A Comprehensive Guide To UNT Dallas College Of Law
UNT Dallas College of Law was built to do one thing well: open the legal profession to people priced or tested out of it elsewhere. It is young, affordable, and unapologetically mission-driven.
This guide covers what a prospective applicant needs: the acceptance rate, LSAT and GPA numbers, tuition, bar passage, the school’s access mission, its accreditation history, and how it fits the Texas market. For broader context, see our Texas law schools hub and the national law school rankings.
The table below summarizes the key UNT Dallas Law admission and outcome numbers at a glance.
| Metric | UNT Dallas College of Law (recent data) |
|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | About 24.2% |
| Median LSAT | 153 (25th-75th: 151-156) |
| Median GPA | 3.41 (25th-75th: 3.18-3.66) |
| In-state tuition and fees | About $18,761 |
| Out-of-state tuition and fees | About $31,211 |
| First-time bar passage | About 72.5% (2024 graduates) |
| Application fee | None |
| Founded / full ABA accreditation | First class 2014 / full approval 2022 |
These figures come from recent ABA-509-aligned reporting and shift each admissions cycle. Confirm the current numbers on the school’s official ABA-509 disclosure before you apply.
What is the UNT Dallas College of Law acceptance rate?
The UNT Dallas College of Law acceptance rate is about 24.2% for the most recent entering class. The school received roughly 1,883 applications and extended about 456 offers of admission, enrolling 127 students. This makes UNT Dallas moderately selective, in line with the Texas law school average and more selective than the national average near 36%.
UNT Dallas admits about 1 in 4 applicants. That rate is typical for Texas law schools and reflects a mission to widen access rather than to maximize selectivity for its own sake.
Selectivity here works differently than at elite schools. UNT Dallas was founded in part to serve qualified students underserved by cost, location, or an over-reliance on the LSAT, so its admissions review weighs practical potential and life experience heavily alongside the numbers. Your odds depend more on your full profile than on the headline rate.
What LSAT score and GPA do you need for UNT Dallas Law?
To be competitive at UNT Dallas College of Law, aim for an LSAT score around the median of 153 and a GPA near 3.41. The middle 50% of admitted students scored between 151 and 156 on the LSAT and held GPAs between 3.18 and 3.66. These medians are lower than at elite schools, reflecting the school’s access mission.
The LSAT median of 153 is the target number. A 153 places you at the class midpoint, and scores in the low-to-mid 150s keep you firmly in range. The 25th percentile of 151 shows that scores near 150 remain viable with a strong overall file. Our guide to LSAT scores explains what each band means.
The GPA median of 3.41 is attainable for many applicants, and the wide 3.18-3.66 range signals real flexibility. UNT Dallas reviews applications holistically, weighing work experience, leadership, and personal background alongside the numbers, so a below-median score in one area can be offset by strength in another.
Strengthen your file in 3 ways. Prepare thoroughly for the LSAT, because even a few points shift your admission and scholarship odds; write a focused personal statement that connects to the school’s access mission; and highlight practical experience.
How much does UNT Dallas College of Law cost?
UNT Dallas College of Law costs about $18,761 per year for Texas residents and $31,211 for non-residents in tuition and fees, making it one of the most affordable ABA-accredited law schools in the country. There is no application fee, and about 61% of students receive grants or scholarships.
Affordability is the school’s defining feature. Its in-state tuition sits far below most law schools, and even the non-resident rate undercuts many private programs by tens of thousands of dollars per year. Keeping debt low is central to the school’s access mission.
The total cost of attendance stays comparatively modest. With living expenses added, the all-in yearly cost runs well below the six-figure territory common at elite schools. Roughly 61% of students receive some grant or scholarship aid, and the waived application fee removes one more barrier to applying. Compare typical figures in our guides to law school cost and the cheapest law schools.
What is the UNT Dallas College of Law bar passage rate?
UNT Dallas College of Law’s first-time bar passage rate is about 72.5% for 2024 graduates, with a two-year ultimate passage rate near 91.4% for 2022 graduates. The first-time rate sits below the Texas statewide average of roughly 75 to 79%, a gap the school works to close through academic support.
Bar passage is where prospective students should look most carefully. The first-time rate near 72.5% trails the Texas average, which reflects the school’s access mission of admitting students who might not qualify elsewhere, some of whom need more time to reach licensure.
The two-year ultimate rate tells a more encouraging story. At roughly 91.4%, it shows that the large majority of graduates who set out to become licensed attorneys eventually do, even if not all pass on the first attempt. Weigh both numbers honestly against your own preparation, and see our guide to bar exam passing rates for national context.
What is UNT Dallas College of Law known for?
UNT Dallas College of Law is known for being Dallas’s only public law school, for its access-and-affordability mission, for one of the lowest tuitions of any ABA school, and for an emphasis on practical, practice-ready training. It has also been recognized for exceptional student diversity.
The school’s identity rests on 4 pillars:
- Access mission: founded to widen entry to the profession for students underserved by cost, location, or an over-reliance on the LSAT.
- Affordability: among the lowest-cost ABA-accredited law schools in the nation, with no application fee.
- Practical training: a curriculum built around applied learning, clinics, externships, and simulation-based coursework in downtown Dallas.
- Diversity: recognized as one of the most diverse law student bodies in the country.
The location reinforces the mission. Sitting in downtown Dallas places students within steps of courts, firms, and agencies, supporting the externships and hands-on work the program emphasizes. The school was even redeveloped from a former municipal building the university purchased for one dollar.
Is UNT Dallas a good law school?
UNT Dallas is a good fit for the right student. It offers an affordable, ABA-accredited path into the Dallas-Fort Worth legal market with strong practical training and a diverse community. Its lower rankings and below-average first-time bar passage mean it suits students focused on regional practice and value rather than national prestige.
The value case is strong. For a student who wants to practice in Texas, especially the Dallas-Fort Worth region, UNT Dallas offers a low-debt route to a Juris Doctor, real courtroom-adjacent training, and connections to a major legal market. That combination is hard to match on cost.
The honest caveats matter too. The school is young, ranks in the lower national tier, and posts first-time bar passage below the Texas average, so it is not the choice for a student chasing a national biglaw career or maximum prestige. Judged on its own mission of access and regional value, it delivers.
What is the history of UNT Dallas College of Law?
UNT Dallas College of Law was authorized by the Texas Legislature in 2009 and enrolled its first class in 2014 as Dallas’s only public law school. The ABA denied it accreditation in 2016, granted provisional accreditation in 2017, and awarded full approval in February 2022, capping a closely watched path to recognition.
The school’s founding was deliberate and public. The Texas Legislature authorized it in 2009 with $5 million in start-up funding, and former federal judge Royal Furgeson became founding dean, launching an experiment in affordable, access-focused legal education when the first class entered in 2014.
The accreditation path was not smooth. The ABA denied accreditation in 2016, a serious early setback for an unconventional school, before granting provisional accreditation in 2017, which let graduates sit for the bar. Full ABA approval followed in February 2022, confirming the model’s viability. That history is part of why the school’s outcomes deserve a careful, current look.
What degree programs does UNT Dallas College of Law offer?
UNT Dallas College of Law offers the Juris Doctor (JD) as its core degree, available in a full-time three-year division and a part-time four-year division. The JD is a 90-credit-hour program built around practical, practice-ready training, and both divisions begin in the fall.
The JD is the school’s focus. The Juris Doctor program covers the foundational curriculum plus a strong emphasis on legal writing, advocacy, research, and professional development, all oriented toward workplace readiness rather than pure theory.
The two-division structure supports the access mission. The full-time division suits students who can devote themselves to study, while the part-time division is built for those balancing work or family, a design choice that fits the school’s goal of making a legal career attainable for more people. Applicants can apply to either division or both.
How does UNT Dallas compare to other Texas law schools?
UNT Dallas is the most affordable and access-focused of the Dallas-area law schools, but it ranks below Texas peers such as SMU Dedman and UT Austin on selectivity and bar passage. It competes on value and regional practice preparation rather than national prestige or elite outcomes.
Texas has a deep field of law schools, and UNT Dallas occupies a distinct niche within it. Against private neighbors like SMU Dedman or the flagship University of Texas at Austin, UNT Dallas trades ranking and selectivity for far lower cost and an explicit access mission.
Choose based on your goals and budget. For national prestige or biglaw recruiting, higher-ranked Texas schools have the edge; for an affordable, ABA-accredited route into Dallas-Fort Worth practice, UNT Dallas is compelling. Compare the full field through our Texas law schools hub, and see how another value-focused option compares in our guide to South Texas College of Law Houston.
How do you apply to UNT Dallas College of Law?
To apply to UNT Dallas College of Law, submit an application through LSAC with an LSAT or GRE score, a bachelor’s degree, a personal statement, and letters of recommendation by the March 15 deadline. There is no application fee. Target an LSAT near 153 and emphasize fit with the school’s access and practice-ready mission.
The application is holistic and accessible. Beyond the LSAT and GPA, the committee weighs professional experience, leadership, and personal background, and the waived application fee removes a common barrier. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution is required.
Apply early and apply with intent. Both divisions begin in the fall with a March 15 deadline, and early applicants can gain an edge on admission and scholarships. Use the personal statement to connect your goals to the school’s mission of access and regional service. Our guides on how to apply to law school and general law school requirements walk through the full process.
