th - 50th - 75th percentile LSAT | 159 - 164 - 166 | 160 - 164 - 166 |
| 25th - 50th - 75th percentile GPA | 3.51 3.81 3.92 | 3.55 3.79 3.88 |
| Acceptance rate | 31.2% | 36.4% |
| Applications received | 2807 | 2860 |
| Acceptances | 961 | 1042 |
| Matriculants | 160 | 184 |
For the Class of 2024–2025, the University of Colorado School of Law received 2,860 applications, from which 1,042 applicants were accepted, resulting in an acceptance rate of 36.4%. Ultimately, 184 students matriculated. The LSAT scores for the middle 50% of admitted students ranged from 160 to 166, with a median of 164. The GPA range for the 25th to 75th percentile was 3.55 to 3.88, with a median of 3.79. In comparison, the previous class (2023–2024) had slightly fewer applications at 2,807, with 961 acceptances and 160 matriculants, yielding an acceptance rate of 31.2%. That class had an LSAT range of 159 to 166 and a GPA range of 3.51 to 3.92.
To apply to law school in Colorado, you must register for the LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS) and pay all appropriate fees. You will also need to take the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) and submit all official undergraduate and graduate transcripts to LSAC. In addition, you will need to submit two letters of recommendation and your application, personal statement, and resume electronically through LSAC. Finally, you must submit the In-State Tuition Classification Application to apply for in-state tuition if you qualify. Even if you are already a Colorado resident, you must submit this form to show documentation of your Colorado residency. The application fee is $65. You can check the status of your application online.
Résumé
They recommend submitting a well-organized, easy-to-read resume as part of your electronic application. They do not require any specific formatting, but you should spend some time preparing a good resume. For advice about creating a professional law school resume, click here.
Personal Statement
The personal statement requirement allows you to present yourself to the Admissions Committee. It is to be submitted with your electronic LSAC application. The personal statement prompt is below. Your essay must be in your own words, double-spaced, and should not exceed 1,000 words. Supported file formats include doc, htm, html, txt, PDF, wp, wpd, rtf, wps, wpt and docx. For advice about creating a professional law school resume, click here.
Addenda
Attach electronically any addenda following the personal statement. Clearly label the top of the document as "Additional Information." For more information about writing addenda, click here.
LSAT
All applicants must take the Law School Admission Test. Please see LSAT FAQs for additional information.
Credential Assembly Service (CAS)
You must register for the Credential Assembly Service (CAS) as part of your LSAC application. This will allow LSAC to collect your post-high-school transcripts and send them to the law schools to which you apply. This means you won't have to submit transcripts to each school separately. The CAS will also provide us with your Law School Report, which includes your LSAT scores, letters of recommendation, a summary of your undergraduate grades by year, your cumulative GPA, and copies of all your transcripts.
Recommendation Letters
They require two letters of recommendation and will not accept more than four. They strongly recommend that one letter of recommendation come from an academic source. For additional advice on obtaining letters of recommendation, click here.
Residency
If you want to be able to pay in-state tuition prices instead of the higher out-of-state tuition prices, you need to fill out the In-State Tuition Classification Application. Even if you are already a resident of Colorado, you still need to fill out this form and provide residency documentation. For more information, check out the Residency website.
Tuition and Expenses
The cost of quality legal education is a significant investment. Still, the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid at Colorado Law is committed to helping you find resources to make it affordable. This includes scholarships, fellowships, and federal and private student loans. Colorado residents pay less than students attending the region's public or private schools. Non-residents can become residents after one year.
Cost of Attendance
For the 2024–2025 academic year, the estimated Cost of Attendance at the University of Colorado Boulder School of Law varies depending on residency status. Colorado residents are expected to pay approximately $63,814, which includes $36,494 for tuition and fees and about $27,320 in additional expenses such as room and board, books, transportation, and personal costs. Non-residents, on the other hand, face a total cost of approximately $71,644, which includes $44,324 in tuition and similar living expenses. These figures represent a roughly 4.8% increase from the previous academic year. Financial aid plays a significant role, with around 87% of full-time students receiving scholarships or grants, averaging $12,800, which can cover nearly 29% of tuition.
| Category | Colorado Residents | Non-Residents |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & Fees | $36,494 | $44,324 |
| Room & Board | $15,600 | $15,600 |
| Books & Supplies | $1,800 | $1,800 |
| Transportation | $3,120 | $3,120 |
| Personal Expenses | $6,800 | $6,800 |
| Total Estimated Cost | $63,814 | $71,644 |
| % Receiving Financial Aid | 87% | |
| Avg. Scholarship Award | $12,800 | |
Financial Aid Basics
To get financial aid, you must fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) every year. This application becomes available each year on October 1. Their Title IV school code is (001370). The FAFSA determines your eligibility for grants, loans, work-study, and need-based scholarships. You must apply early and correctly to avoid delays in receiving your aid. In most instances, a law student will be eligible for student aid funds to cover the total cost of attendance.
Loans
The University of Colorado participates in the William D. Ford Direct Loan program, a government-funded student loan program. You are automatically considered for a Direct Loan after submitting your FAFSA. Most students will be eligible for the full Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan amount of $20,500 per academic year. You may also apply for a Direct Graduate PLUS loan, which is a loan for graduate students that covers the remaining cost of attendance each school year.
Grants and Scholarships
The Law School Admissions Office awards scholarships to both new and continuing students. New students are automatically considered for scholarships when they apply for admission, and no separate application is necessary. If you are awarded a grant or scholarship, the money will be credited to your student account at the time of billing.
Continuing students can apply for scholarships in the spring semester by viewing a list on the law school website. Scholarship awards are based on various qualifications, including merit and need. The Admissions Office sends out an email notification in late winter to all students about the scholarship awarding timeline and process.
This information is subject to change without notice. It is intended as a general overview of financial aid options and should not be construed as stating contractual terms.
Academics & Curriculum
Alongside its highly regarded environmental law program, which was recently ranked among the top 5 in the nation, the University of Colorado Law School offers students programs in various areas of the law, including tax law, intellectual property law, and international law. For students interested in gaining hands-on legal experience and training, the school also offers ten clinics on such topics as Wrongful Convictions and American Indian Law. Study abroad programs are also available to the University of Colorado Law School students. The school offers summer programs in several of the most metropolitan European cities, including London, Paris, Barcelona, and Florence. The program in each city tends to have a special focus, such as the focus on Art Law in Florence and International Business in London.
International Law
Colorado Law is committed to providing students with the best international legal education possible. This includes moot court competitions, student groups, and partnerships with organizations like the American Society of International Law and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. Additionally, Colorado Law hosts events and speakers open to the law school community and the public.
Technology and Intellectual Property Law
The intellectual property, technology, and telecommunication curriculum at Colorado Law prepare graduates for careers in law firms, corporations, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies. In addition to a broad-based legal education, students receive specialized training in environmental and natural resources law. This gives them the skills and knowledge necessary to work in various legal settings.
Regarding curriculum, the U. of Colorado Law School is similar to most law schools in requiring students to enroll in standard 1L courses such as Contracts, Torts, and Legal Writing. After passing these requirements, Colorado Law students are mostly free to choose from nearly 100 elective titles in rounding out their 89-credit legal educations. Most of these upper-level courses are capped at 25 seats, ensuring that students have the opportunity to establish relatively close contact with the professors and classmates in their areas of interest. Also, it bears mention that, according to recent graduates and current students of Colorado Law School, students are generally able to secure a seat in any particular elective at some point before graduation, thanks in part to the relatively small size of the Colorado Law student body.
Legal Writing
Colorado Law strives for excellence in legal communication. This means that effective writing is essential for lawyers to be successful. Legal writing is not an isolated skill but an integrated part of learning to think like a lawyer. The goal at Colorado Law is to not only give students essential solid writing skills but also the ability to adapt and improve these skills as they enter the legal profession.
Externships
Fall 2022 externship students are required to attend externship classes that will be scheduled over the semester. The classes will cover topics related to the area of law where the student will be placed during the semester. Students DO NOT have to register for the externship classroom component through the Law Registrar's Office. The Program Director will send all students enrolled in additional externship information about the externship class during the first week of classes each semester.
While the General Topics class is suitable for students completing an externship focusing on any area of the law, they highly recommend that students enroll in the subject-specific class for the practice area of their externship.
Legal Clinics
The Colorado Law Clinics provide free legal services to members of the community who may not be able to afford an attorney. The Clinics offer various services, such as family, criminal, and landlord-tenant law. This allows students to transition from legal theory to practical application and helps them develop the skills they need to become successful attorneys. The Clinics also promote civic engagement and social responsibility, which are essential values of Colorado Law.
Quality of Life
Given the school's spectacular location at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, and the active lifestyle generally promoted by Boulder, the quality of life at the University of Colorado Law School promises to be great. Enthusiasts of the great outdoors would likely find Boulder, which is a prototypical college town to truly be an ideal city, as it offers countless opportunities for various mountain-related activities, including mountain biking, mountain climbing, hiking, and skiing while being situated in close proximity to the famed Rocky Mountain National Park. Also, Colorado Law students are likely to enjoy their law school's newly completed and positively gorgeous Wolf Law Building, as well as the rest of the university's green and spacious campus. Students interested in nightlife won't be disappointed either, as Boulder offers plenty of bars and a great variety of excellent eateries, while the school hosts various social functions throughout the academic year to keep students entertained during their scarce free time.
Employment Prospects & Bar Passage
Throughout Colorado and the greater Rocky As of March 2025, 93% of the Class of 2024 were employed ten months after graduation, with 91% in full-time, long-term positions that either required bar passage or offered a JD advantage. The median salary among those who reported was $89,500, with an average (mean) salary of $114,718. At the upper and lower ends of the salary distribution, 25% of respondents earned $172,500 or more, while 25% earned $66,140 or less. Additionally, 95% of students from the Classes of 2024 and 2025 secured substantive legal or law-related summer positions during 2023, indicating strong preparation for professional practice.
Regarding bar exam outcomes, the overall first-time bar passage rate for Colorado Law graduates was 81.14%. On the February 2025 Colorado bar exam, 5 out of 7 first-time takers from Colorado Law passed, a 71% success rate, while 6 out of 9 repeat takers passed, equating to about 67%.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Employment rate (10 months post-grad) | 93 % |
| Full-time, long-term jobs requiring bar passage or JD advantage | 91 % |
| Median salary (for reported salaries) | $89,500 |
| Mean salary | $114,718 |
| 25th percentile salary | $66,140 |
| 75th percentile salary | $172,500+ |
| Substance legal/law-related summer positions (Classes of 2024 & 2025) | 95 % |
| First-time bar pass rate (overall) | 81.14 % |
| February 2025 bar exam – first-time CU takers | 5 of 7 (71 %) |
| February 2025 bar exam – repeat CU takers | 6 of 9 (67 %) |
Synopsis
With its stunning location, new facilities and solid reputation in the legal field, the University of Colorado School of Law is a great place to pursue a legal education. The school should receive special consideration from Colorado residents, who can attend at a lower rate of tuition, as well as residents of the Mountain West area in general, who can take advantage of the school's promising job prospects within the region.
Contact Information
University of Colorado Law School
Admissions Office
Wolf Law Building | 401 UCB
2450 Kittredge Loop Road
Boulder, Colorado 80309
Phone: 303.492.7203
Email: law.admissions@colorado.edu
https://www.colorado.edu/law/admissions
Summary
| Established | 1892 |
| Location | Boulder, Colorado |
| Dean | Lolita Buckner Inniss |
| 2025 US News Ranking | 46th |
| LSAT Median Score | 164 |
| GPA Median Score | 3.79 |
| Bar Passage Rate | 81.1% (2025) |
| Employment Rate | 70.8% (2025) |
| Cost | "$36,494 (in-state, full-time),
$44,324 (out-of-state, full-time)" |
| Average Debt | $105,333 |
| Application Deadline | April 1, 2025 |
Forum and Discussion
Colorado Law Discussions
Law School Admissions Forums
Law Student Forums
Law School Class Forums
Reference
https://www.colorado.edu/law/
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