Columbia University Law School

Columbia University Law School

North America Schools

Columbia Law School is a prestigious and highly ranked institution located in the heart of New York City. It is renowned for its rigorous academic standards and innovative teaching methods, which have earned it the reputation of being one of the top law schools in the United States. At Columbia, students can choose from a variety of concentrations, including corporate law, international law, environmental law, human rights law, tax law and more. Columbia Law School also offers a variety of degree programs such as a three-year J.D., LL.M., and S.J.D programs as well as joint degree programs with other institutions. In addition to its renowned faculty members and cutting-edge research centers, Columbia Law School also provides exceptional opportunities for students to gain practical experience through clinics and externships with leading practitioners in their fields.

This page focuses on national rankings, acceptance rates, program costs, and merit-based scholarships of Columbia University Law School, an accredited law program in the United States. Should you be interested in official name and common abbreviation of Columbia University Law School, please follow this link: https://www.abbreviationfinder.org/acronyms/cu_columbia-university.html

Parent school: Columbia University in the City of New York
Established: 1858
School type: Private law school
Endowment: US $450 million (2018)
Parent endowment: $14.35 billion (2021)
Dean: Gillian Lester
Location: New York City, New York, U.S.
Enrollment: 1,244

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Ranking: Columbia University

Columbia University Law School is consistently ranked among the top law schools in the United States. According to U.S. News & World Report, it is currently ranked as the 3rd best law school in the country. The school has also been recognized for its excellent faculty, with several professors being awarded prestigious awards such as the Pulitzer Prize and MacArthur Fellowship. In addition to having a great faculty, Columbia also offers one of the best legal education programs in the world, with students able to take courses from a variety of disciplines, ranging from business law to international law and human rights. The school also has a large alumni network that includes prominent figures such as former President Barack Obama and Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Overall, Columbia’s rankings demonstrate its commitment to providing an excellent legal education and producing some of the most successful lawyers in the world.

Top Law Schools of 2020
Score 88
Peer assessment score (5.0 highest) 4.6
Assessment score by lawyers/judges (5.0 highest) 4.6
25th-75th percentile GPA scores for all students 3.58-3.82
25th-75th percentile LSAT scores for all students 170-175
Overall acceptance rate 14.8%
Student/faculty ratio 9.3
Graduates employed at graduation 98.8%
Graduates known to be employed nine months after graduation 98.8%
School’s bar passage rate for first-time test takers 94.8%
State where the greatest number of first-time test takers took the bar NY
Statewide bar passage rate for first-time test takers 76.7%

Tuition & Scholarships: Columbia University

Columbia University Law School offers a variety of tuition and scholarship options to help make a quality legal education more accessible. Tuition for the 2020-2021 academic year is $68,800 for the full-time J.D. program and $60,400 for the part-time J.D. program. Columbia Law School offers both merit and need-based scholarships to admitted students who demonstrate a commitment to public service, leadership, and academic excellence. Merit scholarships are awarded based on an applicant’s LSAT score, undergraduate GPA, and other factors such as extracurricular activities or community service. Need-based scholarships are determined through an analysis of the student’s financial circumstances in order to identify any financial need that may exist beyond what is provided by federal student loans or family contributions. To be considered for either type of scholarship, students must submit the CSS Profile application in addition to their admissions application. Additionally, Columbia Law School awards several special fellowships each year that provide tuition assistance and other benefits such as mentoring or summer internships for students who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to public interest work or community service during law school.

Financial Aid Office Information
Financial aid application deadline 03/01
Financial aid director Charles DeRubeis
Financial aid telephone (212) 854-7730
2019-2020 Expenses
Tuition Full-time: $45,674 per year
Room and board $15,820
Books $1,358
Miscellaneous expenses $3,555
Is the tuition the same for first-, second-, and third-year students? Yes
Does the university offer housing restricted to law students? Yes
Does the university offer graduate student housing for which law students are eligible? Yes
Does the university offer a public-interest scholarship program to current J.D. students? Yes
2019 Grants
Percentage of full-time students receiving grants of less than one-half tuition 33.1%
Percentage of part-time students receiving grants of less than one-half tuition N/A
Percentage of full-time students receiving grants of one-half tuition or more but less than full 8.8%
Percentage of part-time students receiving grants of one-half tuition or more but less than full N/A
Percentage of full-time students receiving grants of full tuition 2.4%
Percentage of part-time students receiving grants of full tuition N/A
Percentage of full-time students receiving grants of more than full tuition 2.4%
Percentage of part-time students receiving grants of more than full tuition N/A
25th percentile grant amount of aid per full-time recipient $5,000
Median grant amount of aid per full-time recipient (50th percentile) $10,200
75th percentile grant amount of aid per full-time recipient $23,000
25th percentile grant amount of aid per part-time recipient N/A
Median grant amount of aid per part-time recipient (50th percentile) N/A
75th percentile grant amount of aid per part-time recipient N/A
Indebtedness
Average indebtedness of 2019 graduates who incurred law school debt $125,320
Proportion who borrowed 76.7%
Does the school offer a loan repayment assistance program for 2019 J.D. graduates? Yes

Columbia University Law School