Thomas M. Cooley Law School

The largest law school in the United States in terms of total enrollment, the main campus of the Thomas M. Cooley Law School is located in Lansing, Michigan.

History

Thomas M. Cooley Law School was established in 1972 by prominent lawyers and judges from the Lansing area, including Honorable Thomas E. Brennan. It was named after one of the greatest jurists of the 19th century, Thomas McIntyre Cooley. Throughout its history, the Law School has evolved into one of the largest law schools in the country, with students from all around the world joining its ranks.

The Law School is widely known for its fair and objective admissions policy and rigorous, practical approach to legal education. As a result of this, it has earned a place in American legal education as well as producing more than 20,000 graduates who are employed in various fields, ranging from private law practice, corporations, legislatures, and government agencies to prosecutors and defender offices, public interest groups, and academia.

WMU-Cooley provides the nation's most comprehensive accredited program for part-time legal education. As a result, their graduates are among the best-prepared individuals in law. Their graduates have become supreme court justices, judges, governors, members of Congress, and other prominent lawyers in the field. WMU-Cooley offers an unparalleled education and sets the highest standards for legal professionals today.

Admissions

At Thomas M. Cooley Law School, they make sure that their students have a wide range of options for their education. They offer both full-time and part-time programs so that students can choose the option that works best for them. Their campuses are available year-round, plus they have accelerated classes and weekend classes if needed. If you're not sure about applying to law school or just beginning the application process, then please take the time to read some of the excellent pre-law articles found here.

Statistics

Admissions Stats
Class of:	2023-2025	2024-2025
25th - 50th - 75th percentile LSAT	146-148-151	146-147-151
25th - 50th - 75th percentile GPA	2.71-3.07-3.42	2.86-3.15-3.49
Acceptance rate	48.2%	47.6%
Applications received	1207	1162
Acceptances	557	553
Matriculants	145	139

Thomas M. Cooley Law School’s 2025 admissions statistics reflect a year of modest shifts in both applicant volume and academic indicators, painting a clearer picture of how the program is positioning itself within the broader legal education landscape. For the 2024–2025 class, the 25th to 75th percentile LSAT scores remain consistent at 146 to 151, showing only a subtle refinement from the previous cycle’s 146 to 151 range, while the corresponding GPA range shows a more noticeable rise from 2.71–3.42 to 2.86–3.49, suggesting that incoming students demonstrated slightly stronger academic performance. Applications dipped from 1,207 the prior year to 1,162, yet the number of acceptances held nearly steady at 553 compared to 557, which resulted in a marginal decrease in the acceptance rate from 48.2 percent to 47.6 percent, signaling slightly increased selectivity despite the smaller applicant pool. Matriculants decreased as well, moving from 145 to 139, indicating either increased competition among law schools for admitted students or shifting enrollment decisions among applicants. Altogether, these updates for 2025 highlight a school that’s maintaining stability in admissions while gradually raising the academic profile of its incoming class.

Application Requirements

To attend Thomas M. Cooley Law School, you must complete several steps and tasks. The process requires you to study for and take the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT). You will then be required to open an account with LSAC's Credential Assembly Service, which is a service that receives and processes your college transcripts. This is followed by a requirement to revise or create a resume that best reflects your qualifications, experiences, and skills. Once you have completed this step, you need to write a Personal Statement - a brief essay explaining why you wish to attend law school and how it fits in with your plans and goals. Following this, you must pay the various application fees associated with LSAC. If applicable, you will also need to prepare a Diversity Statement to provide schools with additional background information about your unique experiences and characteristics. Once these tasks are completed and submitted, the last step is to review and submit your application. Applying to Thomas M.

Tuition and Financial Aid

For the 2025 academic year, Thomas M. Cooley Law School outlines tuition and financial aid expectations that help students understand both the cost of attendance and the support available to them. Tuition for new J.D. students is set at 1,665 dollars per credit hour, which places a full 30-credit year at approximately 49,950 dollars before considering additional expenses. When you factor in housing, books, transportation, personal costs, and campus-specific fees, the estimated annual cost of attendance can reach more than 78,000 dollars for students taking a standard full course load. Lighter course loads lower these totals proportionally, with an 18-credit year costing just under 30,000 dollars in tuition and an estimated overall cost of about 53,000 dollars. Cooley offers a range of financial aid options, including federal unsubsidized loans, federal Grad PLUS loans, work-study opportunities, and institutional grants and scholarships. Around 60 percent of students receive grant assistance, with award amounts commonly averaging more than 14,000 dollars per year.

• Tuition: 1,665 dollars per credit hour
• Estimated yearly tuition (30 credits): 49,950 dollars
• Estimated yearly cost of attendance with living expenses: about 78,000 dollars
• Tuition for lighter course load (18 credits): 29,970 dollars
• Estimated yearly cost of attendance for 18 credits: about 53,000 dollars
• Federal unsubsidized loan annual limit: 20,500 dollars
• Additional aid options: Grad PLUS loans, scholarships, grants, work-study
• Percentage of students receiving grants: about 60 percent
• Typical yearly grant amount: about 14,000 dollars

Cost of Attendance

For the 2025 academic year, Thomas M. Cooley Law School outlines a cost of attendance that reflects both tuition and the real-life expenses students manage while pursuing a J.D. program. Tuition is set at 1,665 dollars per credit hour, which places a standard 30-credit academic year at about 49,950 dollars. When you add estimated living expenses such as housing, food, books, transportation, and personal costs, the full annual cost of attendance can reach roughly 78,082 dollars for a full-time student. Those taking a lighter 18-credit load see their tuition drop to 29,970 dollars, with total yearly costs estimated around 53,006 dollars. These figures help students plan realistically and understand the financial commitment required before factoring in scholarships, grants, federal unsubsidized loans, or Grad PLUS loans that may cover remaining need.

2025 Estimated Cost of Attendance Breakdown

Category	Full-Time (30 Credits)	Part-Time (18 Credits)
Tuition	49,950 dollars	29,970 dollars
Books & Supplies	2,000 dollars (approx.)	1,500 dollars (approx.)
Housing & Food	20,000 dollars (approx.)	14,000 dollars (approx.)
Transportation	3,000 dollars	2,500 dollars
Personal Expenses	3,132 dollars	2,036 dollars
Fees	— included in estimates —	— included in estimates —
Total Estimated Cost of Attendance	78,082 dollars	53,006 dollars

Loans

For students at Cooley, federal student loans remain a primary option to help finance law school. The base loan available is the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan, and many students also rely on the Federal Direct Grad PLUS Loan (or equivalent private-loan alternatives) to cover costs beyond what the unsubsidized loan or grants cover. Cooley processes federal aid such that students receive federal loan disbursements every two terms (about every eight months), assuming eligibility and loan acceptance procedures are complete.

2025 Loan Options and Key Limits at Thomas M. Cooley Law School

Loan Type / Category	What It Covers / Conditions	Annual Loan Limit*	Aggregate / Lifetime Limits / Notes
Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan	Used for tuition, fees, living costs, books, and general law-school expenses	Up to 20,500 dollars per academic year (if budget permits)	Lifetime limit of 138,500 dollars including prior undergraduate and graduate unsubsidized loans
Federal Direct Grad PLUS Loan	Covers remaining cost of attendance beyond grants, scholarships, and unsubsidized loans	Up to the full cost of attendance minus other aid	No aggregate cap under current federal rules

What to Know if You Borrow at Cooley

• You must submit the FAFSA and then accept your award through Cooley’s internal financial-aid portal before receiving federal loans.
• Federal loan disbursements usually occur around the third week of the semester once all required documents and eligibility steps are completed.
• Because the unsubsidized loan cap doesn’t fully cover law-school costs, many students rely on Grad PLUS or private loans to fill the remaining cost of attendance.
• The lifetime borrowing limit for federal unsubsidized loans is 138,500 dollars, which includes all previous undergraduate and graduate unsubsidized borrowing.
• Students should budget realistically and consider scholarship aid, grants, income-based repayment plans, or loan-forgiveness programs when planning long-term finances.

Academics

Cooley was one of the pioneers in the movement (particularly in the lower tiers) to make a legal education a more "hands-on" and less theoretical experience. Unlike many schools, nearly the entire first two years of the curriculum are pre-set at Cooley; not until the second semester of the second year does a student have an opportunity to take a true elective course. In addition to the typical mandated courses like Contracts and Torts, Cooley requires students to take classes such as Wills, Estates, & Trusts and Secured Transactions - again, with the goal being to give each student a firm grounding in understanding the day-to-day operations he/she is likely to encounter in future employment.

Cooley's reputation in the academic community is hardly stellar: in the most recent USNWR rankings, the school received a peer-review score of 1.4, and a lawyers/judges-review score of 1.8 (both out of 5). The school also has one of the highest student-to-faculty ratios in the country, at 23.5. This last statistic contributes to the idea of Cooley as a "degree mill" - a school that denies its students the personal experience offered at many smaller schools. The curve at Cooley is very tough - so much so that 22.4% of 1Ls and 14.5% of 2Ls either choose to leave or flunk out. Even 3Ls are not safe, as 14 of them were forced to leave last year.

Clinics

Thomas M. Cooley Law School provides students with the opportunity to gain valuable real-world legal practice experience before graduation. This is done through various clinical offerings available to all students enrolled in the school. Through these clinics, students will gain hands-on legal experience, which is essential for those looking to pass the bar exam and successfully practice law.

The clinics available at Thomas M. Cooley Law School range from criminal defense to immigration law. They are offered through an internal law firm of students who work under the supervision of experienced faculty members. Students may also participate in an externship with a practicing attorney or judge, allowing them to gain even more experience in the field.

Thanks to Thomas M. Cooley Law School’s comprehensive clinic program, students can hone their legal skills and gain confidence in the courtroom before graduation. With real-world experience under their belts, they can enter the legal profession with an edge over other law school graduates. They can confidently practice law, knowing they have the knowledge and experience to do so effectively.

By participating in Thomas M. Cooley Law School’s clinics, students can gain invaluable legal experience that will prepare them for a successful career as an attorney. The school’s curriculum is designed to ensure that all students have a class in every subject tested on the bar examinations in all fifty states. Hence, they are fully prepared to pass the bar exam and confidently begin their career. With the real-world experience gained through these clinics, Thomas M. Cooley Law School students have an advantage that sets them up for success as practicing attorneys.

Moot Court

Thomas M. Cooley Law School offers an incomparable moot court experience that enables students to hone the skills required to become successful litigators. Not only do participants perfect their public speaking abilities, but they also gain the confidence and ability to think quickly and accurately in opposition to an adversary. Moreover, each participant attains a deep understanding of appellate court practice, which is helpful for employers.

The school's competitors are split into two main categories: the First-Year Competition and the Intra-School Moot Court Competition. In the former, first-year students from each of Cooley's five campuses compete against one another in an academic setting to demonstrate their fundamental understanding of legal theory and procedure. The Intra-School Moot Court Competition involves upper-level students who have already taken the first-year course in appellate practice. This is a more competitive setting as each team is expected to possess an extensive knowledge of legal theories, statutes, and case law. Ultimately, both competitions are designed to prepare WMU-Cooley's students for the real-world courtroom.

Mock Trial

WMU-Cooley Law School’s Mock Trial program is one of the school’s most hands-on and competitive experiential learning opportunities, giving students a true courtroom experience long before they enter actual practice. The program emphasizes practical trial advocacy, evidence application, persuasive speaking, and the development of a confident courtroom presence, allowing participants to learn by doing rather than relying solely on theory. Students work closely with faculty coaches and experienced practitioners who guide them through case strategy, witness preparation, opening statements, cross-examinations, and closing arguments. Many participants go on to compete in regional and national invitational competitions, where Cooley’s mock-trial teams have a history of strong performances, including top-five showings at large national events. Because mock trial operates like a performance-based team, it requires dedication, teamwork, and extensive preparation, making it a respected and impactful part of Cooley’s skill-building curriculum.

Externships

Thomas M. Cooley Law School provides a comprehensive externship program to its students, helping them to prepare for successful legal careers by providing real-world experience in law. Through the externship program, Cooley students have access to almost 3,000 practicing lawyers and judges from around the globe. These mentors provide valuable insight into the nuances of the legal profession, as well as provide direct supervision and evaluation of student externs. In addition to these mentorships, Cooley faculty provide classroom training to ensure that students have a strong foundation of theoretical knowledge to supplement their practical experience. This combined approach equips Cooley graduates with the necessary skill set to excel in any legal challenge they may face. With the expansive opportunities provided through Cooley's externship program, students can be sure that they will receive the best possible preparation for a successful legal career.

Quality of Life

Thomas M. Cooley Law School offers many great features for students looking to attend law school. The school has extreme flexibility, with students able to choose between full and part-time study options as well as the chance to take classes on the weekends or evenings should their schedule require it. They can also begin their studies in May, September, or January. Another significant factor is the location of Cooley; located in Lansing (population 113,968), the cost-of-living is significantly lower than the average, and there are plenty of activities to do in Lansing, such as museums, a zoo, and minor-league sports teams. For those who want more amenities, Detroit is only 80 miles away, a reasonable distance for weekend trips. In this way, Cooley Law School offers the best of both worlds: affordability and convenience. This makes it an ideal choice for someone pursuing a law degree.

Employment Prospects and Bar Passage

Employment prospects and bar passage outcomes are two of the most important measures of a law school’s real-world results, and they offer a clear view of how well graduates are positioned to enter the legal profession. For WMU-Cooley, recent data highlights both the opportunities available to graduates and the significant challenges they may face after completing their J.D. program.

2025 Bar Passage

WMU-Cooley’s 2025 bar passage picture reflects ongoing challenges that have followed the school for several years. Recent first-time bar exam performance has remained well below national and state averages, with pass rates hovering around the upper 30-percent range for new test takers. Historical data also shows that some graduating classes fall short of the American Bar Association’s required two-year “ultimate” bar passage benchmark, with prior cohorts posting rates in the mid-50-percent range. These results have serious implications for students who plan to become licensed attorneys, since multiple bar attempts increase both financial and emotional strain. Because bar performance has not improved sufficiently, the ABA has placed WMU-Cooley on probation, signaling heightened oversight and the expectation of substantial improvement. For prospective students, the bar passage rate is a critical factor to consider, since it directly affects the ability to practice law after graduation.

2025 Employment Prospects

Employment outcomes for recent WMU-Cooley graduates present a mixed but often difficult picture for students entering the job market. A significant portion of each graduating class does secure some form of employment, with around three-quarters of graduates finding work in full-time, part-time, short-term, or long-term positions combined. However, the percentage of graduates landing jobs that actually require bar passage remains modest compared to many other ABA-accredited law schools, with fewer than half of graduates securing attorney-track roles. Many employed graduates instead find themselves in J.D.-advantage, business, government, public-interest, or other professional positions that don’t require a law license. Opportunities in large firms, federal clerkships, and other highly competitive positions are rare. These trends show that while WMU-Cooley graduates can and do find work, the stability, long-term security, and earning potential associated with traditional legal roles are not guaranteed, making employment prospects an important consideration for students evaluating the school.

Synopsis

Like most tier four schools, Cooley has its major drawbacks. Though less expensive than some schools, graduates still leave a substantial average debt; the fact that so many alumni have difficulty securing high-salaried jobs casts doubt on the prudence of the investment. The school's reputation is also of dubious distinction, a fact likely to bother certain students. Cooley graduates do report, however, feeling well prepared for the trade of being a lawyer - a sentiment not always echoed at higher-ranked schools. However, the questionable value of a full-price degree from Cooley cannot be understated, especially in the current state of the economy. Any prospective Cooley students should consider applying for any available merit scholarships in order to defray the cost of attendance - and subsequent risk.

Contact Information

Admissions Office
Thomas M. Cooley Law School
PO Box 13038
Lansing, MI 48901
admissions@cooley.edu
(517) 371-5140, ext. 2244

Summary

Established	1972
Location	Lansing, MI 48901
Dean	JAMES MCGRATH
2025 US News Ranking	178th-195th
LSAT Median Score	147
GPA Median Score	3.15
Bar Passage Rate	37.3% (2025)
Employment Rate	N/A (2025)
Cost	$N/A
Average Debt	N/A
Application Deadline	N/A

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Reference

LSD Law
Ranked 178-195
Guide to Fee Waivers
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