University of New Mexico School of Law

University of New Mexico School of Law

North America Schools

The University of New Mexico School of Law is a top-tier public law school located in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It was founded in 1947 and is the state’s only law school. The school offers a Juris Doctor degree program, as well as several joint degrees, master’s degrees, and certificates. It has a strong focus on public service and social justice, with an emphasis on Native American Law, Public Interest Law and International Law. The curriculum is diverse, offering courses in areas such as criminal law, environmental law, family law and civil rights. The faculty is highly accomplished and includes many prominent judges and lawyers from around the world. The school also offers numerous clinics that provide real-world experience for students to gain hands-on legal experience. It also has an active student body with numerous organizations dedicated to various areas of legal practice.

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

Established: 1947
School type: Public
Dean: Sergio Pareja
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.
Enrollment: 347
Faculty: 34 (full time)
USNWR ranking: 91st (2023)
Bar pass rate: 92%

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Ranking: University of New Mexico

University of New Mexico School of Law is ranked highly in many areas. According to U.S. News & World Report, the school is ranked #135 out of 204 for its overall law program in 2020. The school’s Legal Writing program is ranked #5 and its Part-Time Program is ranked #68 out of 167 programs. The school also ranks well in the areas of clinical training and practical skills, with a rank of #51 and #56 respectively. Additionally, the school has been recognized as having one of the most diverse student bodies in the nation, ranking #24 out of 194 schools surveyed by U.S. News & World Report for diversity among first-year law students in 2020. This commitment to diversity ensures that students will be exposed to different perspectives throughout their studies and better prepares them for a career in law. The faculty at UNM School of Law are also highly regarded; they are committed to providing students with an excellent education and have an average professor-to-student ratio of 1:12, which allows for more individualized instruction and guidance from professors who have both expertise and experience in their respective fields.

Top Law Schools of 2020
Score 45
Peer assessment score (5.0 highest) 2.5
Assessment score by lawyers/judges (5.0 highest) 2.8
25th-75th percentile GPA scores for all students 3.04-3.61
25th-75th percentile LSAT scores for all students 150-157
Overall acceptance rate 25.0%
Student/faculty ratio 11.0
Graduates employed at graduation 62.4%
Graduates known to be employed nine months after graduation 99.2%
School’s bar passage rate for first-time test takers 87.8%
State where the greatest number of first-time test takers took the bar NM
Statewide bar passage rate for first-time test takers 82.9%

Tuition & Scholarships: University of New Mexico

The University of New Mexico School of Law offers a variety of tuition and scholarship options to help make a legal education affordable. First-year students can take advantage of the UNM Law Scholarship, which awards up to $4,000 per year in financial aid. This scholarship is available to all incoming first-year students who meet the criteria and demonstrate academic merit. In addition, there are numerous other scholarships available through the school, including the Dean’s Scholarship, which provides full tuition to one student each year. For those who qualify, there are also federal loan programs available that can help cover the cost of tuition and other expenses associated with law school. The school also offers need-based grants that can provide additional financial assistance to those in need. Finally, students may also be eligible for private loans or grants from outside organizations or employers that can help cover some or all of their educational costs.

Financial Aid Office Information
Financial aid application deadline 02/15
Financial aid director Susan L. Mitchell
Financial aid telephone (505) 277-0572
2019-2020 Expenses
Tuition In-state, full-time: $11,593 per year; Out-of-state, full-time: $25,693 per year
Room and board $8,180
Books $1,082
Miscellaneous expenses $4,884
Is the tuition the same for first-, second-, and third-year students? Yes
Does the university offer housing restricted to law students? No
Does the university offer graduate student housing for which law students are eligible? No
Does the university offer a public-interest scholarship program to current J.D. students? No
2019 Grants
Percentage of full-time students receiving grants of less than one-half tuition 10.4%
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 2.0%
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 10.4%
Percentage of part-time students receiving grants of full tuition N/A
Percentage of full-time students receiving grants of more than full tuition 3.2%
Percentage of part-time students receiving grants of more than full tuition N/A
25th percentile grant amount of aid per full-time recipient $4,000
Median grant amount of aid per full-time recipient (50th percentile) $10,560
75th percentile grant amount of aid per full-time recipient $10,560
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 $36,066
Proportion who borrowed 72.8%
Does the school offer a loan repayment assistance program for 2019 J.D. graduates? No

University of New Mexico School of Law