American University Washington College of Law
American University · Washington, DC
The school received 5,952 applications for a first-year class of 405, and 69.4% of the class of 2025 held full-time, long-term bar-passage jobs.
- 33.28% Acceptance rate More selective than 56% of schools
- 162 Median LSAT Beats 63% of schools
- 3.63 Median GPA Beats 43% of schools
- 86.6% First-time bar pass Beats 61% of schools
About
About American University Washington College of Law
American University Washington College of Law (AUWCL) is a private, ABA-approved law school in Washington, D.C., and part of American University. Founded in 1896 by Ellen Spencer Mussey and Emma Gillett, it became the first law school in the world established by women. Located at American University’s Tenley Campus, AUWCL offers a Juris Doctor (JD) program that typically takes three years full-time or four years part-time. Its other degree offerings include Master of Laws (LLM), an online Master of Legal Studies (MLS), and Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD) programs.
The law school provides academic programs in international and comparative law, human rights, intellectual property, health law, and trial advocacy. Students can gain practical experience through live-client clinics, externships, advocacy competitions, and simulation-based courses. Its location in the nation’s capital offers proximity to federal agencies, courts, law firms, nonprofit organizations, and international institutions. Through its academic curriculum, experiential learning opportunities, and flexible study options, American University Washington College of Law prepares students for careers in private practice, government, public interest law, and other legal fields.
At a glance
- Location
- Washington, DC
- Type
- Private
- Part of
- American University
- JD students
- 1,199
- Full-time faculty
- 72
- Program
- Full-time and part-time
Admissions
33.28% of applicants were admitted
5,952 applications, 1,981 offers, and 20.2% of those admitted enrolled.
Key takeaway: Applications rose from 4,286 in 2017 to 5,952 in 2025, after a peak of 6,737 in 2021.
LSAT and GPA of the entering class
LSAT 25th · median · 75th: 157 · 162 · 163
GPA 25th · median · 75th: 3.32 · 3.63 · 3.75
The blue band is the middle 50% of the fall-2025 entering class. The line is the median. 4 first-year students were admitted with a GRE score. 0 were admitted with a JD-Next score. 400 of the 1,981 admitted students enrolled. The first-year class of 405 also includes 5 other first-year enrollees.
Data ranks: acceptance rate #86 of 196, median LSAT #67 of 196 (tie), median GPA #109 of 196 (tie).
Applying and the academic calendar
- Application fee
- $70
- Application deadline
- March 1
- Financial aid deadline
- March 1
- Calendar
- Semesters
- Classes start in
- August
- Credits to graduate
- 86
Where is American University Washington College of Law trending?
9 entering classes, 2017–2025. Shaded band = middle 50% of the class. A gap means no figure was reported for that year.
Year-by-year numbers
| Fall | Applications | Acceptance | LSAT | GPA | First-year class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5,952 | 33.28% | 157 / 162 / 163 | 3.32 / 3.63 / 3.75 | 405 |
| 2024 | 5,216 | 39.78% | 155 / 160 / 163 | 3.37 / 3.61 / 3.73 | 412 |
| 2023 | 5,368 | 35.69% | 156 / 162 / 163 | 3.43 / 3.63 / 3.75 | 408 |
| 2022 | 5,559 | 33.77% | 156 / 162 / 163 | 3.30 / 3.61 / 3.73 | 396 |
| 2021 | 6,737 | 27.94% | 157 / 161 / 163 | 3.39 / 3.57 / 3.71 | 409 |
| 2020 | 5,153 | 36.35% | 154 / 160 / 162 | 3.22 / 3.51 / 3.65 | 355 |
| 2019 | 5,261 | 38.74% | 155 / 159 / 161 | 3.24 / 3.50 / 3.62 | 381 |
| 2018 | 4,435 | 48.57% | 155 / 158 / 160 | 3.08 / 3.43 / 3.58 | 463 |
| 2017 | 4,286 | 55.65% | 152 / 156 / 158 | 3.11 / 3.41 / 3.57 | 416 |
Students
1,199 JD students, 67.6% women
Students of color make up 39.8% of JD students in fall 2025, and 431 JD degrees were awarded in 2024-25.
Key takeaway: 7 of the 416 students who were in their first year in fall 2024 left the school during 2024-25 (1.7%), not counting transfers.
American University Washington College of Law enrolled 1,199 JD students in fall 2025. It awarded 431 JD degrees in 2024-25.
- Women 67.6%
- Men 32.4%
Race and ethnicity
| Group | Students | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Hispanic of any race | 179 | |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 0 | |
| Asian | 144 | |
| Black or African American | 93 | |
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 0 | |
| Multiracial | 61 | |
| All students of color | 477 | |
| White | 673 | |
| Race and ethnicity unknown | 49 |
First-year students who left or transferred out, 2024-25
| Why they left | Students | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Academic reasons | 2 | 0.5% |
| Other reasons | 5 | 1.2% |
| Transferred to another law school | 51 | 12.3% |
Out of 416 first-year students enrolled in fall 2024. Upper-level students who left: 0 of 814 (0.0%). 13 students transferred in, with first-year GPAs of 3.04 / 3.21 / 3.37 (25th / median / 75th).
Try it
Where do your numbers fall?
See where your LSAT and GPA sit against the school's fall-2025 class. This shows position only, not your odds.
Key takeaway: The median LSAT is 162 and the median GPA is 3.63, and the middle 50% of the class had 157–163 and 3.32–3.75.
:
LSAT 25th · median · 75th: 157 · 162 · 163
:
GPA 25th · median · 75th: 3.32 · 3.63 · 3.75
Shaded band = middle 50% of the fall-2025 class; line = median.
Jobs · Class of 2025
69.4% in bar-passage jobs
399 graduates, status on March 16, 2026. 69.4% held full-time, long-term bar-passage jobs.
Key takeaway: In full-time, long-term jobs, 37.1% of graduates joined law firms, and 13.5% took a state or local clerkship.
0.5% of graduates (2) held school-funded jobs. They raise the headline rate, so Lexinter's main job figure leaves them out and shows them separately.
- Bar-passage jobs282
- School-funded jobs2
- JD-advantage jobs55
- Other jobs5
- Further study4
- Seeking work40
- Unknown, not seeking or deferred11
Full-time, long-term jobs by number of lawyers at the firm.
- Bar-passage jobs, not school-funded
- Firms of 501+ lawyers
- Federal clerkships
Jobs by sector
| Sector | Share | Nationally |
|---|---|---|
| Law firms | 37.1% | |
| State, local & international clerkships | 13.5% | |
| Government | 13.3% | |
| Business & industry | 10.5% | |
| Public interest | 5.5% | |
| Education | 1.5% | |
| Federal clerkships | 1.0% |
Clerkships by type
| Type | Graduates | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Federal | 4 | 1.0% |
| State or local | 54 | 13.5% |
| International | 0 | 0.0% |
Top states for jobs
- District of Columbia 134
- Maryland 51
- New York 30
- Outside the U.S.6
Bar passage
86.6% pass on their first try
2025 exams: 317 of 366 first-time takers passed, 2.3 points above the average for the same jurisdictions.
Key takeaway: The first-time pass rate was above the average in the District of Columbia and Maryland and below it in New York.
- American
- Average in the same jurisdictions
Compared with the average in each place
| Jurisdiction | Takers | Rate | Avg. | Diff. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | 199 | 88.9% | 87.5% | +1.4 |
| New York | 45 | 82.2% | 87.3% | −5.0 |
| Maryland | 43 | 88.4% | 73.0% | +15.4 |
| Virginia | 23 | 78.3% | 81.6% | −3.3 |
| 20 other jurisdictions | 56 | 83.9% | 80.4% | +3.5 |
Cost & aid
About $103,004 a year before aid
The school reported no conditional scholarships, which depend on keeping a set GPA or class rank.
Key takeaway: 59% of students receive a grant, and the median grant is $40,000 a year.
- Grants: 25th percentile $40,000, median $40,000, 75th percentile $40,000 a year.
- Tuition and fees minus the median grant: about $29,172 a year. A rough guide only, since grants vary by student.
- Living costs (school estimate): on campus $29,094, off campus $33,832, at home $33,832.
Faculty & classes
17.1 JD students per full-time faculty member in 2024-25
In 2024-25, the school had 72 full-time faculty members and 258 who were not full-time.
Key takeaway: Students filled 181 law clinic positions in 2024-25, 15 for every 100 JD students.
- Full-time faculty: 55.6% women, 40.3% people of color.
- Librarians: 5 full-time, 1 part-time.
- 306 course titles offered beyond the first year.
- Teachers, class sizes and hands-on courses are for the 2024-25 academic year.
Students per section; legal research and writing not counted.
Students per section.
Alumni
American University Washington College of Law Alumni on Lexinter
Practicing attorneys who earned their law degree at American University Washington College of Law. Each name links to the lawyer's full Lexinter profile.
Elliott AldermanAlderman IP · Washington, Washington, D.C.Business- Les AldermanAlderman, Devorsetz & Hora PLLC · Washington, Washington, D.C.Civil Rights
- Angela R. AltieriPreviant Law Firm, S.C. · Milwaukee, WisconsinEmployment
- Kristin H. AltoffMorgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP · Washington, Washington, D.C.Intellectual Property
- Shannon L.C. AmmonMorgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP · Wilmington, DelawareEmployment
- Philip M. AndrewsKramon & Graham, P.A. · Baltimore, MarylandEmployment
- Dov ApfelLevin & Perconti · Chicago, IllinoisPersonal Injury
- Joshua A. ApfelrothProskauer Rose LLP · New York City, New YorkBusiness
- Eleanor B. AtkinsMcDermott Will & Schulte · Washington, Washington, D.C.Intellectual Property
- Joseph AvanzatoAdler Pollock & Sheehan P.C. · Providence, Rhode IslandBankruptcy
- Alexander A. BaehrSummit Law Group · Seattle, WashingtonBusiness
- Charles S. Baldwin IVBrooks, Pierce, McLendon, Humphrey & Leonard, LLP · Wilmington, North CarolinaBusiness
Keep exploring
Compare with similar schools
The schools whose median LSAT and GPA are closest to this school's.
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University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of LawSC · LSAT 162 · GPA 3.67 - Tulane University Law SchoolLA · LSAT 161 · GPA 3.67
- Brooklyn Law SchoolNY · LSAT 161 · GPA 3.59
- Lewis & Clark Law SchoolOR · LSAT 161 · GPA 3.59
- Catholic University Columbus School of LawDC · LSAT 161 · GPA 3.68
- University of Oregon School of LawOR · LSAT 160 · GPA 3.62
- Law schools in District of Columbia
- Other schools
- American
Median LSAT (across) against median GPA (up) for 196 ABA-approved schools, fall-2025 entering classes.
Hover over a dot to see the school.
FAQ
What is the acceptance rate at American University Washington College of Law?
American University Washington College of Law had an acceptance rate of 33.28% for the Fall 2025 entering class. The school received 5,952 completed applications and offered admission to 1,981 applicants.
What LSAT score do you need for American University Washington College of Law?
The median LSAT score for the Fall 2025 entering class was 162. The 25th percentile LSAT score was 157, while the 75th percentile was 163.
What GPA do you need to get into American University Washington College of Law?
The median undergraduate GPA for the Fall 2025 entering class was 3.63. The 25th percentile GPA was 3.32, and the 75th percentile was 3.75. The law school does not specify a minimum undergraduate GPA for admission.
Does American University Washington College of Law accept the GRE?
Yes. American University Washington College of Law accepts both LSAT and GRE scores for JD admissions. Applicants must submit a qualifying score obtained within the previous five years.
Does American University Washington College of Law offer a part-time JD program?
Yes. American University Washington College of Law offers a part-time evening JD program designed for students balancing law school with professional and personal commitments. The program typically requires four academic years plus two summer sessions, compared with three academic years for the full-time JD program.
What is the bar passage rate at American University Washington College of Law?
American University Washington College of Law reported a first-time bar passage rate of 86.61% for the 2025 reporting year. Of the 366 first-time bar exam takers, 317 passed. The rate includes eligible graduates from 2025 and earlier graduating classes who took the examination for the first time.