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Washington University School of Law in St. Louis is ranked 13th (tie) in the U.S. News 2026-27 edition, among the national top 20. It reports a median LSAT of 175 and an 18.96% acceptance rate in its 2025 ABA Standard 509 report. It is distinct from the University of Washington in Seattle.
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.
Washington University School of Law is the law school of Washington University in St. Louis, a private national university in Missouri. The table summarizes its current rank and the admissions and outcome numbers that matter most. It is a distinct institution from the University of Washington in Seattle.
MetricValue (2026 cycle)U.S. News rank13th (tie)Median LSAT175Median GPASee the school's ABA 509 reportAcceptance rate18.96%First-time bar passageSee the school's ABA 509 reportEmployment (JD-required, 10 months)See the school's ABA 509 report
The rank comes from the U.S. News 2026-27 Best Law Schools ranking; the median LSAT of 175 and 18.96% acceptance rate come from Washington University School of Law's 2025 ABA Standard 509 report; its median GPA, first-time bar passage, and 10-month employment are published in that report and the school's ABA required disclosures.
Applicants considering Washington University School of Law often compare it with Vanderbilt, Notre Dame, Emory, and Georgetown, schools in a similar national band. In the U.S. News 2026-27 ranking, Vanderbilt is 12th, Georgetown 18th (tie), Notre Dame 20th (tie), and Emory 40th (tie); Vanderbilt reports a median LSAT of 170 and median GPA of 3.91, Notre Dame 170 and 3.89, and Georgetown 171 and 3.93, in their 2025 ABA 509 reports.
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.
As a national top-tier school, Washington University School of Law is a reach for applicants below its medians and a target for those at or above them. Compare your LSAT and GPA to its published 25th, 50th, and 75th percentiles, then build a balanced list. WashU is known for competitive merit scholarships, so a strong LSAT can meaningfully lower your cost.
Washington University School of Law is the leading law school in St. Louis and one of the strongest in the Midwest. Regionally it sits alongside the University of Chicago (2nd tie), Northwestern (9th tie), and the University of Michigan (9th tie), with Saint Louis University School of Law as a local alternative. WashU's national rank is 13th (tie) in the U.S. News 2026-27 ranking.
Between the two St. Louis law schools, Washington University generally reports the higher first-time bar-passage rate, usually above the Missouri state average, though the figure shifts each year with the class. Read the current rates from each school's ABA Standard 509 report to compare them accurately, since those rates are not captured in this reference.
As a national top-tier school, Washington University School of Law expects an LSAT near the upper end of the 120 to 180 scale. There is no fixed cutoff, but aim at or above its median LSAT of 175, reported with 25th and 75th percentiles in its 2025 ABA 509 report, to be competitive for both admission and merit aid.
Washington University School of Law is a highly ranked national program, placing 13th (tie) in the U.S. News 2026-27 ranking, but it is not one of the fourteen traditional T14 schools. It still offers strong national and Midwest placement, and its 175 median LSAT is among the highest in the country.
Verified August 2026.
August 21, 2026
August 21, 2026