Law Schools in New Hampshire + LSAT Prep (2026 Guide)

New Hampshire has one ABA accredited law school, the University of New Hampshire (Franklin Pierce), so the state is small for legal education. Its 2025 ABA 509 disclosure reports a median LSAT of 155, meaning applicants to law schools in New Hampshire aim for the mid 150s. This guide covers the score needed, tuition, the bar exam, and the market.

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.

What law schools are in New Hampshire?

New Hampshire has exactly one ABA accredited law school: the University of New Hampshire (Franklin Pierce), whose law campus is in Concord, the state capital. Because a single institution serves the entire state, New Hampshire is one of the smallest legal-education markets in the country. The table below lists the median LSAT, acceptance rate, and full-time tuition for that school, each figure taken from its 2025 ABA Standard 509 disclosure for the fall 2025 entering class.

SchoolMedian LSATAcceptance rateFull-time tuitionUniversity of New Hampshire (Franklin Pierce)15552.0%$42,000

Each figure in the table above is drawn from the University of New Hampshire (Franklin Pierce) 2025 ABA Standard 509 disclosure. The 509 disclosure is the annual, standardized report every ABA accredited school files, which is why it is the cleanest single source for comparing medians, acceptance rates, and tuition across law schools in New Hampshire and beyond.

Two things stand out about the one law school in New Hampshire. First, its median LSAT of 155 sits right around the national midpoint, so this is a genuinely attainable school for a wide band of applicants rather than a reach for most. Second, its acceptance rate of 52.0% from the 2025 ABA 509 disclosure means the school admits slightly more than half of the people who apply, which makes it accessible relative to many law schools nationally. When you are deciding among law schools in New Hampshire, you are really deciding whether the University of New Hampshire (Franklin Pierce) fits your goals, because there is no in-state alternative accredited by the ABA.

The cost picture is different here than at some single-school public options. The University of New Hampshire (Franklin Pierce) reports full-time tuition of $42,000 in its 2025 ABA 509 disclosure, a mid-to-higher figure that reflects its status and structure. Being honest about scale matters: with one ABA law school, New Hampshire does not offer the range of price points and specializations that a large state provides. What it offers is a clear, single target with an accessible acceptance rate, and the rest of this guide treats that school in depth, including how its unusually low in-state retention should shape your plans.

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

In-state median LSATs run from 155 to 155 across law schools in New Hampshire, because the University of New Hampshire (Franklin Pierce) is the only ABA school and its 2025 ABA 509 disclosure reports a median of 155. That single number is the anchor for everything below. The University of New Hampshire (Franklin Pierce) is by definition both the top-median and the most accessible school in the state, since it is the only one, and its 52.0% acceptance rate from the same disclosure tells you this is a school that admits a majority of its applicants.

A median is the 50th percentile: half of the enrolled class in New Hampshire scored at or above 155, and half scored at or below it. If your LSAT is at or above 155, you are competitive at the University of New Hampshire (Franklin Pierce) and you sit in the stronger half of the applicant pool, which also improves your scholarship standing. A score in the high 150s or low 160s does not just clear the bar in New Hampshire, it positions you well for the merit aid that can offset the school's higher tuition.

If your LSAT is below 155, do not assume you are out of contention for law schools in New Hampshire. An acceptance rate of 52.0% means the University of New Hampshire (Franklin Pierce) routinely admits applicants below its median, and low-150s scorers are exactly the group the numbers say the school works with. Where a below-median score costs you is scholarship dollars, not necessarily the admission itself. The practical read is that scores in the low 150s keep you in the conversation in New Hampshire, a 155 puts you at the median, and high 150s or better make you a strong candidate for both admission and aid.

On GPA, the University of New Hampshire (Franklin Pierce) 2025 ABA 509 spread shows a 25th-to-median GPA gap of 0.4, which is a wide band. A gap that large signals the school does not treat undergraduate GPA as a hard cutoff and will readily consider applicants whose grades sit well below the class median when the LSAT supports the file. The packet does not publish the school's exact median GPA, so treat GPA as a factor that flexes around a solid LSAT rather than a fixed threshold. For applicants to law schools in New Hampshire, this wide band is genuinely good news for anyone with an uneven transcript.

Because there is only one ABA school in the state, your LSAT strategy for New Hampshire is unusually clear. You are aiming to clear or beat 155, and every additional point above that median improves both your admission odds and your scholarship leverage at the University of New Hampshire (Franklin Pierce), which matters given the $42,000 tuition. If a diagnostic puts you in the low 150s, a focused retake is often the single highest-return move, because moving to or past the median can meaningfully change your aid offer.

Which New Hampshire law schools are splitter friendly?

A splitter is an applicant with a high LSAT and a lower GPA; a reverse splitter has the opposite, a strong GPA paired with a lower LSAT. Schools that admit these profiles are called splitter friendly, and they reward applicants whose numbers are lopsided. Among law schools in New Hampshire, the University of New Hampshire (Franklin Pierce) reads as clearly splitter friendly based on its 2025 ABA 509 disclosure.

The signal is strong here. The University of New Hampshire (Franklin Pierce) 25th-to-median GPA gap is 0.4, computed from its 2025 ABA 509 disclosure, one of the wider bands you will see and a firm indicator that the school regularly enrolls students whose GPA sits well below the class median. That is the splitter pattern in its most favorable form: a candidate brings a competitive LSAT and relies on it to offset a soft GPA. If you have a 155 or better but an undergraduate record that dipped, New Hampshire's only law school is a realistic target, not a long shot.

Because New Hampshire has a single ABA school, there is no in-state reverse-splitter alternative to point to, and the packet does not identify the University of New Hampshire (Franklin Pierce) as reverse-splitter friendly. If your profile is a high GPA with a lower LSAT, the guidance from the score section applies: invest in the LSAT, because a stronger score does the most to move an application to law schools in New Hampshire. In a one-school state, your splitter status is measured against a single admissions committee, and that committee's wide 0.4 GPA band makes the University of New Hampshire (Franklin Pierce) an especially forgiving option for high-LSAT, lower-GPA applicants.

What is the legal job market like in New Hampshire?

The defining fact about the New Hampshire legal market is its low in-state retention. According to ABA Class of 2024 employment data, the University of New Hampshire (Franklin Pierce) keeps only 33% of its graduating class in New Hampshire. That is a notably low retention rate for a single-school state, and it tells you something important: the majority of graduates build their careers outside New Hampshire. This is a school whose graduates disperse rather than concentrate in the local bar.

Geography explains much of this. New Hampshire is a small state bordering Massachusetts, and the greater Boston legal market is one of the largest in the Northeast, so it is a natural regional destination for graduates who do not stay in New Hampshire. The packet does not break down exactly where the other graduates go, so this guide does not assign percentages to specific out-of-state markets; what the 33% figure makes clear is that studying at the in-state school does not tether you to New Hampshire, and many graduates practice across New England instead.

Within New Hampshire itself, the legal market centers on a few cities. Manchester is the state's largest city and its biggest private-practice market; Concord, the capital, anchors state government, the courts, and public-sector legal work, and is where the law school itself sits; and the Portsmouth and seacoast area and Nashua round out the state's legal centers. Because only 33% of the class stays, competition among graduates for these in-state roles is meaningful, and applicants set on practicing in New Hampshire should build local connections deliberately. The packet does not provide salary figures for New Hampshire, so this guide does not estimate earnings; consult each employer and the school's employment reports for compensation data.

The strategic takeaway is that New Hampshire's only law school functions as much as a regional school as a strictly in-state one. The low 33% retention rate means the alumni network reaches broadly across New England rather than concentrating inside New Hampshire. That is an advantage if you want optionality across the Northeast, and something to plan around if your heart is set on a New Hampshire career, since the in-state pipeline from law schools in New Hampshire is thinner than the single-school setup might suggest.

Does New Hampshire use the NextGen bar exam?

Yes. According to the NCBE, New Hampshire has adopted the NextGen bar exam, with its first NextGen administration scheduled for July 2028. New Hampshire is currently a Uniform Bar Exam jurisdiction, so until that transition it administers the UBE, and it will move to the NextGen exam at the July 2028 sitting. The NCBE has confirmed that the legacy UBE and its Multistate Bar Examination component end after the February 2028 administration nationally, and New Hampshire's own NextGen start follows a few months later in July 2028.

For applicants planning a timeline, the implication is straightforward. If you graduate from the University of New Hampshire (Franklin Pierce) and sit the bar before 2028, you will most likely take the current UBE that New Hampshire administers. If your bar sitting falls in or after July 2028, plan for the NextGen exam, the NCBE's redesigned test built around integrated legal skills rather than the older segmented structure. The bar you take is set by when you sit it in New Hampshire, not by when you enrolled.

New Hampshire's current status as a UBE jurisdiction is especially relevant given how many of its graduates leave the state. A UBE score earned in New Hampshire can, subject to each jurisdiction's own rules and score requirements, be transferred to other UBE states, which is genuinely useful when 33% retention means most of the class practices elsewhere. Neighboring markets in New England vary in their bar rules, so anyone planning to practice across state lines should confirm the receiving jurisdiction's UBE score policy, and anyone sitting around the 2028 transition should check the current New Hampshire rules before choosing a date.

The bottom line for law schools in New Hampshire is that bar planning is both a scheduling exercise and, for many graduates, a portability question. Know your expected graduation date, check it against the July 2028 NextGen start that the NCBE has set for New Hampshire, and prepare for whichever exam your sitting falls under. Because New Hampshire has one law school, the University of New Hampshire (Franklin Pierce) own bar-preparation resources and pass-rate history are the most relevant benchmarks, and you should request those figures directly, since the disclosures cited in this guide do not include New Hampshire bar passage rates.

Where can you take the LSAT in New Hampshire?

LSAT test centers are available in New Hampshire's major metros, but the specific locations offered change from cycle to cycle, so the reliable move is to consult LSAC's official test-center list at lsac.org when you register rather than relying on any fixed address. LSAC also administers the LSAT in a remotely proctored online format, which many New Hampshire candidates use for convenience, and which is a dependable fallback whenever in-person seats are limited.

New Hampshire's largest metros, and therefore the areas where in-person testing and study resources cluster, include Manchester, Nashua, Concord, and the Portsmouth and Dover seacoast area. Because New Hampshire sits within the greater Boston region, some candidates also test at nearby Massachusetts centers, though you should always confirm current availability through LSAC rather than assuming a location remains open. Applicants across law schools in New Hampshire should register early, since in-person seats in smaller markets fill and disappear faster than in large metro areas.

Whichever format you choose, treat the logistics of the LSAT in New Hampshire as part of your preparation. Confirm the test date against your application timeline, secure your seat or online slot as soon as registration opens, and build your study calendar backward from the sitting. Because your target in New Hampshire is a single median of 155, a well-timed, well-prepared LSAT is the most controllable variable in your entire application.

Which New Hampshire universities feed law school?

New Hampshire's flagship and largest universities are the natural pre-law feeders into legal education, both in-state and beyond. The University of New Hampshire, whose main campus is in Durham and which houses the state's law school, is a common starting point for New Hampshire students who go on to law school, and its undergraduate programs in political science, history, and the humanities are traditional pre-law tracks. Dartmouth College in Hanover, an Ivy League institution, is another prominent New Hampshire university whose graduates frequently pursue law.

Other institutions contribute as well. Saint Anselm College in Manchester is well known for its programs in politics and government, and Southern New Hampshire University, Keene State College, and Plymouth State University round out the state's notable four-year options. Students from all of these universities apply to law schools in New Hampshire and out of state, and none guarantees admission; a strong LSAT and a coherent application remain the decisive factors regardless of where you did your undergraduate work.

It is worth noting the general nature of this section: naming New Hampshire's flagship and major universities as common pre-law feeders reflects the state's higher-education landscape, not a specific placement statistic. The packet does not attribute a placement rate to any New Hampshire university, and neither does this guide. What matters for an applicant is that a pre-law path in New Hampshire can begin at any accredited undergraduate program, and that the University of New Hampshire (Franklin Pierce) evaluates candidates on their LSAT, GPA, and application, not on which New Hampshire college they attended.

Frequently asked questions about law school in New Hampshire

How many law schools are in New Hampshire?

New Hampshire has one ABA accredited law school, the University of New Hampshire (Franklin Pierce), based in Concord. That single institution makes New Hampshire one of the smallest legal-education markets in the country. Any list of law schools in New Hampshire begins and ends with the University of New Hampshire (Franklin Pierce), so applicants face one clear admissions target rather than a field of competing medians and price points.

What is the easiest law school to get into in New Hampshire?

Because New Hampshire has only one ABA law school, the University of New Hampshire (Franklin Pierce) is by definition both the easiest and the most selective law school to get into in New Hampshire. Its 2025 ABA 509 disclosure reports an acceptance rate of 52.0%, meaning it admits a majority of applicants, which is accessible, especially for candidates who meet or approach its median LSAT of 155.

What is the best law school in New Hampshire?

The University of New Hampshire (Franklin Pierce) is the best law school in New Hampshire in the practical sense that it is the state's only ABA accredited option. Its 2025 ABA 509 disclosure reports a median LSAT of 155 and full-time tuition of $42,000. For anyone committed to studying law in New Hampshire, it is both the strongest and the sole in-state choice.

What LSAT score do you need for law school in New Hampshire?

The University of New Hampshire (Franklin Pierce) reports a median LSAT of 155 in its 2025 ABA 509 disclosure, so 155 is the number to aim for at law schools in New Hampshire. A score at or above 155 makes you competitive and strengthens your scholarship case. Given the 52.0% acceptance rate, applicants in the low 150s remain in contention, though a higher score improves both admission odds and aid.

How much does law school cost in New Hampshire?

The University of New Hampshire (Franklin Pierce) reports full-time tuition of $42,000 in its 2025 ABA 509 disclosure, a mid-to-higher figure among law schools in New Hampshire and nationally. That number is tuition alone and does not include living expenses, fees, or books, and it can differ by residency and aid, so applicants should confirm current rates and total cost of attendance directly with the school.

Does New Hampshire use the NextGen bar exam?

According to the NCBE, New Hampshire has adopted the NextGen bar exam and will first administer it in July 2028. Until then New Hampshire remains a Uniform Bar Exam jurisdiction, so it currently administers the UBE. The legacy UBE and MBE end after the February 2028 administration nationally, so whether you take the UBE or NextGen in New Hampshire depends on when your bar sitting falls.

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

Yes. New Hampshire admits graduates of ABA accredited law schools from any state to sit its bar exam, so an out-of-state degree does not prevent you from practicing in New Hampshire. New Hampshire is currently a UBE jurisdiction and transitions to NextGen in July 2028 per the NCBE, so confirm the current exam, deadlines, and admission requirements with the New Hampshire bar authorities before you plan a sitting.

Which New Hampshire law school has the best bar passage?

New Hampshire has only one ABA law school, the University of New Hampshire (Franklin Pierce), so it is the sole in-state bar-passage benchmark by default. The disclosures cited in this guide cover medians, acceptance, and tuition but not New Hampshire bar passage rates, so this guide does not state a figure. Request the school's current first-time and ultimate bar passage numbers directly from the University of New Hampshire (Franklin Pierce) or its ABA 509 report.

Are there part-time or evening law programs in New Hampshire?

The packet used for this guide does not specify whether the University of New Hampshire (Franklin Pierce) offers a part-time or evening program, so this guide does not claim one exists. Program format matters for working applicants, so anyone needing a part-time or evening option in New Hampshire should confirm directly with the University of New Hampshire (Franklin Pierce) whether such a track is available for the entering class they are targeting.

Where can you take the LSAT in New Hampshire?

LSAT test centers are available in New Hampshire's major metros, including areas around Manchester, Nashua, Concord, and the Portsmouth and Dover seacoast, but the exact centers change each cycle. Check LSAC's official test-center list at lsac.org when you register. Many New Hampshire candidates use the remotely proctored online LSAT, and some test at nearby centers in the greater Boston region when in-state seats are limited.

Which New Hampshire law schools are splitter friendly?

The University of New Hampshire (Franklin Pierce) reads as clearly splitter friendly among law schools in New Hampshire, based on its 2025 ABA 509 disclosure. Its 25th-to-median GPA spread of 0.4 is wide, indicating the school enrolls applicants whose GPA sits well below the class median when a strong LSAT supports the file. If you have a competitive LSAT and a softer GPA, New Hampshire's only law school is a genuinely realistic target.

Do you have to go to law school in New Hampshire to practice there?

No. You do not have to attend law schools in New Hampshire to practice in New Hampshire; graduates of any ABA accredited school may sit the New Hampshire bar. The University of New Hampshire (Franklin Pierce) keeps only 33% of its class in the state per ABA Class of 2024 data, so many graduates practice elsewhere in New England. Studying in or out of state is compatible with a New Hampshire career if you plan for it.

Why does New Hampshire keep so few of its graduates?

The University of New Hampshire (Franklin Pierce) retains just 33% of its class in New Hampshire per ABA Class of 2024 data, a low figure for a single-school state. The most straightforward explanation is geography: New Hampshire borders the large greater Boston legal market, a natural regional destination. The packet does not detail where each graduate goes, so this guide notes only that most build careers outside New Hampshire.

How competitive is admission to law school in New Hampshire?

Admission to the University of New Hampshire (Franklin Pierce), the only ABA law school in New Hampshire, is moderately accessible. Its 2025 ABA 509 disclosure shows a 52.0% acceptance rate and a 155 median LSAT, so it admits a majority of applicants and the target score sits near the national midpoint. Meeting or beating the median makes you strong for admission and aid, and the wide GPA band helps applicants with uneven records.

Sources

Medians, acceptance rates, and tuition for law schools in New Hampshire come from each school's 2025 ABA Standard 509 disclosure, published on the ABA Required Disclosures portal at https://www.abarequireddisclosures.org/. Bar exam status for New Hampshire, including its NextGen adoption and July 2028 first administration, comes from the National Conference of Bar Examiners at https://www.ncbex.org/. LSAT test-center information is maintained by LSAC at https://www.lsac.org/.

Plan your New Hampshire application with a data-backed evaluation

Because New Hampshire comes down to one clear target with a wide GPA band, a focused plan pays off. If you want a read on how your LSAT and GPA stack up against the University of New Hampshire (Franklin Pierce) numbers, and a concrete strategy for hitting or beating the 155 median, start here. Get your free New Hampshire law school profile evaluation and turn the data in this guide into a personalized plan for law schools in New Hampshire.