University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law
Concord, New Hampshire · Public · ABA-approved since 1974 · Data updated November 2, 2026
University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law is a public law school in Concord, New Hampshire, approved by the American Bar Association since 1974. It admitted a fall 2025 class with a median LSAT of 155, higher than 25% of ABA-approved schools, saw 73.8% of its first-time bar takers pass in 2025 and placed 57.8% of its 2025 graduates in full-time lawyer jobs.
What stands out
- 57.8% of 2025 graduates in full-time lawyer jobs, fewer than at 95% of schools.
Admissions: LSAT, GPA and acceptance rate
For the class that entered in fall 2025, the University of New Hampshire received 1,455 completed applications and made 756 offers, an acceptance rate of 52%. 248 students enrolled in the first-year class (156 full-time, 92 part-time). The typical ABA school accepted 35.8%.
| Entering class, fall 2025 | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| LSAT | 151 | 155 | 159 |
| Undergraduate GPA | 3.10 | 3.50 | 3.72 |
A quarter of the class scored 151 or lower on the LSAT and a quarter scored 159 or higher. An applicant at or above the median, 155, is in the stronger half of this class; one below the 25th percentile is a long shot unless something else in the file stands out.
23 of the entering students were admitted on a GRE score instead of the LSAT.
Where would your numbers fall in this class?
Enter an LSAT score and undergraduate GPA. We compare them with the class that entered in fall 2025. This shows where your numbers sit, not your chances: admissions offices read the whole file.
Tuition, living costs and scholarships
Full-time tuition and fees for 2025-26 are $42,348 a year for New Hampshire residents and $50,348 for everyone else. That is less than 57% of ABA schools charge. The school estimates living costs of $27,094 a year off campus.
| Annual cost, 2025-26 | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition, full-time, resident | $42,000 |
| Fees, full-time, resident | $348 |
| Tuition, full-time, nonresident | $50,000 |
| Fees, full-time, nonresident | $348 |
| Living costs, on campus | $27,094 |
| Living costs, off campus | $27,094 |
| Living costs, at home | $19,594 |
In 2024-25, 87% of full-time students received a grant or scholarship from the school. The median award was $20,000, and the middle half of awards ran from $7,500 to $34,000. Subtract the median award from the full-time tuition and fees above and a typical recipient pays about $22,348 a year in tuition and fees, before living costs. That is a rough guide, since awards vary and some students get nothing.
| Size of grant, all students | Share of students |
|---|---|
| Less than half tuition | 34% |
| Half to full tuition | 33% |
| Full tuition | 0% |
| More than full tuition | 2% |
Scholarships that can be cut. The school reports that it does not award scholarships that are reduced or ended because of grades, other than for failing to stay in good academic standing.
Three years, roughly. At 2025-26 prices, three years of full-time tuition and fees at the in-state rate plus off-campus living costs come to about $208,326. With the median scholarship every year, about $148,326. Tuition usually rises each year, so treat this as a floor.
Bar passage
Of 164 graduates who took a bar exam for the first time in 2025, 121 passed: 73.8%. The average for the same exams, weighted by where its graduates sat, was 77.2%, so the school finished 3.4 points below that average.
12 more graduates were admitted to practice through an alternative pathway without a bar exam; counting them, the rate is 75.6%.
| Where they sat, 2025 | Takers | Passed | School | State average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 other jurisdictions | 72 | 53 | 73.6% | 78.3% |
| District of Columbia | 13 | 9 | 69.2% | 87.5% |
| Massachusetts | 21 | 20 | 95.2% | 85.4% |
| New Hampshire | 44 | 33 | 75% | 65.6% |
| New York | 14 | 6 | 42.9% | 87.3% |
The ABA also follows each class for two years. Of the 140 members of the class of 2023 who took a bar exam, 124 had passed one within two years: 88.6%.
Jobs after graduation
The ABA counts where each class is working ten months after graduation. Of 192 2025 graduates, 111 (57.8%) had full-time, long-term jobs that require bar passage, and 23 more (12%) had full-time, long-term jobs where a law degree is an advantage. At the typical ABA school, 83.4% were in lawyer jobs. 18 (9.4%) were unemployed and looking for work.
Law firm jobs by firm size
Shares are of all 192 graduates. Firms of more than 250 lawyers, the usual sense of “Big Law,” hired 18 (9.4%).
Where graduates work
Most employed graduates stayed in New Hampshire (39), followed by Massachusetts (17) and New York (14).
Students who leave
In 2024-25, 20 first-year students left the University of New Hampshire: 12 for academic reasons (4%) and 8 for other reasons, such as transferring to another school (2%).
Transfers run both ways: 9 first-year students transferred out and 2 transferred in from other law schools.
Classes, clinics and faculty
The University of New Hampshire offered 129 upper-level course titles beyond the first-year curriculum in 2024-25. Of its upper-level class sections, 71% had fewer than 25 students and 2% had 75 or more.
| Hands-on learning, 2024-25 | Number |
|---|---|
| Law clinic seats available | 222 |
| Law clinic seats filled | 166 |
| Field placement (externship) positions filled | 120 |
| Simulation course seats filled | 483 |
| Co-curricular offerings (journals, moot court, etc.) | 32 |
The school reports 30 full-time faculty and 87 more who teach part-time or in other roles. With 685 J.D. students, that is about 23 students per full-time faculty member.
How the University of New Hampshire compares in New Hampshire
The University of New Hampshire is the only ABA-approved law school in New Hampshire (more on law school in New Hampshire). The full table compares it with every other school.
Schools with similar admissions numbers
These five schools admitted fall 2025 classes with the median LSAT and GPA closest to the University of New Hampshire's, so an applicant who fits here is likely to be a similar fit there. Compare what each costs and how its graduates fare.
| School | Median LSAT | Median GPA | Tuition | Bar pass | Lawyer jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of New Hampshire | 155 | 3.50 | $42,348 | 73.8% | 57.8% |
| California Western School of Law San Diego, CA | 155 | 3.50 | $64,870 | 71.4% | 74.1% |
| Cleveland State University Cleveland, OH | 155 | 3.50 | $31,566 | 72.7% | 72.7% |
| Nova Southeastern University Davie, FL | 155 | 3.52 | $50,710 | 74.5% | 69.5% |
| University of Memphis Memphis, TN | 155 | 3.53 | $21,228 | 72.6% | 79.8% |
| University of San Francisco San Francisco, CA | 155 | 3.47 | $59,990 | 80.9% | 76.3% |
Frequently asked questions
What LSAT score do you need to get into University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law?
There is no cutoff, but the class that entered in fall 2025 had a median LSAT of 155, with the middle half scoring 151 to 159. The median undergraduate GPA was 3.50. The school accepted 52% of applicants.
What is the bar passage rate at University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law?
73.8% of University of New Hampshire graduates taking a bar exam for the first time in 2025 passed, against a weighted state average of 77.2%. Within two years of graduating, 88.6% of the class of 2023 who took a bar exam had passed.
How much does University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law cost?
Full-time tuition and fees for 2025-26 are $42,348 a year for New Hampshire residents and $50,348 for nonresidents. Most students pay less: 87% of full-time students received a grant, with a median award of $20,000.
Do University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law graduates get jobs?
Ten months after graduation, 57.8% of the class of 2025 had full-time, long-term jobs requiring bar passage, and 12% more had full-time, long-term jobs where a law degree is an advantage. 9.4% were unemployed and seeking work.
Is University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law ABA-accredited?
Yes. University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law has been approved by the American Bar Association since 1974, so its graduates can sit for the bar exam in every state.