Law Schools in District of Columbia
6 ABA-approved schools · ABA disclosures · updated November 2, 2026
District of Columbia has six ABA-approved law schools: one public and five private. Median LSAT scores for the class that entered in fall 2025 run from 151 at the University of the District of Columbia to 171 at Georgetown University.
District of Columbia law schools compared
| School | Median LSAT | Median GPA | Accepted | Tuition | Bar pass | Lawyer jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgetown Law Washington · Private | 171 | 3.93 | 15.8% | $83,576 | 94.5% | 91.6% |
| The George Washington University Law School Washington · Private | 168 | 3.86 | 27.2% | $75,420 | 87.7% | 89.8% |
| American University Washington College of Law Washington · Private | 162 | 3.63 | 33.3% | $69,172 | 86.6% | 69.4% |
| Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law Washington · Private | 161 | 3.68 | 32.4% | $63,280 | 90.4% | 79.6% |
| Howard University School of Law Washington · Private | 156 | 3.63 | 24.1% | $41,412 | 78% | 71% |
| University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law Washington · Public | 151 | 3.28 | 37% | $13,438 | 57.9% | 52.5% |
Tuition is full-time tuition and fees for 2025-26, at the in-state rate for public schools. Bar pass is the first-time rate on 2025 exams in every state where graduates sat; lawyer jobs is the share of 2025 graduates in full-time, long-term jobs requiring bar passage. Each school's page has the detail.
Georgetown University had the highest first-time bar passage rate, 94.5%. Georgetown University placed the largest share of 2025 graduates in lawyer jobs, 91.6%. Georgetown University was the hardest to get into, accepting 15.8% of applicants. The University of the District of Columbia charged the least, $13,438.
The District of Columbia bar exam
In 2025, 87.5% of graduates of ABA-approved law schools who took the District of Columbia bar exam for the first time passed, as the ABA reports it. That is the yardstick each school's rate is compared with when its graduates sit here.
Graduates of these schools took it most often in 2025 (schools with at least 10 first-time takers here):
| School | Takers | Passed | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| George Washington University | 257 | 232 | 90.3% |
| Georgetown University | 255 | 244 | 95.7% |
| American University | 199 | 177 | 88.9% |
| Harvard University | 141 | 139 | 98.6% |
| University of Virginia | 97 | 96 | 99% |
| George Mason University | 65 | 56 | 86.2% |
| Howard University | 62 | 49 | 79% |
| Yale University | 56 | 55 | 98.2% |
| Catholic University of America | 47 | 43 | 91.5% |
| University of the District of Columbia | 42 | 24 | 57.1% |
| William & Mary | 40 | 39 | 97.5% |
| Columbia University | 34 | 34 | 100% |
| Duke University | 32 | 32 | 100% |
| Stanford University | 32 | 32 | 100% |
| University of Michigan | 30 | 29 | 96.7% |
Out-of-state schools that send graduates to District of Columbia
Each school reports the three states where most of its employed graduates work. These schools outside District of Columbia count it among their top three:
- Harvard University (MA): 121 employed 2025 graduates
- University of Virginia (VA): 87 employed 2025 graduates
- George Mason University (VA): 52 employed 2025 graduates
- Yale University (CT): 46 employed 2025 graduates
- Columbia University (NY): 36 employed 2025 graduates
- University of Maryland (MD): 35 employed 2025 graduates
- University of Pennsylvania (PA): 29 employed 2025 graduates
- Stanford University (CA): 28 employed 2025 graduates
- William & Mary (VA): 28 employed 2025 graduates
- Duke University (NC): 27 employed 2025 graduates
Practicing in District of Columbia: District of Columbia Rules of Civil Procedure · District of Columbia procedural guides.
Check your own numbers against these schools with the LSAT and GPA school finder.
Frequently asked questions
How many law schools are in District of Columbia?
District of Columbia has 6 ABA-approved law schools: American University Washington College of Law, Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law, Georgetown Law, Howard University School of Law, The George Washington University Law School, University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law.
Which District of Columbia law school has the highest bar passage rate?
Georgetown Law, where 94.5% of first-time takers passed in 2025.
What is the cheapest law school in District of Columbia?
University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law, at $13,438 a year in full-time tuition and fees for 2025-26 (in-state rate).
What is the hardest law school to get into in District of Columbia?
By acceptance rate, Georgetown Law, which accepted 15.8% of applicants for fall 2025, with a median LSAT of 171.
What is the District of Columbia bar exam pass rate?
In 2025, 87.5% of first-time takers from ABA-approved law schools passed the District of Columbia bar exam, as the ABA reports it.