Seton Hall Law School – A Good One?

Seton Hall Law sits eight miles west of Manhattan in downtown Newark, and that location defines the school. Students tap into the New Jersey and New York legal markets, the state and federal courthouses next door, and a loyal regional alumni network. It is a regionally dominant school rather than a national-brand one, which shapes who should apply.

This guide covers what Seton Hall Law is known for, how hard it is to get in, what it costs, what graduates achieve, and who it fits best. For the wider New Jersey picture, see our guide to the top law schools in New Jersey, and for national context, our law school rankings guide.

The table below summarizes the key numbers, all drawn from the most recent reporting cycle. The sections that follow explain each one.

These numbers tell a clear story: a moderately selective school with excellent bar and employment outcomes and a standout health law reputation. Here is the detail behind each figure.

What is Seton Hall Law School known for?

Seton Hall Law School is known for its top-ranked health law program, its strong part-time weekend JD, and its dominance of the New Jersey legal market. Home to the Center for Health and Pharmaceutical Law, it has ranked among the nation’s best health law programs for decades. It is the only private law school in New Jersey and the highest-ranked law school in the state.

Health law is Seton Hall’s signature strength. The school’s Center for Health and Pharmaceutical Law has kept its health law program ranked in the national top 12, and often the top 10, for years, making it one of the country’s leading destinations for students who want to practice healthcare, pharmaceutical, or compliance law. Our guide to health law and the path to becoming a health lawyer shows where that specialty leads.

The weekend JD sets it apart. Seton Hall runs one of the few hybrid weekend JD programs in the country, letting working students earn the degree on alternating weekends with online coursework in between. That program consistently ranks among the top part-time law programs nationally.

Regional reach is the third pillar. Seton Hall is deeply woven into the New Jersey bench and bar, and its graduates dominate state clerkships and fill firms and courts across the region. For students who want to build a career in New Jersey or the greater New York area, that network is a serious advantage.

The school also builds in emerging fields. Recent expansions into gaming, sports, and entertainment law, plus intellectual property and privacy compliance training, show a school broadening beyond its health law base. That range gives students more than one specialized path to follow.

How hard is it to get into Seton Hall Law School?

Seton Hall Law School is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate of about 34%. Admitted students have a median LSAT of 161 and a median GPA of 3.71, with middle-50% ranges of 158 to 164 on the LSAT and roughly 3.51 to 3.86 in GPA. Meeting or exceeding both medians gives an applicant a strong chance of admission.

Seton Hall admits about a third of its applicants. In the most recent cycle, roughly 2,714 people applied, about 930 were admitted, and about 300 enrolled, which puts the acceptance rate near 34%. That makes it selective but far from the longest-odds schools.

The LSAT is the strongest lever. With a median of 161 and a middle range of 158 to 164, a score at or above 161 positions an applicant well, while a score below 158 makes admission harder and usually requires a strong GPA or application to offset it. Our guide to LSAT scoring explains what these numbers mean, and our page on how to prepare for the LSAT lays out a study plan.

GPA matters too, but the LSAT usually weighs more. The median GPA of 3.71 and range of roughly 3.51 to 3.86 show that most admitted students were strong undergraduates, though a higher LSAT can help offset a GPA below the median. Applicants below the 25th percentile on both numbers face long odds.

The rest of the application still counts. A compelling personal statement, strong recommendations, relevant experience, and a clear reason for choosing Seton Hall can tip a borderline file, especially for applicants near the medians. Our guides to the law school application process and the personal statement cover how to strengthen these pieces.

What LSAT score do you need for Seton Hall Law?

You need an LSAT score of about 161 to be competitive at Seton Hall Law School, since that is the median for admitted students. A score of 164 or higher, the 75th percentile, makes you a strong candidate and improves scholarship odds, while a score below 158, the 25th percentile, usually requires a high GPA or standout application to overcome.

Target the median first. A 161 puts you right at the middle of the admitted class, which means a realistic shot at admission when paired with a solid GPA and application. Everything above that only helps.

Aim higher for money. Scores at or above the 75th percentile of 164 not only strengthen admission odds but also improve the chances of merit scholarships, which matter greatly given the school’s high sticker tuition. A few extra LSAT points can translate into tens of thousands of dollars in aid.

Below the 25th percentile is not hopeless but is harder. An LSAT under 158 usually needs a GPA above the median, a strong upward grade trend, meaningful work experience, or a compelling story to compensate. Retaking the LSAT to reach the median is often the highest-value move an applicant can make. Our full LSAT guide covers retake strategy.

How much does Seton Hall Law School cost?

Seton Hall Law School costs about $71,550 per year in full-time tuition for the 2025-2026 year, placing it in the higher-cost tier of law schools. However, about 90% of full-time students receive grants or scholarships, with an average award near $40,000, so most students pay significantly less than the sticker price. Total cost also includes fees and living expenses.

The sticker price is high, as at most private law schools. Full-time tuition of roughly $71,550 for 2025-2026, plus required fees, puts Seton Hall in the upper-cost group nationally. Over three years, sticker tuition alone can exceed $200,000 before living costs.

Scholarships change the real math. Because about 90% of full-time students receive grant or scholarship aid, and the average award is near $40,000, the net price most students actually pay is far below the sticker figure. Your LSAT and GPA relative to the medians heavily influence the size of your award.

Living costs add to the total. Newark is more affordable than Manhattan, and the school is two blocks from Penn Station Newark, which lets students commute from a range of neighborhoods, but room, board, books, and personal expenses still add roughly $22,000 to $28,000 per year. Our guide to law school costs explains how to compare net price across schools.

Weigh cost against outcomes. Given Seton Hall’s strong bar passage and employment numbers, especially for students staying in the region, the investment can pay off, but applicants should compare their likely net price and debt against realistic starting salaries. Our overview of law school scholarships covers how to maximize aid.

What are Seton Hall Law School’s bar passage and employment outcomes?

Seton Hall Law School posts strong outcomes: a first-time bar passage rate of about 87%, well above the national average, and a total employment rate of about 95% for the Class of 2024. Roughly 85% of graduates landed jobs requiring bar passage, and the school is nationally recognized for placing graduates into New Jersey state and local judicial clerkships.

Bar passage is a genuine strength. Seton Hall’s first-time pass rate of about 87% sits well above the national average, and its New Jersey first-time rate has run far ahead of the statewide average for all schools. The ultimate bar passage rate, measured within two years of graduation, has reached roughly 92%. Our guide to bar passing rates puts these figures in context.

Employment outcomes are excellent. About 95% of the Class of 2024 was employed, with roughly 85% in jobs requiring bar passage and another 6% in JD-advantage roles. For a regionally focused school, those are strong numbers that reflect the school’s tight ties to local employers.

Clerkship placement is a standout. Seton Hall has been ranked the top law school in the nation for securing state or local judicial clerkships, a reflection of its deep relationships with the New Jersey judiciary. A clerkship is a prized early-career credential, and few schools place graduates into them at Seton Hall’s rate.

Geography shapes the outcomes. Seton Hall graduates thrive in New Jersey and do well across the greater New York region, though students targeting Manhattan big-law jobs face more competition from higher-ranked schools. The school’s strength is regional depth, not national reach, which is exactly right for its likely applicants.

Is Seton Hall Law School a good school?

Yes, Seton Hall Law School is a good school, particularly for students who want to practice in New Jersey or the greater New York region. It ranks around #70 nationally, is the top law school in New Jersey, has a top-12 health law program, and posts bar passage and employment rates well above average. Its main limits are high cost and a regional rather than national reach.

The case for Seton Hall is strong for the right student. If you want to practice in New Jersey or the New York metro area, especially in health law, the school’s regional dominance, clerkship placement, and alumni network are genuine advantages that a higher-ranked but distant school may not match.

The honest caveats are cost and reach. The sticker tuition is high, so the value depends heavily on your scholarship award, and the school’s brand carries less weight outside the region, which matters if you plan to practice in another state or chase national big-law firms.

The verdict depends on fit. For a regionally focused student with an interest in health law or a need for a weekend program, Seton Hall is an excellent choice. For someone set on a distant national market at any cost, a different school may fit better. Compare it against peers like Rutgers Law and Fordham Law before deciding, and see our roundups of the best East Coast law schools and top Northeast law schools.

Who should apply to Seton Hall Law School?

Seton Hall Law School fits students who want to practice in New Jersey or the greater New York region, applicants interested in health law, pharmaceutical law, or compliance, and working professionals who need a weekend JD. Its numbers suit applicants with an LSAT near 161 and a GPA near 3.71 who value strong regional placement and bar passage over a national brand name.

The clearest fit is the regional careerist. A student who wants to build a legal career in New Jersey or the New York metro area gains the most from Seton Hall’s local dominance, courthouse ties, and alumni network, which convert directly into clerkships and jobs.

Health law hopefuls should look hard at it. Because of the Center for Health and Pharmaceutical Law and the top-12 program, students aiming at healthcare, pharma, or compliance careers find resources at Seton Hall that few schools of its rank can match.

Working professionals are a natural audience. The weekend JD makes Seton Hall one of the few options for someone who must keep a job while earning a law degree, and the part-time program’s strong national ranking means that flexibility does not come at the cost of quality.

Numbers-wise, the sweet spot is clear. Applicants with an LSAT at or above 161 and a GPA at or above 3.71 are strong candidates, and those a bit below can still compete with a compelling application, especially for the value that regional placement provides. If you are still choosing a path, our guides on how to become a lawyer and the Juris Doctor degree help you plan the journey, and our admission predictor helps you gauge your odds.

One group should think twice. An applicant set on national big-law in a distant market, or one who cannot secure meaningful scholarship aid against the high sticker tuition, may find better value elsewhere. Seton Hall rewards students who lean into its regional strength rather than fighting against it, so honest self-assessment about where you want to practice matters as much as your admission numbers do.