University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law
Washington, District of Columbia · Public · ABA-approved since 1998 · Data updated November 2, 2026
University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law is a public law school in Washington, District of Columbia, approved by the American Bar Association since 1998. It admitted a fall 2025 class with a median LSAT of 151, higher than 7% of ABA-approved schools, saw 57.9% of its first-time bar takers pass in 2025 and placed 52.5% of its 2025 graduates in full-time lawyer jobs.
What stands out
- First-time bar passage 24.9 points below the average for the states where its graduates sat.
- Tuition and fees of $13,438, less than 99% of schools charge.
- 52.5% of 2025 graduates in full-time lawyer jobs, fewer than at 97% of schools.
Admissions: LSAT, GPA and acceptance rate
For the class that entered in fall 2025, the University of the District of Columbia received 749 completed applications and made 277 offers, an acceptance rate of 37%. 83 students enrolled in the first-year class (51 full-time, 32 part-time). The typical ABA school accepted 35.8%.
| Entering class, fall 2025 | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| LSAT | 148 | 151 | 153 |
| Undergraduate GPA | 3.05 | 3.28 | 3.55 |
A quarter of the class scored 148 or lower on the LSAT and a quarter scored 153 or higher. An applicant at or above the median, 151, 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.
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 $13,438 a year for District of Columbia residents and $25,874 for everyone else. That is less than 99% of ABA schools charge. The school estimates living costs of $34,035 a year off campus.
| Annual cost, 2025-26 | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition, full-time, resident | $12,438 |
| Fees, full-time, resident | $1,000 |
| Tuition, full-time, nonresident | $24,874 |
| Fees, full-time, nonresident | $1,000 |
| Living costs, on campus | $34,035 |
| Living costs, off campus | $34,035 |
| Living costs, at home | $34,035 |
In 2024-25, 69% of full-time students received a grant or scholarship from the school. The median award was $8,292, and the middle half of awards ran from $5,458 to $12,436. Subtract the median award from the full-time tuition and fees above and a typical recipient pays about $5,146 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 | 37% |
| Half to full tuition | 30% |
| Full tuition | 2% |
| More than full tuition | 0% |
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 $142,419. With the median scholarship every year, about $117,543. Tuition usually rises each year, so treat this as a floor.
Bar passage
Of 76 graduates who took a bar exam for the first time in 2025, 44 passed: 57.9%. The average for the same exams, weighted by where its graduates sat, was 82.8%, so the school finished a full 24.9 points below that average.
| Where they sat, 2025 | Takers | Passed | School | State average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | 42 | 24 | 57.1% | 87.5% |
| Maryland | 17 | 11 | 64.7% | 73% |
| 7 other jurisdictions | 17 | 9 | 52.9% | 80.2% |
The ABA also follows each class for two years. Of the 49 members of the class of 2023 who took a bar exam, 36 had passed one within two years: 73.5%.
Jobs after graduation
The ABA counts where each class is working ten months after graduation. Of 80 2025 graduates, 42 (52.5%) had full-time, long-term jobs that require bar passage, and 11 more (13.8%) had full-time, long-term jobs where a law degree is an advantage. At the typical ABA school, 83.4% were in lawyer jobs. 16 (20%) were unemployed and looking for work. 5 of the full-time, long-term jobs were funded by the school.
Law firm jobs by firm size
Shares are of all 80 graduates. Firms of more than 250 lawyers, the usual sense of “Big Law,” hired 2 (2.5%).
Where graduates work
Most employed graduates stayed in District of Columbia (26), followed by Maryland (16) and Virginia (7).
Students who leave
In 2024-25, 7 first-year students left the University of the District of Columbia: 4 for academic reasons (5%) and 3 for other reasons, such as transferring to another school (4%).
Transfers run both ways: 5 first-year students transferred out and 0 transferred in from other law schools.
Classes, clinics and faculty
The University of the District of Columbia offered 63 upper-level course titles beyond the first-year curriculum in 2024-25. Of its upper-level class sections, 85% had fewer than 25 students and 0% had 75 or more.
| Hands-on learning, 2024-25 | Number |
|---|---|
| Law clinic seats available | 158 |
| Law clinic seats filled | 152 |
| Field placement (externship) positions filled | 49 |
| Simulation course seats filled | 163 |
| Co-curricular offerings (journals, moot court, etc.) | 9 |
The school reports 25 full-time faculty and 29 more who teach part-time or in other roles. With 236 J.D. students, that is about 9 students per full-time faculty member.
How the University of the District of Columbia compares in District of Columbia
District of Columbia has 6 ABA-approved law schools. Among them, the University of the District of Columbia ranks 6th in median LSAT, 6th in first-time bar passage, 6th in share of graduates in lawyer jobs and the lowest tuition.
| School | Median LSAT | Tuition | Bar pass | Lawyer jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgetown University | 171 | $83,576 | 94.5% | 91.6% |
| George Washington University | 168 | $75,420 | 87.7% | 89.8% |
| American University | 162 | $69,172 | 86.6% | 69.4% |
| Catholic University of America | 161 | $63,280 | 90.4% | 79.6% |
| Howard University | 156 | $41,412 | 78% | 71% |
| University of the District of Columbia | 151 | $13,438 | 57.9% | 52.5% |
More on each, and on the District of Columbia bar exam: law schools in District of Columbia.
Schools with similar admissions numbers
These five schools admitted fall 2025 classes with the median LSAT and GPA closest to the University of the District of Columbia'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 the District of Columbia | 151 | 3.28 | $13,438 | 57.9% | 52.5% |
| North Carolina Central University Durham, NC | 151 | 3.31 | $19,190 | 59.4% | 62% |
| Vermont Law School South Royalton, VT | 152 | 3.25 | $56,457 | 67.9% | 69.2% |
| Barry University Orlando, FL | 150 | 3.23 | $43,150 | 58.9% | 63.8% |
| Faulkner University Montgomery, AL | 150 | 3.33 | $40,400 | 67.5% | 65.9% |
| Texas Southern University Houston, TX | 150 | 3.33 | $21,038 | 62.9% | 54.3% |
Frequently asked questions
What LSAT score do you need to get into University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law?
There is no cutoff, but the class that entered in fall 2025 had a median LSAT of 151, with the middle half scoring 148 to 153. The median undergraduate GPA was 3.28. The school accepted 37% of applicants.
What is the bar passage rate at University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law?
57.9% of University of the District of Columbia graduates taking a bar exam for the first time in 2025 passed, against a weighted state average of 82.8%. Within two years of graduating, 73.5% of the class of 2023 who took a bar exam had passed.
How much does University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law cost?
Full-time tuition and fees for 2025-26 are $13,438 a year for District of Columbia residents and $25,874 for nonresidents. Most students pay less: 69% of full-time students received a grant, with a median award of $8,292.
Do University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law graduates get jobs?
Ten months after graduation, 52.5% of the class of 2025 had full-time, long-term jobs requiring bar passage, and 13.8% more had full-time, long-term jobs where a law degree is an advantage. 20% were unemployed and seeking work.
Is University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law ABA-accredited?
Yes. University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law has been approved by the American Bar Association since 1998, so its graduates can sit for the bar exam in every state.