Law Schools in North Carolina
6 ABA-approved schools · ABA disclosures · updated November 2, 2026
North Carolina has six ABA-approved law schools: two public and four private. Median LSAT scores for the class that entered in fall 2025 run from 151 at North Carolina Central University to 171 at Duke University.
North Carolina law schools compared
| School | Median LSAT | Median GPA | Accepted | Tuition | Bar pass | Lawyer jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duke Law School Durham · Private | 171 | 3.91 | 12.9% | $81,829 | 98.2% | 98.7% |
| University of North Carolina School of Law Chapel Hill · Public | 168 | 3.89 | 11.2% | $31,562 | 94.1% | 90.2% |
| Wake Forest University School of Law Winston Salem · Private | 166 | 3.79 | 24.6% | $59,144 | 89.6% | 89.2% |
| Campbell University School of Law Raleigh · Private | 156 | 3.51 | 50.7% | $52,770 | 93.5% | 86.7% |
| Elon University School of Law Greensboro · Private | 154 | 3.40 | 53.2% | $45,333 | 69.9% | 82.2% |
| North Carolina Central University School of Law Durham · Public | 151 | 3.31 | 39.1% | $19,190 | 59.4% | 62% |
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.
Duke University had the highest first-time bar passage rate, 98.2%. Duke University placed the largest share of 2025 graduates in lawyer jobs, 98.7%. The University of North Carolina was the hardest to get into, accepting 11.2% of applicants. North Carolina Central University charged the least, $19,190.
The North Carolina bar exam
In 2025, 82.1% of graduates of ABA-approved law schools who took the North Carolina 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Campbell University | 175 | 163 | 93.1% |
| University of North Carolina | 110 | 102 | 92.7% |
| Elon University | 103 | 76 | 73.8% |
| North Carolina Central University | 89 | 53 | 59.5% |
| Wake Forest University | 83 | 72 | 86.8% |
| Duke University | 21 | 21 | 100% |
| Charleston School of Law | 13 | 10 | 76.9% |
| Washington and Lee University | 11 | 11 | 100% |
| Liberty University | 10 | 10 | 100% |
Out-of-state schools that send graduates to North Carolina
Each school reports the three states where most of its employed graduates work. These schools outside North Carolina count it among their top three:
- University of South Carolina (SC): 12 employed 2025 graduates
- Liberty University (VA): 10 employed 2025 graduates
- University of Tennessee (TN): 7 employed 2025 graduates
- Florida International University (FL): 2 employed 2025 graduates
Practicing in North Carolina: North Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure · North Carolina procedural guides · Divorce in North Carolina.
Check your own numbers against these schools with the LSAT and GPA school finder.
Frequently asked questions
How many law schools are in North Carolina?
North Carolina has 6 ABA-approved law schools: Campbell University School of Law, Duke Law School, Elon University School of Law, North Carolina Central University School of Law, University of North Carolina School of Law, Wake Forest University School of Law.
Which North Carolina law school has the highest bar passage rate?
Duke Law School, where 98.2% of first-time takers passed in 2025.
What is the cheapest law school in North Carolina?
North Carolina Central University School of Law, at $19,190 a year in full-time tuition and fees for 2025-26 (in-state rate).
What is the hardest law school to get into in North Carolina?
By acceptance rate, University of North Carolina School of Law, which accepted 11.2% of applicants for fall 2025, with a median LSAT of 168.
What is the North Carolina bar exam pass rate?
In 2025, 82.1% of first-time takers from ABA-approved law schools passed the North Carolina bar exam, as the ABA reports it.