Law Schools in Minnesota
3 ABA-approved schools · ABA disclosures · updated November 2, 2026
Minnesota has three ABA-approved law schools: one public and two private. Median LSAT scores for the class that entered in fall 2025 run from 154 at Mitchell Hamline School of Law to 171 at the University of Minnesota.
Minnesota law schools compared
| School | Median LSAT | Median GPA | Accepted | Tuition | Bar pass | Lawyer jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Minnesota Law School Minneapolis · Public | 171 | 3.88 | 26.7% | $54,118 | 95.3% | 91% |
| University of St. Thomas School of Law (Minnesota) Minneapolis · Private | 159 | 3.72 | 57.6% | $51,632 | 85.1% | 82.6% |
| Mitchell Hamline School of Law St. Paul · Private | 154 | 3.29 | 51.4% | $56,300 | 72% | 60.1% |
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.
The University of Minnesota had the highest first-time bar passage rate, 95.3%. The University of Minnesota placed the largest share of 2025 graduates in lawyer jobs, 91%. The University of Minnesota was the hardest to get into, accepting 26.7% of applicants. The University of St. Thomas (Minnesota) charged the least, $51,632.
The Minnesota bar exam
In 2025, 87% of graduates of ABA-approved law schools who took the Minnesota 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mitchell Hamline School of Law | 157 | 132 | 84.1% |
| University of Minnesota | 140 | 135 | 96.4% |
| University of St. Thomas (Minnesota) | 135 | 117 | 86.7% |
| University of Iowa | 13 | 12 | 92.3% |
| University of North Dakota | 12 | 11 | 91.7% |
Out-of-state schools that send graduates to Minnesota
Each school reports the three states where most of its employed graduates work. These schools outside Minnesota count it among their top three:
- University of Iowa (IA): 12 employed 2025 graduates
- University of Wisconsin (WI): 11 employed 2025 graduates
- University of North Dakota (ND): 10 employed 2025 graduates
- University of Nebraska (NE): 5 employed 2025 graduates
Practicing in Minnesota: Minnesota Rules of Civil Procedure · Minnesota 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 Minnesota?
Minnesota has 3 ABA-approved law schools: Mitchell Hamline School of Law, University of Minnesota Law School, University of St. Thomas School of Law (Minnesota).
Which Minnesota law school has the highest bar passage rate?
University of Minnesota Law School, where 95.3% of first-time takers passed in 2025.
What is the cheapest law school in Minnesota?
University of St. Thomas School of Law (Minnesota), at $51,632 a year in full-time tuition and fees for 2025-26.
What is the hardest law school to get into in Minnesota?
By acceptance rate, University of Minnesota Law School, which accepted 26.7% of applicants for fall 2025, with a median LSAT of 171.
What is the Minnesota bar exam pass rate?
In 2025, 87% of first-time takers from ABA-approved law schools passed the Minnesota bar exam, as the ABA reports it.