Law Schools in Virginia
8 ABA-approved schools · ABA disclosures · updated November 2, 2026
Virginia has eight ABA-approved law schools: three public and five private. Median LSAT scores for the class that entered in fall 2025 run from 146 at Appalachian School of Law to 173 at the University of Virginia.
Virginia law schools compared
| School | Median LSAT | Median GPA | Accepted | Tuition | Bar pass | Lawyer jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Virginia School of Law Charlottesville · Public | 173 | 3.99 | 10.2% | $77,900 | 95.1% | 98.1% |
| George Mason University, Antonin Scalia Law School Arlington · Public | 169 | 3.93 | 15.9% | $27,832 | 86.3% | 81.4% |
| Washington and Lee University School of Law Lexington · Private | 167 | 3.75 | 22.7% | $59,940 | 93.5% | 91.8% |
| William & Mary Law School Williamsburg · Public | 166 | 3.82 | 22% | $46,102 | 92.8% | 91% |
| University of Richmond School of Law Richmond · Private | 164 | 3.81 | 39.6% | $57,700 | 91.3% | 88% |
| Regent University School of Law Virginia Beach · Private | 158 | 3.68 | 44.3% | $44,854 | 91.3% | 93.2% |
| Liberty School of Law Lynchburg · Private | 154 | 3.54 | 58.8% | $45,348 | 85.3% | 88% |
| Appalachian School of Law Grundy · Private | 146 | 3.20 | 60.9% | $41,000 | 54.8% | 53.5% |
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 Virginia had the highest first-time bar passage rate, 95.1%. The University of Virginia placed the largest share of 2025 graduates in lawyer jobs, 98.1%. The University of Virginia was the hardest to get into, accepting 10.2% of applicants. George Mason University charged the least, $27,832.
The Virginia bar exam
In 2025, 81.6% of graduates of ABA-approved law schools who took the Virginia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Richmond | 70 | 63 | 90% |
| William & Mary | 64 | 56 | 87.5% |
| George Mason University | 59 | 48 | 81.4% |
| Regent University | 44 | 41 | 93.2% |
| Liberty University | 37 | 31 | 83.8% |
| George Washington University | 24 | 17 | 70.8% |
| American University | 23 | 18 | 78.3% |
| Georgetown University | 20 | 18 | 90% |
| Washington and Lee University | 20 | 18 | 90% |
| University of Virginia | 15 | 15 | 100% |
| Catholic University of America | 12 | 10 | 83.3% |
Out-of-state schools that send graduates to Virginia
Each school reports the three states where most of its employed graduates work. These schools outside Virginia count it among their top three:
- George Washington University (DC): 51 employed 2025 graduates
- Catholic University of America (DC): 17 employed 2025 graduates
- University of Baltimore (MD): 10 employed 2025 graduates
- University of the District of Columbia (DC): 7 employed 2025 graduates
- West Virginia University (WV): 7 employed 2025 graduates
- Lincoln Memorial University (TN): 3 employed 2025 graduates
- University of Arkansas at Little Rock (AR): 3 employed 2025 graduates
- St. Thomas University (Miami) (FL): 2 employed 2025 graduates
Practicing in Virginia: Virginia Rules of Civil Procedure · Virginia procedural guides · Divorce in Virginia.
Check your own numbers against these schools with the LSAT and GPA school finder.
Frequently asked questions
How many law schools are in Virginia?
Virginia has 8 ABA-approved law schools: Appalachian School of Law, George Mason University, Antonin Scalia Law School, Liberty School of Law, Regent University School of Law, University of Richmond School of Law, University of Virginia School of Law, Washington and Lee University School of Law, William & Mary Law School.
Which Virginia law school has the highest bar passage rate?
University of Virginia School of Law, where 95.1% of first-time takers passed in 2025.
What is the cheapest law school in Virginia?
George Mason University, Antonin Scalia Law School, at $27,832 a year in full-time tuition and fees for 2025-26 (in-state rate).
What is the hardest law school to get into in Virginia?
By acceptance rate, University of Virginia School of Law, which accepted 10.2% of applicants for fall 2025, with a median LSAT of 173.
What is the Virginia bar exam pass rate?
In 2025, 81.6% of first-time takers from ABA-approved law schools passed the Virginia bar exam, as the ABA reports it.