Law Schools in Alabama + LSAT Prep (2026 Guide)

Alabama has three ABA-accredited law schools, and their median LSATs span 150 to 167 in the 2025 ABA Standard 509 disclosures. The range runs from the University of Alabama at the top to Faulkner University (Jones) at the most accessible end, so applicants across a broad score band have a realistic path to law school in Alabama.

By Ali Unar, Georgetown Law, Founder of Lovare Institut. Ali Unar is a Georgetown Law student and the founder of Lovare Institut, an admissions and LSAT-prep practice built on primary-source law school data. Verified August 2026. The admissions figures on this page come from each Alabama school's 2025 ABA Standard 509 disclosure for the fall 2025 entering class, the in-state retention figures from the ABA Class of 2024 employment data, and the bar-exam status from the NCBE.

What law schools are in Alabama?

There are three ABA-accredited law schools in Alabama: the public flagship, one private university program, and one smaller independent religious institution. That is a small set for a state of Alabama's size, which makes the choice among them relatively focused and heavily shaped by cost. The table below lists every Alabama law school with its median LSAT, acceptance rate, and full-time tuition, each figure drawn from that school's 2025 ABA Standard 509 disclosure for the fall 2025 entering class.

SchoolMedian LSATAcceptance rateFull-time tuitionUniversity of Alabama16725.6%$24,980Samford University (Cumberland)15649.0%$46,334Faulkner University (Jones)15053.9%$39,900

Source: every median LSAT, acceptance rate, and full-time tuition figure in this table is taken from that school's 2025 ABA Standard 509 Information Report for the fall 2025 entering class, published through the ABA disclosure portal.

The University of Alabama anchors the state at the top and offers a striking combination of selectivity and value. It reports a 167 median LSAT and a 25.6 percent acceptance rate at just $24,980 in full-time tuition, according to its 2025 ABA 509 disclosure, which makes it both the most selective and the least expensive law school in Alabama. That pairing is unusual: at most schools the strongest credentials come with the highest price, but the Alabama flagship reverses that, giving in-state applicants a genuinely rare value.

The two private options sit lower on selectivity and admit larger shares of applicants. Samford University (Cumberland) reports a 156 median LSAT and a 49.0 percent acceptance rate at $46,334 in tuition, and Faulkner University (Jones) reports a 150 median and a 53.9 percent acceptance rate at $39,900, both per the 2025 ABA 509 disclosures. Notably, both private schools charge more than the public flagship despite lower medians, so an Alabama applicant weighing cost against selectivity faces a clear tradeoff. The University of Alabama offers the strongest numbers at the lowest price, while Samford and Faulkner offer more accessible admission at a higher sticker.

Geographically, Alabama's three law schools sit in three different cities, which spreads legal education across the state's main population centers. The University of Alabama is in Tuscaloosa, the home of the flagship campus, Samford University (Cumberland) is in the Birmingham area, the state's largest legal market, and Faulkner University (Jones) is in Montgomery, the state capital and a center of government practice. For an applicant, that distribution means each Alabama school is embedded in a slightly different local market, so where you study can shape the internships and early connections you build within the state. With only three schools, though, most Alabama applicants seriously weigh all of them rather than limiting themselves by city.

What LSAT and GPA do you need for law school in Alabama?

Across Alabama, median LSATs run from 150 to 167 in the 2025 ABA Standard 509 disclosures, so the score you need depends heavily on which of the three schools you are targeting. There is no single statewide cutoff for law school in Alabama, and the 17-point gap between the top and the most accessible program means very different profiles can succeed in the state.

The University of Alabama sits well above the others at a 167 median LSAT, so a score in the mid-to-high 160s is competitive there, per the 2025 ABA 509 disclosure. That is the number to aim for if the flagship is your target, and given its low tuition it is a highly sought seat. Samford University (Cumberland) reports a 156 median, so a mid-150s score lines up with that program, and Faulkner University (Jones) reports a 150 median, so a score around 150 matches there, according to the same 2025 ABA 509 data.

Accessibility is a real feature of the Alabama market below the flagship. Samford admits 49.0 percent of applicants and Faulkner admits 53.9 percent, both in the 2025 ABA 509 disclosures, so roughly half of applicants are offered a seat at each. A score in the low-to-mid 150s or even around 150 is exactly where these Alabama schools admit students, so an applicant in that range has genuine options and should not conclude that the state is closed to them. A higher score widens the choice, strengthens the case for scholarship aid at Samford and Faulkner, and brings the University of Alabama into play.

Because Alabama has only three law schools, application strategy in the state is straightforward. An applicant in the mid-to-high 160s should target the University of Alabama as a match while still applying to Samford University (Cumberland) and Faulkner University (Jones), where a score above the median strengthens the case for scholarship aid, according to the 2025 ABA 509 disclosures. An applicant in the low-to-mid 150s can treat Samford and Faulkner as strong matches and use a higher-than-median LSAT as leverage for aid at both. With so few schools in Alabama, most applicants can and should apply to all three, then let admission and scholarship offers, and the flagship's low tuition, decide.

On GPA, this statewide roll-up reports each Alabama school's median LSAT, acceptance rate, and tuition rather than a single GPA figure, so the precise GPA medians are not stated here and should be confirmed on each school's 2025 ABA 509 disclosure. What the data does show is how much flexibility exists on the LSAT and transcript sides at the schools flagged in the splitter section below. As a working rule for Alabama, treat the LSAT as the number you can most improve before applying, aim to reach or beat the median LSAT of your target school, and present the strongest GPA your record supports.

Which Alabama law schools are splitter friendly?

A splitter is an applicant with a high LSAT but a lower GPA, and a reverse splitter is the opposite, a strong GPA paired with a lower LSAT. Alabama has one school that leans each way, so an unbalanced file has a target in the state. These reads come from the 25th-to-median spreads in the 2025 ABA 509 disclosures.

The University of Alabama reads as reverse-splitter friendly, meaning it admits applicants whose LSAT sits below the class median when the GPA is strong. It shows a six-point gap between its 25th percentile LSAT and its median, per the 2025 ABA 509 data. For a high-GPA applicant whose LSAT lags, the Alabama flagship is the school in the state most likely to forgive the lower score, which is meaningful given how selective and affordable it is.

Samford University (Cumberland) reads as splitter friendly, where a strong LSAT can carry a lower GPA. It shows a 0.21 gap between its 25th percentile GPA and its median, according to the 2025 ABA 509 disclosures. If your LSAT is your stronger number, Samford is the Alabama school where that profile plays best. Faulkner University (Jones) is not flagged in either direction in this data, so its spreads are not called out here, and an applicant should read its class profile directly from its 2025 ABA 509 disclosure. The takeaway for Alabama is that a strong-GPA applicant should look hard at the University of Alabama, while a strong-LSAT applicant with a lower GPA has a natural fit at Samford.

What is the legal job market like in Alabama?

The Alabama legal market is centered on Birmingham, the state's largest city and business hub, with the state capital in Montgomery adding government and public-sector work, and additional legal activity in Huntsville, Mobile, and Tuscaloosa. The clearest signal in the data is how much of each school's class stays to practice in Alabama, drawn here from the ABA Class of 2024 employment data.

Samford University (Cumberland) keeps 66 percent of its class in Alabama, and the University of Alabama keeps 45 percent, according to the ABA Class of 2024 employment data. The University of Alabama's lower in-state share reflects its broader regional reach: as the most selective program in the state, it sends a meaningful portion of graduates into neighboring Southern markets, while still keeping a large share in Alabama. Samford, based in the Birmingham area, is more concentrated on in-state practice, with two in three graduates staying in Alabama.

One honest gap: Faulkner University (Jones) is not reported with an in-state retention figure in this roll-up, so its class-retention share is not stated here and should be checked against its own ABA employment summary. As a general matter, all three Alabama schools are oriented toward the state and the broader region, so an applicant whose goal is to practice in Alabama, and especially in the Birmingham or Montgomery markets, is well served by any of them. This page does not quote salary figures for the Alabama market, because the packet behind it does not include them.

The practical reading of these numbers is that Birmingham is the center of gravity for the Alabama legal market, with Montgomery important for government and public-interest work. Samford University (Cumberland), based in the Birmingham area, keeps two in three graduates in Alabama, which signals a dense local network of employers and alumni in the state's largest market, per the ABA Class of 2024 employment data. The University of Alabama, while keeping a slightly lower share in state, carries the strongest statewide and regional reputation, so its degree travels well both within Alabama and into neighboring Southern markets. For an applicant whose goal is Alabama practice, both patterns are useful, and the choice turns on whether you value the deepest Birmingham network or the broadest regional reach.

Does Alabama use the NextGen bar exam?

Alabama has adopted the NextGen bar exam, and its first NextGen administration is scheduled for July 2028, according to the NCBE. Until that point, Alabama remains a Uniform Bar Examination jurisdiction, so candidates sitting for the Alabama bar before the transition take the current UBE.

The timing matters for anyone planning a study calendar around law school in Alabama. The NCBE reports that the legacy UBE and its Multistate Bar Examination component end nationally after the February 2028 administration, and Alabama is set to move to NextGen at the July 2028 sitting. In practical terms, a student who graduates and sits for the Alabama bar before July 2028 will take the UBE, while those testing at or after that date will take the NextGen exam. If your Alabama timeline is close to that changeover, confirm which format applies to your intended sitting with the Alabama State Bar and its board of bar examiners, since the NCBE sets the national framework but each jurisdiction runs its own transition.

Where can you take the LSAT in Alabama?

LSAT test centers are available in Alabama's major metros, including the Birmingham, Montgomery, Huntsville, Mobile, and Tuscaloosa areas, which together hold most of the state's population and legal activity. Because the specific list of centers and the mix of in-person and remote seats change every testing cycle, the reliable step is to check LSAC's official test-center list at lsac.org when you register rather than relying on a fixed address.

Birmingham, as the largest metro in Alabama, and Tuscaloosa, home to the state flagship, are natural testing hubs, but availability shifts from cycle to cycle across all of these markets. LSAC also offers a remote-proctored option that lets many Alabama candidates test from home, which is worth comparing against an in-person seat, especially for applicants outside the larger metros. Whichever you choose, register early: the most convenient dates and locations in Alabama tend to fill first, and securing a seat near you is easier well ahead of the deadline. Planning your test date early also leaves room to retake the LSAT if your first score falls short of the median at your target Alabama school, which can be decisive given how much the flagship's low tuition raises competition for its seats.

Which Alabama universities feed law school?

Alabama has a strong set of universities that regularly send graduates into law school. The flagship, the University of Alabama, is a leading pre-law feeder in the state, and Auburn University, the University of Alabama's largest in-state rival, sends a steady stream of applicants as well. The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Samford University, and Troy University round out the common feeders across Alabama.

These schools are named as typical pre-law pipelines based on their size and prominence in Alabama rather than any specific placement statistic, which this roll-up does not carry. A strong pre-law path in Alabama depends far more on the LSAT score and GPA you assemble than on the name of your undergraduate institution, so an applicant from any Alabama university can compete for the three schools in the table above by focusing on those two numbers. The state's flagship and its major public and private universities simply serve as convenient starting points because of their size and their pre-law advising resources. Applicants who studied outside Alabama are on equal footing: the three Alabama law schools evaluate the LSAT and GPA on the same terms regardless of where the undergraduate degree was earned, so a competitive score and transcript matter far more than an in-state undergraduate pedigree when applying to law school in Alabama.

Frequently asked questions about law school in Alabama

How many law schools are in Alabama?

Alabama has three ABA-accredited law schools, according to the 2025 ABA Standard 509 disclosures compiled for this guide: the University of Alabama, Samford University (Cumberland), and Faulkner University (Jones). That makes Alabama a small, focused market for legal education, with one selective and affordable public flagship and two more accessible private schools. Their medians range from 167 down to 150 across the state.

What is the easiest law school to get into in Alabama?

By acceptance rate, Faulkner University (Jones) is the most accessible law school in Alabama at 53.9 percent, with a 150 median LSAT, per its 2025 ABA 509 disclosure. Samford University (Cumberland) follows at 49.0 percent with a 156 median. Both admit roughly half of applicants, so a score around 150 to the mid-150s gives an applicant a genuine path at these Alabama schools even without a top LSAT.

What is the best law school in Alabama?

By the 2025 ABA 509 numbers, the University of Alabama is the most selective law school in Alabama, with a 167 median LSAT and a 25.6 percent acceptance rate, and it charges the lowest tuition in the state at $24,980. Best depends on fit and cost, but the Alabama flagship's rare combination of strong credentials and low price makes it the standout program in the state for most applicants.

What LSAT score do you need for law school in Alabama?

It depends on your target. Median LSATs in Alabama run 150 to 167 in the 2025 ABA 509 disclosures, so a mid-to-high 160s score is competitive at the University of Alabama, a mid-150s score at Samford University (Cumberland), and a score around 150 at Faulkner University (Jones). A score in the low-to-mid 150s keeps two of Alabama's three schools clearly in range, and a higher score is needed for the flagship.

How much does law school cost in Alabama?

Full-time tuition in Alabama runs from $24,980 at the University of Alabama, the public flagship, up to $39,900 at Faulkner University (Jones) and $46,334 at Samford University (Cumberland), according to the 2025 ABA 509 disclosures. Unusually, the most selective school in Alabama is also the cheapest, so the flagship offers strong value while the two private schools charge more despite lower medians.

Does Alabama use the NextGen bar exam?

Yes. Alabama has adopted the NextGen bar exam and is scheduled to give its first NextGen administration in July 2028, according to the NCBE. Until then, Alabama remains a Uniform Bar Examination jurisdiction. The NCBE reports that the legacy UBE and its Multistate Bar Examination component end after the February 2028 administration, so Alabama candidates testing at or after July 2028 will take NextGen.

Can you take the bar in Alabama with an out-of-state degree?

Yes. A JD from any ABA-accredited law school qualifies you to sit for the Alabama bar, so you do not have to attend one of the three law schools in Alabama to be admitted to practice there. This reflects standard national practice rather than a figure from the packet. Applicants should confirm the current Alabama admission requirements, including character and fitness, with the Alabama State Bar.

Which Alabama law school has the best bar passage?

This statewide roll-up reports median LSAT, acceptance rate, and tuition for each Alabama school but does not include school-by-school first-time bar-passage rates, so it would be inventing a figure to name a single leader. To compare bar passage across Alabama law schools, consult each school's ABA bar-passage report through the ABA disclosure portal, where first-time and ultimate pass rates for every Alabama program are published.

Are there part-time or evening law programs in Alabama?

This guide focuses on the 2025 ABA 509 admissions figures for Alabama and does not enumerate which schools run part-time or evening divisions, so it will not attribute specific program formats that were not provided. Program format is a real point of difference among schools, so confirm the current part-time and evening options directly with each Alabama law school you are considering before you apply.

Where can you take the LSAT in Alabama?

LSAT test centers operate in Alabama's major metros, including the Birmingham, Montgomery, Huntsville, Mobile, and Tuscaloosa areas. Because specific centers change each cycle, check LSAC's official test-center list at lsac.org when you register. A remote-proctored option also lets many Alabama candidates test from home, so weigh that against an in-person seat and register early for the best availability in Alabama.

Which Alabama law schools are splitter friendly?

The University of Alabama reads as reverse-splitter friendly, showing a six-point gap between its 25th percentile LSAT and its median in the 2025 ABA 509 data, meaning a strong GPA can offset a lower LSAT there. Samford University (Cumberland) reads as splitter friendly, with a 0.21 GPA spread, meaning a strong LSAT can offset a lower GPA. Faulkner University (Jones) is not flagged in either direction in Alabama.

Do you have to go to law school in Alabama to practice there?

No. You can earn a JD from an ABA-accredited school in any state and then sit for the Alabama bar to practice in Alabama, so attending an in-state school is not required. Many Alabama attorneys studied elsewhere and returned. Confirm current admission rules, including any admission on motion for licensed attorneys, with the Alabama State Bar, since those rules sit outside the 509 data used here.

Is the University of Alabama hard to get into?

Relatively, yes. The University of Alabama is the most selective law school in the state, reporting a 167 median LSAT and a 25.6 percent acceptance rate in its 2025 ABA 509 disclosure, and its low $24,980 tuition makes its seats especially competitive. A mid-to-high 160s LSAT and a strong GPA are the realistic baseline, though its reverse-splitter lean can help a high-GPA applicant whose LSAT is a few points short in Alabama.

Can a 150 LSAT get you into law school in Alabama?

Yes. A 150 is exactly the median at Faulkner University (Jones), which admits 53.9 percent of applicants, and it is within reach at Samford University (Cumberland), whose 156 median pairs with a 49.0 percent acceptance rate, both per the 2025 ABA 509 disclosures. A 150 opens real doors in Alabama, so treat it as a workable starting point, while a higher score would bring the University of Alabama into consideration.

Which Alabama law school is the best value?

The University of Alabama is the clear value leader in the state, pairing the highest median LSAT at 167 with the lowest full-time tuition at $24,980 in its 2025 ABA 509 disclosure. No other Alabama school matches that combination, since Samford University (Cumberland) and Faulkner University (Jones) both charge more for lower medians. Value should still be measured net of any scholarship aid an applicant is offered in Alabama.

Sources

Every figure on this page comes from primary disclosures, listed here so readers can verify each one directly for Alabama.

ABA Standard 509 Information Reports (2025), for each Alabama law school's median LSAT, acceptance rate, and full-time tuition, through the ABA disclosure portal: https://www.abarequireddisclosures.org/

NCBE, for Alabama bar-exam status and the NextGen transition timeline: https://www.ncbex.org/

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