Pennsylvania State University - Dickinson Law
Penn State University - Dickinson Law, located in Carlisle, PA, is one of two independent and fully accredited law schools of Pennsylvania State University. The Law School offers J.D. and LL.M degrees in law and hosts visiting scholars. At Dickinson Law, you'll get a rigorous academic program in an intimate and challenging environment while also benefiting from opportunities to engage with the legal profession nationally and worldwide. The accomplished faculty have years of experience practicing law, and you'll have access to generous scholarships and a large alumni network. Additionally, their unique initiative of faculty partnering with students in their career planning and job searches makes Dickinson Law an excellent choice for those interested in pursuing a legal career.
Contents
History
Dickinson Law was founded in 1834, one of the country's oldest and most respected law schools. The alums include some of the nation's most accomplished attorneys, judges, government and corporate leaders, and legal educators. In 1997, we merged with Penn State, enhancing our reputation and expanding their network of resources. Dickinson Law remains a leader in experiential education, providing students with the hands-on training they need to succeed in the legal profession.
Admissions
The selection process at Baylor Law School is highly competitive, as the school only admits up to 75 students each year. They use a range of criteria to select the most promising candidates, and enroll students who will contribute to the community's diversity, excel in the academic program, and become leaders in the legal profession.
Statistics
| Admissions Stats | ||
| Class of: | 2023-2024 | 2024-2025 |
| 25th - 50th - 75th percentile LSAT | 157 - 162 - 163 | 155 - 161 - 162 |
| 25th - 50th - 75th percentile GPA | 3.29 - 3.63 - 3.84 | 3.42 - 3.68 - 3.88 |
| Acceptance rate | 36.8% | 41.3% |
| Applications received | 1524 | 1524 |
| Acceptances | 539 | 539 |
| Matriculants | 101 | 101 |
For the 2024–2025 admissions cycle at Pennsylvania State University – Dickinson Law, applicants fell within the 25th to 75th percentile LSAT range of 155–161–162 and GPA range of 3.42–3.68–3.88. The school received 1,524 applications, admitted 539 students, and enrolled 101, resulting in an acceptance rate of 41.3%. These figures show a slight increase compared to the previous year (2023–2024), when the LSAT range was 157–162–163, the GPA range was 3.29–3.63–3.84, the acceptance rate stood at 36.8%, and the same number of applications (1,524) yielded 539 acceptances and 101 matriculants.
Application Process
The Law School Admission Council (LSAC) is the organization responsible for administering the LSAT and GRE exams as well as the Credential Assembly Service. In order to apply to law school, you must first register with LSAC and create an account. You will then need to request transcripts from all of your prior colleges and graduate programs and have them sent to the Credential Assembly Service. Once your transcripts are processed, you will be able to create your résumé, draft and edit your personal statement, and request letters of recommendation. You may also be required to write a supplemental essay(s).
Applicants to Dickinson Law must submit a valid standardized test score. They accept both the LSAT and GRE, and they encourage applicants to take whichever exam best suits them. A valid score is one earned on a test administered within the past five years. GRE test results must be submitted to Dickinson Law through the Educational Testing Service (ETS). Please indicate Dickinson Law as a score report recipient using our Designated Institution (DI) Code of 0545.
Tuition and Expenses
The 2025 academic year brings a clearly defined financial framework for students attending Penn State Dickinson Law. Tuition and mandatory fees are set at $59,054, applicable uniformly to both in-state and out-of-state J.D. candidates. When combined with estimated living expenses—such as housing, books, supplies, and personal necessities—students should anticipate a total cost of attendance of approximately $85,854 for the nine-month academic year. Importantly, nearly all students—99.66%—receive financial assistance in the form of grants or scholarships, averaging $56,498, which substantially lightens the tuition burden.
Cost of Attendance
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition & Fees | $59,054 |
| Living Expenses (Housing, Food, etc.) | $18,000 |
| Books & Supplies | $2,000 |
| Personal Expenses | $6,800 |
| Total | $85,854 |
For the 2025 academic year, Penn State Dickinson Law lists a comprehensive cost of attendance designed to help prospective J.D. students plan their finances. Tuition and mandatory fees total $59,054 for both Pennsylvania residents and nonresidents, reflecting the school’s single tuition rate policy. Estimated living expenses, which include housing, food, transportation, books, supplies, and personal costs, add roughly $26,800 to the annual budget, bringing the total estimated cost of attendance to $85,854 for the nine-month academic year. Nearly all full-time students—99.66%—receive financial aid in the form of grants or scholarships, with an average award amount of $56,498, significantly reducing the net cost for most enrollees.
Financial Aid
Financing your legal education doesn’t have to be complicated. You can pursue grants and scholarships, use personal resources, and budget wisely to minimize your reliance on student loans. They know that financing law school may seem daunting, but the team will help you plan and make financial aid transparent.
Scholarship
They automatically consider all admitted students at Dickinson Law for our renewable Merit Scholarship and Commonwealth Scholar awards. The Merit Scholarship offers are based on their holistic review of your application and are offered in varying amounts, up to full tuition. If you are interested, you may also apply for several enrichment programs, which include grant support.
Need-Based Grants
Admitted students are invited to submit a need-based grant application. Those demonstrating the greatest financial need may receive additional grant support from Dickinson Law. Need-based grants are awarded annually and require a new application each year.
Student Loans
If you are an admitted student, you may be eligible for a need-based grant from Dickinson Law. Those with the greatest financial need will be given priority for these grants. To be considered, you must submit a new application each year.
Transfers
A student in good standing at an ABA-accredited law school may apply to Dickinson Law to complete their final two years of legal education. To earn a J.D. from Dickinson Law, a transfer student must attend the Law School for at least four of the six semesters for which residence credit is claimed and earn at least 56 credits from Dickinson Law. Eighty-eight credits are required to earn a J.D. from Dickinson Law.
The admissions committee will conduct a holistic review of the applicant's file, emphasizing law school performance. To be admitted as a transfer student, the applicant must have achieved a minimum grade point average (GPA) at their previous law school. The admissions committee and academic deans will evaluate any credits earned at another law school and ensure they meet our requirements before transferring them to Dickinson Law. Credits earned at another institution must meet our minimum grade requirement of C to be transferred to Dickinson Law. To read a fantastic article about transferring, click here.
Employment Prospects & Bar Passage
Pennsylvania State - Dickinson Law graduates make a median of $79,000 if they work in the private sector. If they go into the private sector, they can expect to make $52,107. 41.2% of law graduates from Pennsylvania State - Dickinson Law go directly to work for law firms, while 19.1% clerk for a judge. 10.3% of graduates go into public interest. 91.7% of Pennsylvania State - Dickinson Law graduates pass the bar on their first try.
Academics and Curriculum
The lawyering profession seeks the truth in every situation, works to restore equality, and strives to make people and organizations whole again. J.D. The program will give you the skills and knowledge you need to be a successful lawyer. Their 1L curriculum introduces you to the basics of lawyering skills and extralegal competencies, while their upper-level curriculum allows you to focus on your chosen legal practice areas.
First-Year Students
The Dickinson Law curriculum is designed for hands-on learning and is tailored to equip students with the essential skills they need to become successful lawyers. The first year of law school focuses on key areas such as civil procedure, constitutional law, contracts, criminal law, and property. In addition, students learn essential skills such as legal research and writing.
Second and Third-Year Students
In your second and third years at Dickinson Law, you will take electives related to being a lawyer. These include required courses in Experiential Learning, Professional Responsibility, and a Seminar. You will also choose a focus for your studies in Civil Rights, Equal Protection, or Social Justice.
Experimental Learning
You will have the opportunity to gain legal experience in a real-world setting through one of Dickinson Law's in-house clinics, by entering with a government agency or non-profit entity, or by fully immersing yourself in a legal setting. To earn the required 12 experiential learning credits, you must complete at least six credits through one of these means. The other experiential learning skills and simulation courses are also important to your education.
Faculty
For the 2025–2026 academic year, Penn State Dickinson Law has strengthened its academic team by welcoming ten new faculty members: two full professors of law, three visiting law professors, one professor of practice, and four adjunct law professors—Anna Knych ’13, Drew McLaughlin ’17, Mirelle Rebeiz ’24, and the returning Hon. Jessica Brewbaker ’00. The full-time faculty already includes distinguished scholars such as Associate Professor Amy C. Gaudion, who leads the school’s annual cyberspace simulation in partnership with the U.S. Army War College and focuses her scholarship on constitutional, national security, and cyber law. Prominent figures also include Professor Martin Skladany, an expert in intellectual property, AI, and international development law, and Professor William E. Butler, a celebrated comparative law scholar specializing in Russian and CIS legal systems. Leading the school, Dean Danielle M. Conway has served as Dean since 2019 and is recognized for her expertise in government procurement and intellectual property law. This robust blend of new and established scholars enhances Dickinson Law’s vibrant academic environment, blending innovative research, practice-oriented teaching, and global legal engagement.
Public Interest Law Fund Fellowships
There are a few different fellowships available for students who are participating in public interest work. The most well-known is the Public Interest Law Fund (PILF), which funds students at various organizations throughout the country and internationally. Some recent examples of placements include:
Caitlin Cooke at the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance, Myla Garcia at California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc., Jackie Gross at the Women’s Law Project West, Amelia Nahum at the Humane Society of the United States Animal Protection Litigation Department, and Miranda Sasinovic at Compass Immigration Legal Services.
In-house Legal Clinics
Penn State Dickinson Law's In-house Legal Clinics provide access to justice by representing underserved clients and advocating for equitable public policy on their behalf. Students in the clinic gain training and experience that prepares them for successful legal careers. You may choose to participate in one of the legal clinics during your second and third years. As a clinic intern, you will provide much-needed public service while sharpening your legal skills. Under the guidance of clinical faculty, you will offer helpful legal services to area residents and public interest organizations that can't afford private legal representation.
The in-house legal clinics at our firm provide essential legal services to members of our community who would otherwise be unable to afford them. The Children's Advocacy Clinic provides vital legal assistance to vulnerable children, the Community Law Clinic works to ensure equal justice for all, and the Medical-Legal Partnership Clinic helps make the lives of its clients whole again.
International Justice Program
Dickinson Law's International Justice Program offers students an opportunity to gain legal experience and pursue advanced international study in a global setting. Students work alongside senior prosecutors at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and the United Nations Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals, both located in The Hague, Netherlands. This program allows students to be a part of some of the most significant international criminal cases being prosecuted today.
Externships
Dickinson Law is located close to Harrisburg, the center of the Pennsylvania state government. This location allows students to pursue a variety of externship opportunities while maintaining a full course load. All Dickinson Law students must complete 6 credits in a legal practice setting through externship programs, in-house legal clinics, or the Semester-in-Practice Program. Under the guidance of an experienced supervisor, second and third-year law students can gain practical experience working in a legal office. To receive academic credit for working at an externship placement site, students must complete legal work for a required number of hours per credit (typically 140 hours per semester for three credits), attend and participate in the academic companion course, and complete assigned readings and reflective assignments.
Location and Quality of Life
Dickinson Law's historic home has been completely renovated and rebuilt to bring students, staff, and faculty together daily. The new building, called Lewis Katz Hall, is LEED-certified and boasts one of the largest green roofs in central Pennsylvania. It has been intentionally designed and located to further Dickinson Law's commitment to the community. The building features classrooms and seminar rooms, the 200-seat Apfelbaum Family Courtroom and Auditorium, a legislative hearing room, the three-story H. Laddie Montague Jr. Law Library, a courtyard, a café, and the Ridge Commons area. All of Dickinson Law's classrooms are equipped with sophisticated audiovisual technology that lets students and professors communicate in real-time with colleagues and professionals worldwide.
The Carlisle location is in close proximity to key legal markets, including Harrisburg, P.A., Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York, providing significant networking and career opportunities. Dickinson Law’s proximity to Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center allows students to take advantage of the new Medical-Legal Partnership Clinic.
The Law School is located across from Dickinson College, within walking distance of a variety of restaurants, shops, and galleries, an independent movie theater, a downtown farmer’s market, and much more. And, Forbes Magazine/Forbes.com recently ranked the Harrisburg-Carlisle region as one of America’s most livable cities.
Synopsis
They believe that fostering a sense of community and mutual support between and among faculty, students, and staff is important on a daily basis. This allows us to interact with each other in a respectful and tolerant way, which they believe will help their students when they go out into the professional world. The Law school strives to create this type of community every day, and they believe that it is beneficial for everyone involved.
Contact Information
The Pennsylvania State University
Dickinson Law
Admissions Office
Lewis Katz Hall
150 South College St.,
Carlisle, PA 17013
P: 717-240-5000
F: 717-240-5213
E: dickinsonlaw@psu.edu
https://dickinsonlaw.psu.edu/jd-admissions
Summary
| Established | 1834 |
| Location | Carlisle, PA |
| Dean | Danielle M. Conway |
| 2025 US News Ranking | 59th |
| LSAT Median Score | 161 |
| GPA Median Score | 3.68 |
| Bar Passage Rate | 77.5% (2025) |
| Employment Rate | N/A (2025) |
| Cost | "$59,054 (in-state, full-time),
$59,054 (out-of-state, full-time)" |
| Average Debt | N/A |
| Application Deadline | N/A |
Forum and Discussion
Pennsylvania State University - Dickinson Law Discussions
Law School Admissions Forums
Law Student Forums
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Reference
https://dickinsonlaw.psu.edu/
Rank #59
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