Law Schools in Missouri
4 ABA-approved schools · ABA disclosures · updated November 2, 2026
Missouri has four ABA-approved law schools: two public and two private. Median LSAT scores for the class that entered in fall 2025 run from 156 at the University of Missouri, Kansas City to 175 at Washington University (St. Louis).
Missouri law schools compared
| School | Median LSAT | Median GPA | Accepted | Tuition | Bar pass | Lawyer jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington University School of Law (WashU Law) St. Louis · Private | 175 | 3.96 | 19% | $73,684 | 89.6% | 94.1% |
| University of Missouri School of Law Columbia · Public | 161 | 3.72 | 42% | $25,503 | 86.2% | 86.4% |
| Saint Louis University School of Law St. Louis · Private | 157 | 3.61 | 56.4% | $56,190 | 89.1% | 87.6% |
| University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Law Kansas City · Public | 156 | 3.65 | 45.9% | $26,192 | 82.3% | 81.2% |
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.
Washington University (St. Louis) had the highest first-time bar passage rate, 89.6%. Washington University (St. Louis) placed the largest share of 2025 graduates in lawyer jobs, 94.1%. Washington University (St. Louis) was the hardest to get into, accepting 19% of applicants. The University of Missouri charged the least, about $25,503.
The Missouri bar exam
In 2025, 86.4% of graduates of ABA-approved law schools who took the Missouri 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Louis University | 137 | 124 | 90.5% |
| University of Missouri | 106 | 93 | 87.7% |
| University of Missouri, Kansas City | 102 | 87 | 85.3% |
| Washington University (St. Louis) | 45 | 43 | 95.6% |
| University of Kansas | 34 | 33 | 97.1% |
| Washburn University | 13 | 9 | 69.2% |
Out-of-state schools that send graduates to Missouri
Each school reports the three states where most of its employed graduates work. These schools outside Missouri count it among their top three:
- University of Kansas (KS): 34 employed 2025 graduates
- Washburn University (KS): 13 employed 2025 graduates
- Southern Illinois University (IL): 9 employed 2025 graduates
- University of Arkansas (AR): 7 employed 2025 graduates
- University of Illinois (IL): 5 employed 2025 graduates
- University of San Diego (CA): 3 employed 2025 graduates
Practicing in Missouri: Missouri Rules of Civil Procedure · Missouri 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 Missouri?
Missouri has 4 ABA-approved law schools: Saint Louis University School of Law, University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Law, University of Missouri School of Law, Washington University School of Law (WashU Law).
Which Missouri law school has the highest bar passage rate?
Washington University School of Law (WashU Law), where 89.6% of first-time takers passed in 2025.
What is the cheapest law school in Missouri?
University of Missouri School of Law, at about $25,503 a year in full-time tuition and fees for 2025-26 (in-state rate).
What is the hardest law school to get into in Missouri?
By acceptance rate, Washington University School of Law (WashU Law), which accepted 19% of applicants for fall 2025, with a median LSAT of 175.
What is the Missouri bar exam pass rate?
In 2025, 86.4% of first-time takers from ABA-approved law schools passed the Missouri bar exam, as the ABA reports it.