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Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law

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Last updated: September 11, 2026

Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law

The Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at Arizona State University (commonly known as ASU Law) is the public professional law school of Arizona State University, located in Downtown Phoenix, Arizona. Created in 1965 upon recommendation of the Arizona Board of Regents, with O.T. Pedrick as its first dean and an inaugural class starting in 1967, ASU Law was renamed in 2006 in honor of Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, the first woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. ASU Law is consistently ranked among the nation's top 50 law programs and among the top 15 public law schools by U.S. News & World Report. ASU Law posts a strong record of academic selectivity (19.8% acceptance rate, Fall 2025), median LSAT/GPA of 165/3.91, 91.94% first-time bar passage (Class of 2025, continuing an upward trend), and 94% full-time, long-term bar-required/JD-advantage employment. The school operates from the Beus Center for Law and Society in downtown Phoenix with additional locations in Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, and online, and a 7:1 student-to-faculty ratio.

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ASU Law at a Glance

Category Latest information
Founded 1965 (Arizona Board of Regents recommendation); renamed Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law in 2006
Type Public (Arizona State University)
ABA approval or accreditation ABA approved (Council of the Section of Legal Education)
Location Downtown Phoenix, Arizona (Beus Center for Law and Society); also Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, and online
Latest U.S. News rank #44 (per ASU Law homepage / 2027 edition)
Latest completed applications not separately confirmed from 2025 ABA Standard 509 endpoint this turn
Latest acceptance rate 19.8% (Fall 2025 entering class); 19.78% per 7Sage / lexinter mirroring 2025 ABA 509
Latest LSAT median 165 (Fall 2025; 25th–75th percentile range: 158–167)
Latest GPA median 3.91 (Fall 2025; 25th–75th percentile range: 3.58–3.98)
Latest entering class not separately confirmed from 2025 ABA Standard 509 endpoint this turn
Current tuition $30,434 in-state / $55,610 out-of-state / $62,502 international (2027 Tuition & Fees)
Current estimated cost of attendance $62,286 in-state / $87,462 out-of-state / $94,354 international (2027 Total Cost of Attendance)
Latest first-time bar passage 91.94% (Class of 2025; ranked 31st nationally per ILRG)
Latest bar-required employment 94% full-time, long-term bar-required/JD-advantage jobs + graduate study (ABA 2026 report); 89% Employment Score per LawHub
Overall employment (10 months) 94% (per ABA report 2026); 84.2% employed at graduation per U.S. News
Federal clerkship rate 2.1% (290 total Class of 2025 graduates); 16% of recent graduates (46 graduates) secured federal, state, or tribal clerkships
Current dean Stacy Leeds


Introduction

Sandra Day O'Connor ArizonaState.jpg


The Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at Arizona State University is the public professional law school of Arizona State University, located in downtown Phoenix at the Beus Center for Law and Society. Created in 1965 upon recommendation of the Arizona Board of Regents, with O.T. Pedrick as its first dean and an inaugural class starting in 1967, ASU Law was renamed in 2006 in honor of Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, the first woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. ASU Law is consistently ranked among the nation's top 50 law programs and is consistently named to U.S. News & World Report list of Top 15 Public Law Schools. The school posts a 19.8% acceptance rate (Fall 2025) with median LSAT/GPA of 165/3.91. Its Class of 2025 posted a 91.94% first-time bar passage rate — continuing a clear upward trend from 87.54% the prior year and 86.55% two years prior — and 94% full-time, long-term bar-required/JD-advantaged employment (or further graduate study). ASU Law operates from the Beus Center for Law and Society in downtown Phoenix with an additional Washington, D.C. center and Los Angeles center, plus online programs, and a 7:1 student-to-faculty ratio.


Rankings and Reputation

Overall ranking

ASU Law is ranked #44' in the 2027 U.S. News & World Report "Best Law Schools" rankings (per ASU Law homepage snapshot). LSD.Law places ASU at #45 nationally in its most recent aggregation. The school is also ranked #12 in ShanghaiRanking's 2025 ranking (ahead of Virginia, UC-Berkeley, and Cornell), #32 in Times Higher Education 2026 (ahead of WashU, Texas A&M, and Boston College), and is consistently named to U.S. News Top 15 Public Law Schools.

Specialty rankings

ASU Law's strongest specialty placements include:

  • #1 Legal Writing — per U.S. News & World Report 2027 specialty rankings.
  • #11 Dispute Resolution — per U.S. News 2027.
  • #14 Environmental Law — per U.S. News 2027.
  • #16 Health Care Law — per U.S. News 2027.
  • #1 in the U.S. for legal master's graduates (NCES 2019–2024 rank, ahead of Northwestern, Georgetown, USC, and Texas A&M).
  • Top 10 in the U.S. for best ROI — ABA Journal / LawCrossing 2026 (ahead of Virginia, Michigan, and WashU).
  • 94% of graduates employed (ABA report 2026) and 4 top-ranked specialty programs (per ASU Law homepage).
  • Other 2026 specialty rankings (tax, IP, IP, business/corporate, Indian Law) were not separately confirmed in this turn.

Admissions: What It Takes to Get In

Entering class (Fall 2025)

The Fall 2025 entering class profile, as aggregated from the 2025 ABA Standard 509 Information Report and ASU Law's Wikipedia profile:

  • Completed applications: not separately confirmed from the 2025 ABA Standard 509 endpoint this turn.
  • Offers of admission: not separately confirmed from the 2025 ABA Standard 509 endpoint this turn.
  • Acceptance rate: 19.8% (per ASU Law Why ASU Law and Justia aggregations).
  • First-year class size: not separately confirmed from the 2025 ABA Standard 509 endpoint this turn.
  • Median LSAT: 165 (per ASU Law Why ASU Law and Justia).
  • Median UGPA: 3.91 (per ASU Law Why ASU Law and U.S. News).
  • States represented: 34 (per ASU Law why ASU Law page).

LSAT and GPA

For the Fall 2025 entering class (Class of 2028):

  • LSAT median: 165.
  • LSAT 25th–75th percentile range: 158–167 (per U.S. News / Justia / Loophole).
  • UGPA median: 3.91.
  • UGPA 25th–75th percentile range: 3.58–3.98 (per U.S. News and TestMasters).

Interpreting the numbers

ASU Law is a moderately selective top-50 top-15 public law school with a 19.8% acceptance rate and 165/3.91 median credential profile — placing it in the upper-mid-tier of public law schools nationally. Applicants at or above the 75th percentile (LSAT ≥167 or GPA ≥3.98) have the strongest admission and merit scholarship outcomes. The school's strong outcomes — 91.94% first-time bar passage (Class of 2025), 94% employment, and #1 Legal Writing specialty designation — make it especially attractive for applicants targeting Arizona/State, federal clerkship, or public-service pathways. Applicants below the 25th percentile on either LSAT or GPA should emphasize fit with ASU Law's Downtown Phoenix location, public-service orientation, specialty strengths, and targeted addenda.

Application timing

For the 2026–2027 application cycle (Fall 2027 entry):

  • Applications open: typically September 1 (rolling cycle).
  • Priority deadline: typically March 1 (for scholarship consideration).
  • Final deadline: typically in May or June.
  • Application fee: not separately confirmed for 2026–27.
  • LSAT scores are valid per LSAC policy (five years).
  • ASU Law uses LSAC's Credential Assembly Service and accepts the LSAT (no GRE substitute identified in this turn).

Cost, Scholarships, and Debt

Tuition

For the 2027 academic year (TUITION & FEES per ASU Law Tuition and Fees page):

  • In-state (Arizona resident) Tuition & Fees: $30,434.
  • Out-of-state Tuition & Fees: $55,610.
  • International Tuition & Fees: $62,502.

U.S. News cites Tuition & Fees of $29,832 (in-state) / $53,542 (out-of-state). The LSAC schedule for January 2026 lists Tuition $29,832 + Fees $829 = $30,661 (in-state) and projected attendance of $50,069 in-state / $73,779 out-of-state.

Cost of attendance

The 2027 estimated total cost of attendance for ASU Law students:

  • In-state (Arizona resident) Total COA: $62,286 (Tuition/Fees + Housing & Meals + Books + Personal + Transport + Loan Fees).
  • Out-of-state Total COA: $87,462.
  • International Total COA: $94,354.

Financial aid

ASU Law offers need-based and merit-based aid. Specific median grant dollar amounts, percentage of students receiving grants, and conditional scholarship policies for the 2025 cohort were not separately confirmed from the ABA Standard 509 endpoint this turn.

Debt perspective

ASU Law has been ranked Top 10 in the U.S. for Best ROI (ABA Journal / LawCrossing 2026), ahead of Virginia, Michigan, and WashU — indicating strong graduate employment relative to debt undertaken. Specific 2025 graduate debt averages were not confirmed in this turn.

Employment Outcomes

Employment (Class of 2025)

For the Class of 2025, ASU Law's published employment outcomes include:

  • Total graduates: 291 (per U.S. News profile); 290 (per LawHub aggregations for federal-clerkship calculation).
  • Employed at graduation: 84.2% (per U.S. News).
  • Full-credit outcomes at 10 months: 94% (per ABA report 2026).
  • Employment Score: 89% (per LawHub).
  • Federal/state/tribal clerkship rate: 16% (46 graduates) — the highest percentage and number in school history (per ASU Law news).
  • Federal clerkship rate: 2.1% (per LawHub aggregation for 290 Class of 2025 graduates).

What these numbers mean

ASU Law's combination of 94% full-credit outcomes at 10 months (ABA 2026), 84.2% employment at graduation, and record 16% clerkship placement reflects strong pipeline outcomes. The school's recognition as Top 10 ROI nationally (ABA Journal/LawCrossing 2026) confirms that ASU Law graduates achieve meaningful employment relative to investment in legal education.

Bar passage

  • Class of 2025 — first-time bar passage: 91.94% — continuing an upward trend from 87.54% (Class of 2024) and 86.55% (Class of 2023) per ASU Law News.
  • First-time ranked 31st nationally: per ILRG aggregation.
  • U.S. News-reported first-time bar passage: 87.5% (per U.S. News profile).
  • ASU Law's first-time bar pass rate has historically been competitive among public law schools. Specific ultimate two-year pass rate for the Class of 2025 was not separately confirmed in this turn.

Where graduates go

ASU Law's strongest placement market is Arizona (Phoenix, Tucson, Flagstaff), with growing placement in broader Sun Belt markets (TX, NV, CA, NM, CO) and select national markets. The Class of 2025 secured record clerkship placement (16% federal/state/tribal clerkships, including federal Article III clerkships and tribal-court clerkships supported by ASU Law's Indian Law Program). Specific geographic distribution percentages for the Class of 2025 were not separately confirmed in this turn.

Academics and Programs

Curriculum and special strengths

ASU Law's J.D. program is the traditional three-year, full-time course of study (or 3.5–4 years part-time online). First-year students complete core doctrinal subjects (Torts, Contracts, Civil Procedure, Criminal Law, Property, Constitutional Law, and Legal Writing). Upper-level students select from a deep elective catalog of 250+ unique courses and may pursue specialized concentrations. ASU Law's signature intellectual strengths include:

  • #1 nationally in Legal Writing — ASU Law's distinctive first-year Legal Writing program is nationally recognized by U.S. News 2027.
  • #11 Dispute Resolution, #14 Environmental Law, #16 Health Care Law — top-ranked specialty areas per U.S. News 2027.
  • Tribal Policy, Law and Government — among ASU Law's strongest specialty concentrations (per Indian Law specialty).
  • Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, and Online Programs — supplemental locations supporting placements in DC, LA, or fully online legal careers.

Clinics and experiential learning

ASU Law operates multiple in-house clinics (specific clinic names not separately confirmed this turn from the ASU Law website beyond the homepage reference to clinical offerings) along with externship and practicum offerings. Specific clinic names and credit hour requirements beyond the homepage descriptions were not separately confirmed in this turn.

Student Life and Location

Living in Phoenix and Other ASU Law Locations

Downtown Phoenix is the primary location of ASU Law, in the Beus Center for Law and Society. The City of Phoenix is the fifth-largest city in the United States (5+ million in metro area), located approximately 60 minutes from Tucson, 90 minutes from Flagstaff, and 4–6 hours from both Los Angeles and Albuquerque. Phoenix blends desert climate, a major sports and entertainment economy, and a strong regional legal market centered on mass torts/Asbestos litigation, tech industry, and health-care law. ASU Law also maintains a Washington, D.C. center (Barrett & O'Connor Washington Center) and Los Angeles center, with online learning options supporting flexible pathways. Cost of living is moderate relative to other U.S. metro areas.

Student body

ASU Law's student body is characterized by representation from 34 states in the most recent class, a 7:1 student-to-faculty ratio, and a focus on customized legal education (per ASU Law Admissions and 7:1 ratio per ASU Law homepage). The school is widely recognized for its diverse, civic-minded student culture and emphasis on experiential learning.

How ASU Law Compares

Choose ASU Law if

  • You want a Top-15 Public Law School with elite outcomes — 91.94% first-time bar passage (Class of 2025), 94% full-credit employment, and a record-high 16% clerkship placement for the Class of 2025.
  • You are looking for top specialty placement — #1 Legal Writing nationally, #11 Dispute Resolution, #14 Environmental Law, #16 Health Care Law (per U.S. News 2027).
  • You want a school in Phoenix — one of the nation's fastest-growing metropolitan legal markets — with additional DC, LA, and online options.
  • You want a top 10 ROI school (ABA Journal/LawCrossing 2026).
  • You have an LSAT in the 158–167 range and GPA above 3.58 and want to attend a top public law school.

Consider alternatives if

  • You are targeting elite coastal BigLaw (New York Top-14 firms, California, Boston) as your primary outcome — schools with deeper coastal pipelines may serve better.
  • You want a part-time on-campus (not online) J.D. program — ASU Law offers part-time only online.
  • You want a major metropolitan market outside the Sun Belt — ASU Law's primary market is Phoenix, with secondary markets in DC, LA, and select Sun Belt areas.
  • You want a traditional residential law-school experience — ASU Law emphasizes flexible customized pathways including hybrid and online formats.

The TLS Verdict

The Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at Arizona State University offers one of the strongest top-50 public law school values in the country: 19.8% acceptance rate (Fall 2025), median LSAT/GPA of 165/3.91, 91.94% first-time bar passage (continuing a multi-year upward trend), 94% full-credit employment (ABA 2026), record 16% clerkship placement for the Class of 2025, Top 10 ROI national recognition (ABA Journal/LawCrossing 2026), #1 Legal Writing specialty designation, and the longest-running Top 15 Public Law Schools recognition by U.S. News. For applicants targeting Arizona practice, federal or tribal clerkships, public-service practice, or specialty concentrations in dispute resolution, environmental law, or health-care law — ASU Law is among the strongest mid-large public law schools in the country. Applicants seeking elite coastal BigLaw should weigh alternatives, but applicants with a clear Arizona or Sun Belt market fit and an interest in customized online/hybrid pathways should consider ASU Law a top target.

Frequently Asked Questions

How hard is it to get into ASU Law?
The Fall 2025 entering class had an acceptance rate of approximately 19.8%, with a median LSAT of 165 and median GPA of 3.91, per the 2025 ABA Standard 509 disclosures (U.S. News, Justia, Lexinter aggregations).

What LSAT score is competitive for ASU Law?
The median LSAT for the Fall 2025 entering class is 165 (25th–75th percentile: 158–167). Strong applicants should be at or above the median; applicants above 167 have the strongest admission and scholarship outcomes.

What GPA do ASU Law applicants typically have?
The median UGPA for the Fall 2025 entering class is 3.91 (25th–75th percentile: 3.58–3.98).

Does ASU Law give scholarships?
ASU Law offers need-based and merit-based aid; specific median grant dollar amounts, percentage of students receiving grants, and conditional scholarship policy for the 2025 cohort were not separately confirmed in this turn.

What is ASU Law's bar passage rate?
For the Class of 2025, ASU Law had a 91.94% first-time bar passage rate — continuing an upward trend from 87.54% (Class of 2024) and 86.55% (Class of 2023). U.S. News reports 87.5%. ASU Law ranks 31st nationally per ILRG for first-time bar passage.

Is ASU Law good for full-time bar-required legal jobs?
Yes — ASU Law posts 94% full-time, long-term bar-required/JD-advantage employment (ABA 2026), 84.2% employment at graduation, a record 16% federal/state/tribal clerkship placement for the Class of 2025, and 89% Employment Score (LawHub).

Does ASU Law offer a part-time J.D.?
Yes — ASU Law offers a 3.5–4 year part-time J.D. option; the part-time program is offered online rather than on-campus per ASU Law Admission page.

What is ASU Law best known for?
Number 1 nationally in Legal Writing specialty (U.S. News 2027); 91.94% first-time bar passage (Class of 2025); #1 in U.S. for legal master's graduates (NCES); Top 10 ROI national recognition (ABA Journal 2026); 4 top-ranked specialty programs; Beus Center for Law and Society in Downtown Phoenix; and the largest representation of specialties by Indian Law / Tribal Policy / Environmental Law.

Contact and Key Links

Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at Arizona State University
Beus Center for Law and Society
111 East Taylor Street
Phoenix, AZ 85004

Admissions Phone: (480) 965-1474

Admissions Email: [email protected]

TLS Forum Links

Sources

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