Notre Dame Law School Ranking: A Top-20 School with Top-10 Outcomes
Notre Dame Law School ranks #20 (tie) nationally in the 2026 U.S. News rankings. But its outcomes punch into the top 10: #5 in the nation for federal clerkships and #7 for overall employment, at 98.9%. The country’s oldest Catholic law school is selective, with a 16% acceptance rate, a 170 median LSAT, and a 3.89 median GPA, and it pairs genuinely national reach, rare for a Midwest school, with a service-oriented mission and the only year-long ABA-approved study-abroad program, based in London.
What is Notre Dame Law School’s ranking?
Notre Dame Law School ranks #20 (tie) out of 194 schools in the 2026 U.S. News Best Law Schools list, sharing the spot with Boston College. That places it just outside the T14 and among the strongest national law schools in the Midwest.
The overall number understates the school on outcomes. Notre Dame ranks #5 in the nation for federal clerkship placement (16.6% of graduates) and #7 for overall employment (98.9% within ten months), both top-10 results that several higher-ranked schools do not match.
So the honest read is that Notre Dame is a #20 school that performs like a top-10 one on the metrics that decide careers, particularly clerkships and employment.
Notre Dame Law acceptance rate, LSAT, and GPA
Notre Dame’s acceptance rate is 16.1% for the 2025 cycle, with 575 offers from 3,579 applications into a small first-year class of about 185. The enrolled class posted a median LSAT of 170 and a median GPA of 3.89.
| Notre Dame metric (2025 ABA 509) | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| LSAT | 166 | 170 | 171 |
| Undergraduate GPA | 3.78 | 3.89 | 3.95 |
The tight bands (a 5-point LSAT spread and a narrow GPA range) make Notre Dame a numbers-driven admit: at or above a 170 LSAT and a 3.89 GPA you are competitive, and a score below 166 is a meaningful obstacle. Check your standing with our law school admission predictor, and note that Notre Dame, as a mission-driven school, weighs fit and values alongside the numbers, so the personal statement matters here.
What is Notre Dame Law known for?
Notre Dame is known, first, as the nation’s leading Catholic law school. Founded in 1869, it is the oldest continuously operating Catholic law school in the United States, and its mission, training lawyers to serve others, runs explicitly through its admissions, curriculum, and culture.
A national school with a distinctive identity
Unlike most schools at its rank, Notre Dame places graduates nationally rather than regionally, carried by an alumni network students consistently rate among the most loyal and active in legal education. Its culture is notably collegial and cooperative, a frequent draw for applicants weary of cutthroat environments.
Constitutional law, religious liberty, and human rights
Academically, Notre Dame is a recognized center for constitutional law, religious liberty, and natural-law scholarship, with a faculty that includes a notable number of former U.S. Supreme Court clerks, a strong pipeline toward constitutional and appellate practice. Its Klau Institute supports a deep program in civil and human rights law.
The London program
Notre Dame also offers the only year-long, ABA-approved study-abroad program in the country, based in London, where students study the common-law roots of American law for a full academic year, a genuinely distinctive option no other U.S. law school matches.
Notre Dame Law bar passage and employment outcomes
Outcomes are Notre Dame’s strongest argument. The first-time bar passage rate is 92.2%, more than 12 points above the Illinois state average, and 98.9% of graduates were employed within ten months, the #7 rate in the country.
Clerkship placement is elite. Notre Dame ranks #5 nationally in federal clerkships, with 16.6% of graduates clerking, a rate that rivals the T14 and reflects both the faculty’s connections and the school’s appellate strength. The rest of the class spreads across large firms, government, and public-interest work, drawing on the national alumni network rather than a single regional market. For context, see the national law school rankings and the wider Indiana law schools landscape.
How much does Notre Dame Law cost?
Full-time tuition at Notre Dame is about $73,430 for 2025-26, with a total estimated cost of attendance near $97,000 a year once living expenses are included. That is a high sticker price, but aid blunts it sharply.
About 92% of students receive grant or scholarship funding, one of the highest rates among top law schools, and Notre Dame does not award conditional scholarships, so an award is not exposed to a first-year GPA renewal cliff. Model your real number with our guides to law school cost and law school scholarships.
Is Notre Dame Law School worth it?
For students who want national reach, elite clerkship and employment outcomes, and a values-driven community, Notre Dame is one of the strongest options outside the T14, and its top-10 outcomes make the #20 rank look conservative. The high aid rate keeps the cost reasonable for many admits.
The fit factor is real and worth naming. Notre Dame’s Catholic mission and service-oriented ethos shape the experience, so it suits applicants who value that environment more than those indifferent to it. The Juris Doctor is the standard three-year program, with dual-degree and the signature London options available. If the mission resonates and your numbers are in range, few schools at this rank deliver more.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Notre Dame Law School’s ranking?
Notre Dame Law School ranks #20 (tie) in the 2026 U.S. News Best Law Schools list. Its outcomes rank even higher, including #5 nationally for federal clerkships and #7 for overall employment.
What is Notre Dame Law’s acceptance rate?
Notre Dame’s acceptance rate is 16.1% for the 2025 cycle, with 575 offers from 3,579 applications. The enrolled class posted a median LSAT of 170 and a median GPA of 3.89.
Is Notre Dame a good law school for clerkships?
Yes, exceptionally. Notre Dame ranks #5 in the nation for federal clerkship placement, with 16.6% of graduates clerking, a rate that rivals the T14 and reflects its appellate and constitutional-law strength.
How much does Notre Dame Law cost?
Full-time tuition is about $73,430 for 2025-26, with a total estimated cost of attendance near $97,000 a year. About 92% of students receive grant aid, and Notre Dame does not award conditional scholarships.
What is Notre Dame Law known for?
It is the nation’s oldest continuously operating Catholic law school (founded 1869), known for a service-oriented mission, strong constitutional law and religious-liberty programs, a national alumni network, and the only year-long ABA-approved study-abroad program, in London.
Is Notre Dame Law School worth it?
For students seeking national reach, top-10 clerkship and employment outcomes, and a values-driven community, yes. Its Catholic mission is a genuine fit factor, so it suits applicants who value that environment.
Sources: Notre Dame Law School’s official ABA 509 and class-profile disclosures (2025 report; Fall 2025 entering class): 3,579 applications, 575 offers, 16.1% acceptance, LSAT 166/170/171, UGPA 3.78/3.89/3.95, tuition ~$73,430, ~92% receiving grant aid. Outcomes (98.9% employed at ten months, #7 nationally; 91.4% bar-required; 16.6% federal clerkships, #5 nationally; 92.2% first-time bar passage vs Illinois’s 79.8%) and clerkship/employment detail via LSAC LawHub. Ranking (#20 tie, 2026) per U.S. News. Founded 1869, the oldest continuously operating Catholic law school in the U.S.; only year-long ABA-approved study-abroad program (London). Reviewed by Lexinter Law Directory. Report a correction.
