Law Schools in Mississippi + LSAT Prep (2026 Guide)

There are two ABA-accredited law schools in Mississippi: the University of Mississippi, known as Ole Miss, and Mississippi College. Their median LSATs span 152 to 157 across the 2025 ABA Standard 509 disclosures, so a competitive Mississippi applicant generally targets a score in the low-to-mid 150s, a genuinely reachable range for the state's two schools.

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. Every admissions figure on this Mississippi guide comes from each school's 2025 ABA Standard 509 disclosure for the fall 2025 entering class, every bar-exam detail from the National Conference of Bar Examiners, and the in-state retention figures from the ABA employment data for the Class of 2024.

What law schools are in Mississippi?

Mississippi is a small state for legal education, with just two ABA-accredited law schools, and being honest about that is the starting point for any applicant. According to the 2025 ABA Standard 509 disclosures, the University of Mississippi, the public flagship in Oxford, leads the state with a 157 median LSAT and, at $19,797, the lower tuition of the two. Mississippi College, a private school with its law campus in the state capital of Jackson, sits at a 152 median with a more forgiving acceptance rate and a higher price. With only two schools, a Mississippi applicant is really choosing between one public and one private option rather than assembling a long in-state list, and the two are close enough on score that many candidates will be competitive at both. The table collects the core numbers for each Mississippi law school.

SchoolMedian LSATAcceptance rateFull-time tuitionUniversity of Mississippi15742.0%$19,797Mississippi College15259.8%$37,980

Each school's median LSAT, acceptance rate, and full-time tuition in the table above is taken from that school's own 2025 ABA Standard 509 disclosure for the fall 2025 entering class. The contrast between the two Mississippi schools is clean. The University of Mississippi pairs the stronger academic profile, a 157 median, with the more selective acceptance rate at 42.0 percent and the lower full-time tuition at $19,797, the public-flagship combination of a higher bar to clear and a lower price to pay. Mississippi College posts a 152 median, the state's higher acceptance rate at 59.8 percent, and a full-time tuition of $37,980, the private-school pattern of a more open door at a higher cost. For a Mississippi resident weighing the two, the flagship in Oxford is the more selective and more affordable choice, while Mississippi College in Jackson is the more accessible admit and the one physically embedded in the state's largest legal market.

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

Across Mississippi the median LSATs run from 152 to 157, per the 2025 ABA Standard 509 disclosures, a narrow five-point band that makes the state relatively approachable for applicants scoring in the 150s. There is no need for a top-of-scale number to have real options in Mississippi, and a single score in the mid-150s can put a candidate in play at both schools at once.

The University of Mississippi sets the top of the range at a 157 median in its 2025 ABA Standard 509 disclosure, so a score at or above 157 makes an applicant competitive at the flagship in Oxford. Because the University of Mississippi is also the more selective of the two at a 42.0 percent acceptance rate, a candidate below the 157 median leans more on GPA and the rest of the file to compete there. Mississippi College anchors the accessible end at a 152 median, which means a score around 150 to 153 sits squarely inside its admitted range, and with a 59.8 percent acceptance rate, Mississippi College is the more forgiving admit in the state. The five points between the two medians is a small gap, so an applicant who lifts a low-150s score into the mid-150s moves from being a strong Mississippi College candidate to a competitive applicant at the University of Mississippi as well.

The honest, encouraging reading for a Mississippi applicant is that the state does not demand a high score. A mid-150s LSAT is competitive at the University of Mississippi and comfortably inside the range at Mississippi College, and a low-150s score still lands inside Mississippi College's admitted band, so a lower scorer is not shut out of the state. On GPA, the 2025 disclosures do not publish a statewide standard, but both Mississippi schools read the GPA band generously, as the next section explains, which means a strong LSAT carries extra weight in a Mississippi application and a lower GPA is not automatically disqualifying at either school.

Because Mississippi has only two law schools, an applicant set on staying in-state should plan to apply to both rather than banking on a single admit, since the narrow five-point spread between the two medians means one strong application cycle can reasonably yield offers from each. A candidate whose LSAT lands at 155, for example, sits two points below the University of Mississippi median and three above the Mississippi College median, a position that is competitive at one school and comfortable at the other in the same cycle. That is the practical advantage of a compressed range: a Mississippi applicant does not have to choose a single score target and can prepare toward the top of the band, at or above 157, knowing that every point earned above the Mississippi College median only strengthens the file at the flagship. For applicants whose numbers fall short of both medians, the splitter angle covered next is the most realistic route into a Mississippi seat.

Which Mississippi law schools are splitter friendly?

Both of Mississippi's law schools are splitter friendly according to the 2025 ABA Standard 509 disclosures, which is unusually favorable for a two-school state and good news for any applicant whose LSAT outruns their GPA. A splitter carries a high LSAT with a lower GPA, and a splitter-friendly school forgives that lower GPA when the LSAT is strong.

The University of Mississippi is splitter friendly, with a GPA 25th-to-median spread of 0.24 in its 2025 ABA Standard 509 disclosure. That spread tells you the flagship in Oxford will read a file whose GPA sits meaningfully below its median when the LSAT is at or above the school's 157 mark, so a high-LSAT applicant with a middling GPA has a real path at the University of Mississippi. Mississippi College is splitter friendly by an even wider margin, showing a GPA 25th-to-median spread of 0.34 in its 2025 disclosure, the more forgiving GPA band of the two. That wide spread signals that Mississippi College in Jackson will look seriously at an applicant whose GPA lags, provided the LSAT is strong, so a high-LSAT splitter has an especially clear opening there.

Because both Mississippi schools lean the same way, the state as a whole rewards the high-LSAT splitter. An applicant with a strong LSAT and a GPA that trails it has splitter targets at both the University of Mississippi and Mississippi College, with Mississippi College the more forgiving of the two on the GPA number. This guide does not have reverse-splitter reads for Mississippi in its source data, so it does not promise a high-GPA, low-LSAT applicant an easy in-state path; the clear, documented edge in Mississippi belongs to the applicant whose LSAT is the stronger of their two numbers. That is a useful thing to know when deciding where to spend preparation time, because in Mississippi the LSAT is doing much of the work.

What is the legal job market like in Mississippi?

Mississippi's legal market is centered on Jackson, the state capital and largest city, which holds the concentration of law firms, state government legal offices, and courts that defines the top of the state's bar. The in-state retention data in the ABA employment figures for the Class of 2024 shows a striking split between the two schools. Mississippi College keeps 46 percent of its graduating class in Mississippi, close to half, which fits a school whose law campus sits in Jackson and feeds the capital's legal community directly. The University of Mississippi, by contrast, keeps only 28 percent of its class in Mississippi, meaning a clear majority of Ole Miss law graduates begin their careers outside the state.

That 28 percent figure is the most important and most surprising fact about the Mississippi market, and it deserves an honest reading. A flagship that retains barely more than a quarter of its class in-state is exporting most of its graduates, and while this guide will not name specific out-of-state destinations because they were not in the source data, the pattern tells a Mississippi applicant something concrete: a University of Mississippi degree travels, and a large share of each class launches beyond Mississippi's borders. Mississippi College's 46 percent retention points the other way, toward a school more anchored to the Jackson market it sits in. For an applicant whose goal is to practice in Mississippi, that contrast matters: Mississippi College places a larger share of its class in the state, while the flagship in Oxford, despite its stronger academic profile, sends most graduates elsewhere. This page does not quote salary figures for Mississippi, because none were in the source data, and an invented salary would undercut a primary-source guide.

The geography behind those numbers helps explain them. Mississippi College's law campus sits in Jackson, the state capital and the center of Mississippi's legal economy, where the state courts, the largest firms, and the government legal offices cluster, so a school located there naturally channels a larger share of its graduates into the surrounding market. The University of Mississippi sits in Oxford, in the northern part of the state and well away from the Jackson hub, and its lower in-state retention reflects a flagship whose reputation and reach pull graduates outward rather than concentrating them at home. For a Mississippi applicant, the lesson is to match the school to the plan: if the goal is a career in Jackson or elsewhere in Mississippi, Mississippi College's location and its 46 percent retention are genuine advantages, whereas the University of Mississippi is the stronger choice for a candidate who values the flagship credential and is open to practicing outside the state. Either way, Jackson remains the gravitational center of the Mississippi legal market, and proximity to it during school shapes where a graduate is most likely to land.

Does Mississippi use the NextGen bar exam?

Mississippi has adopted the NextGen bar exam, but as of this writing the National Conference of Bar Examiners lists no published first-administration date for the state, so the honest answer is that Mississippi is committed to NextGen without a confirmed start. Mississippi does not administer the Uniform Bar Exam; it gives its own state-specific bar exam, which sets it apart from the many states that have used the UBE.

For a candidate planning the Mississippi bar, that means two things. First, the exam you sit today is Mississippi's own, not the Uniform Bar Exam, so a score is not portable to other UBE states the way a UBE result would be, and you should prepare specifically for the Mississippi format. Second, the transition to NextGen is coming but not yet dated, so this guide states that absence plainly rather than guessing a year. The National Conference of Bar Examiners has confirmed that the legacy Uniform Bar Exam and the Multistate Bar Examination end nationally after the February 2028 administration, which is the backdrop pushing every state, Mississippi included, toward NextGen, but Mississippi has not published when its first NextGen exam will be given. Because the timing is unsettled, a Mississippi candidate should confirm the current exam format and any NextGen start date directly with the Mississippi Board of Bar Admissions before building a bar-prep plan. Bar-exam format and adoption status are the parts of this Mississippi guide sourced to the National Conference of Bar Examiners rather than the ABA disclosures.

Where can you take the LSAT in Mississippi?

LSAT test centers are available in Mississippi's major population centers, most prominently the Jackson metro in the center of the state, along with the Gulf Coast around Gulfport and Biloxi, the Hattiesburg area in the south, and Oxford in the north, the university town that is home to the University of Mississippi. Beyond any physical center, the LSAT is offered in a remote-proctored format, so a Mississippi test taker can often sit the exam from home instead of traveling to a center.

The specific list of open LSAT centers in Mississippi changes from one administration to the next, so rather than print addresses that may be outdated by the time you register, this guide points Mississippi test takers to LSAC's official test-center list, which shows the current in-person and remote options for each sitting. Register early in the cycle, because in a smaller state the number of physical Mississippi seats is limited and the most convenient locations, particularly around Jackson during the busy fall testing months, can fill quickly. Confirming your Mississippi test date and format on LSAC's official list ahead of the deadline is the most reliable way to secure the seat you want, and the remote option is a useful fallback if in-person Mississippi seats are scarce.

Which Mississippi universities feed law school?

Mississippi's undergraduate feeders into law school are led by the public flagship, the University of Mississippi in Oxford, whose large pre-law population flows naturally into the state's law schools, and Mississippi State University in Starkville, the state's other large public university. The University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg and Jackson State University in the capital add further feeder populations, and Mississippi College itself educates undergraduates in Clinton, near Jackson, who continue into its law program. These schools span the state's main population centers, which makes them convenient pipelines for Mississippi students who intend to stay in-state for law school.

They are named here as common pre-law feeders based on their size and prominence within Mississippi higher education, not on any specific placement statistic, because the source data for this guide does not include school-by-school undergraduate-origin counts for Mississippi law students. What can be said plainly is that a Mississippi resident has several solid in-state undergraduate paths toward a law degree, with the University of Mississippi sitting at the center of that pipeline as both a leading feeder and the state's higher-median law school. An applicant deciding where to complete a pre-law degree in Mississippi should focus on grades, LSAT preparation, and a coherent application rather than assuming a particular Mississippi university confers an admissions edge.

Frequently asked questions about law school in Mississippi

How many law schools are in Mississippi?

Mississippi has two ABA-accredited law schools: the University of Mississippi, the public flagship in Oxford, and Mississippi College, a private school with its law campus in Jackson. Their median LSATs range from 152 to 157 across the 2025 ABA Standard 509 disclosures. With only two schools, Mississippi is a small state for legal education, so a Mississippi applicant chooses between one public and one private option.

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

Mississippi College is the more accessible law school in Mississippi, admitting 59.8 percent of applicants for fall 2025 with the state's lower median LSAT of 152, per its 2025 ABA Standard 509 disclosure. The University of Mississippi is more selective at a 42.0 percent acceptance rate and a 157 median. A low-150s score is a realistic Mississippi College target, so a lower score does not close off the state.

What is the best law school in Mississippi?

By the numbers, the University of Mississippi leads Mississippi, with the state's higher median LSAT at 157, its more selective acceptance rate at 42.0 percent, and its lower full-time tuition at $19,797, all per the 2025 ABA Standard 509 disclosure. Best depends on cost and career goals, but the flagship in Oxford is the stronger and more affordable option in Mississippi, while Mississippi College is the more accessible admit.

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

It depends on the Mississippi school, but the bar is reachable. The 2025 ABA Standard 509 disclosures put the medians at 152 for Mississippi College and 157 for the University of Mississippi. A low-150s score is competitive at Mississippi College, and a mid-150s score at or above 157 makes an applicant competitive at the University of Mississippi. Only five points separate the two Mississippi medians.

How much does law school cost in Mississippi?

Full-time tuition at Mississippi law schools is $19,797 at the public University of Mississippi and $37,980 at private Mississippi College, per the 2025 ABA Standard 509 disclosures. The flagship in Oxford is both the stronger academically and the more affordable, costing roughly half of Mississippi College. Living costs and scholarships, which vary by student, are not included in these Mississippi tuition figures.

Does Mississippi use the NextGen bar exam?

Mississippi has adopted the NextGen bar exam, but the National Conference of Bar Examiners lists no published first-administration date, so the start is not yet confirmed. Mississippi does not use the Uniform Bar Exam; it gives its own state exam. The legacy UBE and Multistate Bar Examination end nationally after February 2028, so a Mississippi candidate should confirm the current format with the state bar admissions office.

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

As a general rule, a J.D. from any ABA-accredited law school qualifies a graduate to sit for the Mississippi bar, so you do not have to attend a Mississippi law school to become a Mississippi lawyer. Mississippi sets its own character-and-fitness and admission requirements, so confirm the current rules with the Mississippi Board of Bar Admissions before you rely on them. This is general guidance, not a figure from the disclosures.

Which Mississippi law school has the best bar passage?

School-by-school bar-passage rates for Mississippi were not part of the source data for this guide, so this page does not rank the two Mississippi schools on bar passage rather than invent numbers. Both the University of Mississippi and Mississippi College publish their own first-time and ultimate bar-passage rates in their ABA disclosures, so a reader comparing Mississippi schools on that measure should consult each school's ABA bar-passage report directly.

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

Program-format detail, including whether either Mississippi school offers a part-time or evening division, was not included in the source data for this guide, so this page states that absence rather than assert a schedule that might be wrong. An applicant who needs a part-time or evening option in Mississippi should confirm current program formats directly with the University of Mississippi and Mississippi College.

Where can you take the LSAT in Mississippi?

LSAT test centers operate in Mississippi's main population centers, chiefly the Jackson metro, along with the Gulf Coast around Gulfport and Biloxi, the Hattiesburg area, and Oxford in the north, and remote-proctored testing is also available to Mississippi candidates from home. Because the open centers in Mississippi change each administration, check LSAC's official test-center list for current options and register early, since in-person seats can be limited.

Which Mississippi law schools are splitter friendly?

Per the 2025 ABA Standard 509 disclosures, both Mississippi schools are splitter friendly, favoring a high LSAT paired with a lower GPA. The University of Mississippi shows a GPA 25th-to-median spread of 0.24, and Mississippi College a wider 0.34 spread, making Mississippi College the more forgiving of the two on GPA. In Mississippi, a strong LSAT can offset a lower GPA at either school.

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

No. You do not have to attend a Mississippi law school to practice law in Mississippi; a degree from any ABA-accredited law school, followed by passing the Mississippi bar and meeting the state's admission requirements, lets you practice in Mississippi. Attending an in-state school such as the University of Mississippi can help with local connections, but it is not required. Confirm the current rules with the Mississippi Board of Bar Admissions.

What is the cheapest law school in Mississippi?

The University of Mississippi is the cheaper law school in Mississippi, with full-time tuition of $19,797 in its 2025 ABA Standard 509 disclosure, against $37,980 at private Mississippi College. Because the flagship in Oxford is also the state's higher-median and more selective school, it offers the stronger value in Mississippi for an applicant who can reach its 157 median LSAT.

Do Mississippi law graduates stay in the state?

It varies sharply by school. Per the ABA Class of 2024 employment data, Mississippi College keeps 46 percent of its graduates in Mississippi, close to half, while the University of Mississippi keeps just 28 percent, meaning most Ole Miss law graduates start their careers outside the state. If practicing in Mississippi is your goal, Mississippi College, embedded in the Jackson market, retains the larger share of its class in-state.

Can you get into a Mississippi law school with a 150 LSAT?

Yes. A 150 sits just below the 152 median at Mississippi College, per the 2025 ABA Standard 509 disclosures, and with Mississippi College admitting 59.8 percent of applicants, a low-150s score keeps a Mississippi applicant inside a realistic admitted range there. A strong GPA helps, and because Mississippi College is splitter friendly with a wide 0.34 GPA spread, a 150 paired with solid grades is a workable Mississippi application.

Sources

Every figure on this Mississippi guide is drawn from primary disclosures, listed here so readers can verify each one directly.

American Bar Association required disclosures, the 2025 ABA Standard 509 Information Reports for each Mississippi law school (medians, acceptance rates, and tuition): https://www.abarequireddisclosures.org/

National Conference of Bar Examiners, NextGen adoption and bar-exam status for Mississippi: https://www.ncbex.org/

LSAC official LSAT test-center list for Mississippi administrations: https://www.lsac.org/

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