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The best law schools in the Midwest are led by the University of Chicago and Northwestern (Pritzker) in Illinois and the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, all national top-tier programs. Other strong Midwest schools include Washington University in St. Louis, Notre Dame, Minnesota, and Ohio State. In the U.S. News 2026-27 ranking, Chicago is 2nd (tie), Northwestern and Michigan are tied at 9th, and Washington University in St. Louis is 13th (tie).
By Ali Unar, JD candidate at Georgetown Law and founder of Lovare Institut. Last updated August 2026. Every figure on this page was verified in August 2026 against the sources listed below.
The Midwest's strongest law schools are led by the University of Chicago and Northwestern in Illinois and the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, all national top-tier programs. The table lists leading Midwest schools with the rank and admissions numbers that decide your odds. Several place graduates strongly across the region as well as nationally.
Law schoolLocationU.S. News rankMedian LSATMedian GPAUniversity of Chicago Law SchoolChicago, IL2nd (tie)1743.97Northwestern Pritzker School of LawChicago, IL9th (tie)1733.96University of Michigan Law SchoolAnn Arbor, MI9th (tie)171See ABA 509 reportWashington University School of LawSt. Louis, MO13th (tie)175See ABA 509 reportUniversity of Notre Dame Law SchoolNotre Dame, IN20th (tie)1703.89University of Minnesota Law SchoolMinneapolis, MN22nd (tie)1713.88Ohio State Moritz College of LawColumbus, OH30th (tie)168See ABA 509 reportUniversity of Wisconsin Law SchoolMadison, WI26th (tie)1673.81University of Iowa College of LawIowa City, IA32nd (tie)164See ABA 509 reportUniversity of Illinois College of LawChampaign, IL46th (tie)166See ABA 509 report
Ranks come from the U.S. News 2026-27 Best Law Schools ranking; median LSAT and median GPA come from each school's 2025 ABA Standard 509 report. Where a school does not report a single median GPA in that data, read the figure from its ABA 509 report.
Rank comes from U.S. News, which weights reputation surveys, selectivity (median LSAT and GPA, acceptance rate), and outcomes (bar passage and employment). The medians, bar-passage rates, and employment figures come from each school's ABA Standard 509 Information Report. Because U.S. News revises its weights periodically and publishes them in its methodology, positions can move a little without real change.
A ranking is one input, not a decision. Weigh it against the cost of attendance after scholarships, the city or region where a school's graduates actually get hired, and its bar-passage and employment rates. A lower-ranked school that places strongly in the market where you want to practice, and offers real scholarship money, can be the smarter choice for many applicants.
Start from where you want to end up, then let your LSAT score and school list follow from that goal rather than chasing rank for its own sake.
The Midwest's strongest law schools include the University of Chicago, Northwestern (Pritzker), and the University of Michigan, all national top-tier programs, followed by Washington University in St. Louis, Notre Dame, Minnesota, and Ohio State. In the U.S. News 2026-27 ranking, Chicago is 2nd (tie), Northwestern and Michigan are tied at 9th, and Washington University in St. Louis is 13th (tie).
Bar-passage rates vary by school and by state, and the regional leader changes as cohorts differ. Top Midwest programs generally post first-time bar-passage rates well above their state averages, but the specific leader should be read from each school's ABA Standard 509 report for the most recent year, since those figures are not captured in this reference.
It depends on the school. Chicago reports a median LSAT of 174, Northwestern 173, and Michigan 171 in their 2025 ABA 509 reports, while strong regional schools such as Iowa (164) and Illinois (166) admit a wider range. Check each target school's median LSAT and aim at or above it.
Verified August 2026.
August 21, 2026
August 21, 2026