The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law: Admissions, Cost, and the Value Case

Is Catholic University’s Columbus School of Law a good law school?

Yes, for the right applicant. Catholic Law ranks #71 in U.S. News, so it is not a prestige play; its real value is full access to legal Washington at tuition below GW and American, paired with strong certificate programs in technology and securities law. The honest catch is that bar passage and outcomes sit mid-pack.

Think of Catholic as the value door into the nation’s capital. It is more attainable than Georgetown or GW, costs less than either, and still sits minutes from the federal agencies, courts, and firms that define a Washington legal career.

If you want a brand name on the diploma, this is not your school. If you want D.C. access and a specialized, practice-heavy education without a top-25 price tag, it earns a serious look.

What is Catholic Law’s acceptance rate?

Catholic Law’s acceptance rate is 32.4% for the 2025 cycle. The enrolled class posted a median LSAT score of 161 and a median GPA of 3.68, with the middle 50% scoring between 158 and 163 on the LSAT.

That makes it moderately competitive: a realistic target for applicants in the high-150s to low-160s LSAT range with a GPA near 3.7. You can pressure-test your odds with our law school admission predictor.

How does Catholic Law compare to other Washington, D.C. law schools?

The District’s four main full-time J.D. programs sit at clearly different selectivity tiers. The table below uses each school’s 2025 ABA 509 admissions data; for the full picture, see our guide to law schools in Washington, D.C.

Catholic and American occupy the same accessible tier, well below Georgetown and GW on raw numbers. Where Catholic separates from American is on price and on its specialized certificate programs, which is the real reason to choose it.

How much does Catholic Law cost, and is it worth it?

Full-time tuition at Catholic Law is roughly $61,580 for 2025-26, with a total estimated cost of attendance near $86,670 a year once living expenses are added. That is the lowest sticker price among D.C.’s established private law schools, and a meaningful discount to GW.

Scholarships sharpen the value further: a large share of students receive awards covering half to full tuition. Be careful with conditional scholarships that require a minimum GPA or class rank, and read the renewal terms before you accept. Our guides to law school cost and law school scholarships walk through how to model your real number.

What is Catholic Law known for?

Catholic Law is known for specialized certificate programs and clinical training built around its D.C. location. Two programs anchor its identity: the Law and Technology Institute (formerly the Institute for Communications Law Studies) and the Securities and Corporate Law Program.

Law and Technology Institute

The Law and Technology Institute is one of the longest-running programs of its kind, covering telecommunications, data privacy, cybersecurity, intellectual property, and media law and policy. J.D. candidates earn a certificate by completing the curriculum plus externships, often at agencies like the FCC. It is a direct pipeline toward work as an intellectual property or technology lawyer.

Securities and Corporate Law Program

The Securities and Corporate Law Program is a certificate track combining coursework with externships at bodies such as the SEC. For students aiming at corporate law and transactional practice, it is a structured on-ramp into corporate and securities work.

Clinics and federal access

Catholic was an early adopter of clinical legal education through its Columbus Community Legal Services, which lets students represent real clients before graduation. Sitting minutes from the Capitol, the school routes students into externships at the FTC, SEC, FCC, and NLRB, the kind of federal exposure that is hard to get outside D.C.

What are Catholic Law’s bar passage and employment outcomes?

Catholic Law’s outcomes are solid but not elite, which is the fair trade-off for its accessibility. The first-time bar passage rate is 83.1%, ahead of Maryland’s 81.1% statewide rate, and about 93% of the most recent class was employed within ten months of graduation.

Those numbers reward applicants who use the school’s clinics, certificate programs, and D.C. externships aggressively. Catholic is a school where what you build matters more than the rank you start from.

Should you choose Catholic Law?

Choose Catholic Law if you want a Washington, D.C. legal education at the lowest price among the city’s established private schools, with real specialization in tech, communications, or securities law. It is an access-and-fit decision, not a prestige one.

If your numbers can reach Georgetown or GW and you value brand and outcomes above cost, aim higher and compare across the field using our best law schools on the East Coast and current law school rankings. Catholic awards the standard Juris Doctor (JD) over three years, with a part-time hybrid option for working students.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Catholic University’s Columbus School of Law a good law school?

Yes, for applicants who value access over prestige. It ranks #71 in U.S. News, but it offers full Washington, D.C. access, strong certificate programs in technology and securities law, and lower tuition than GW or American.

What is Catholic Law’s acceptance rate?

Catholic Law’s acceptance rate is 32.4% for the 2025 cycle. The enrolled class posted a median LSAT of 161 and a median GPA of 3.68, with a middle-50% LSAT range of 158 to 163.

How much does Catholic Law cost?

Full-time tuition is roughly $61,580 for 2025-26, with a total estimated cost of attendance near $86,670 a year. That is the lowest sticker price among D.C.’s established private law schools, and many students receive scholarships covering half to full tuition.

What is Catholic Law known for?

It is known for its Law and Technology Institute (formerly the Institute for Communications Law Studies), its Securities and Corporate Law Program, and its clinical training, all built around externships at federal agencies in Washington, D.C.

What is Catholic Law’s bar passage rate?

The first-time bar passage rate is 83.1%, ahead of Maryland’s 81.1% statewide rate. About 93% of the most recent graduating class was employed within ten months.

Is Catholic Law hard to get into?

It is moderately competitive. With a 32.4% acceptance rate and a 161 median LSAT, it is a realistic target for applicants in the high-150s to low-160s LSAT range with a GPA near 3.7.