Best Law Schools in Pennsylvania

Looking for the Best Law Schools in Pennsylvania? Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state of the United States of America. Even before World War II, Pennsylvania was a major coal, steel, and railroad industrial center in the United States.

With museums and different cultural groups that attract people from all over the world, its law school is second to none, ranking among other renowned colleges in the United States.

Law schools in Pennsylvania are highly competitive since they receive a large number of candidates each academic year.

In this article, you will learn about the best law schools in Pennsylvania.

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Law schools in Pennsylvania

If you’ve decided to advance your legal profession, Pennsylvania is one state to consider.

Pennsylvania law schools have a track record of distinction, with their students consistently ranking among the best in their specialties.

With possibilities such as criminal law, business law, tax law, environmental law, family law, and health law, applicants often have a feeling of direction when selecting these schools because they know which law degree they want to specialize in.

Pennsylvania has few law schools but they remain one of the finest and most prestigious in the United States. These are the law schools in Pennsylvania:

• 1. Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law
• 2. Duquesne University School of Law
• 3. Penn State Dickinson Law
• 4. Penn State Law
• 5. University of Pennsylvania Law School
• 6. University of Pittsburgh School of Law
• 7. Temple University School of Law
• 8. Villanova University School of Law
• 9. Widener University Commonwealth Law School

What are the Best Law Schools in Pennsylvania?

As a College applicant hoping to be admitted into a law school, you’d have to go with the best options to guarantee a distinct certificate or employment after graduation. 

There are important criteria a law applicant in Pennsylvania should go for and these should include; quality of education, opportunities, rankings, location, selectivity, placement success, and bar passage rate.

Choosing the Best Law Schools in Pennsylvania wouldn’t be a challenge as there aren’t many law schools in the state. 

These Schools are placed as the best because they offer their students opportunities to become the best in their field thus making them every law school applicant’s dream.

These are the Best Law Schools in Pennsylvania:

• 1. University of Pennsylvania 
• 2. Villanova University
• 3. Pennsylvania State University
• 4. Temple University 

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Top Law Schools in Pennsylvania

The application process for law school is time-consuming and needs extensive research and effort. As a result, you must thoroughly grasp how your decision to study law and the school you attend will impact your future.

Choosing a law school is a very rational decision that every applicant must make at some point in their academic career.

Any improper decision might impede or ruin your attempts to move forward.

The top law schools in Pennsylvania provide the greatest legal education. These schools are identified based on their admission rate and well-structured educational system.

Here are the top law schools in Pennsylvania: 

1. Pennsylvania State University 

Pennsylvania State University is located in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. The School of Law offers two degrees in J.D, LL.M., and also Joint degree Programs. 

Students are advised to enroll in at least 12 credits per semester and not more than 17 credits per semester. Students can have up to six credits towards their J.D. degree from approved graduate-level courses offered by other departments in the University.

Pennsylvania State University offers Students joint degrees in J.D/MBA, M.P. A, and Masters in Public Health. The tuition fee for students who want to study in-state or out-state for a full academic year is $50,582.

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2. Villanova University School of Law

Villanova University’s School of Law is a fraction of the Villanova University located in Villanova. The Charles Widger School of Law offers different Law Degrees, including the Juris Doctor Program for approximately 3 years.

The School also offers joint degree programs including JD/MBA, JD/LL.M in Taxation. 

Students are placed with the option to either have both the JD and the graduate law degree in taxation and with LL.M. in an additional semester. Moreover, Villanova University Law School offers JD/LL.M. in International Studies, and LL.M. in Taxation.

The tuition fee is $46,535. 

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3. University of Pennsylvania

The University of Pennsylvania Law School is among the most selective and oldest law schools in the world. Overall, it ranks 7th in U.S. News & World Report.

University of Pennsylvania Law School offers a Juris Doctor Program alongside the LL.M program. There are three LL.M graduate Programs including LL.M and LL.CM and S.J.D.

The LL.CM is a 1-year master’s program in Comparative law. The law college offers a Master in Law ML and Law students can also earn an additional degree in three years.

So they can complete both a J.D. and another degree, including an M.B.A., a master’s in bioethics, and a master’s of City & Regional Planning. With an $80 application fee, students can pay $65,804 for their tuition fees.

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How Long is Law School in Pennsylvania?

According to ABA, a full-time J.D. program is for three years. While law programs that are rushed would be completed in two years, a part-time J.D. program would take at least four years to be completed.

It’s the same for law schools in Pennsylvania as it takes about four years to complete a full semester program in a law degree.

Graduates from law schools in Pennsylvania confirm that especially during the first year, the law program is academically demanding and emotionally intense.

One thing about getting a law degree is that initially, it’ll seem long but immediately after you find yourself in the system, it’ll be easier to move forward till you’ve completed the degree.

Law Schools in Harrisburg Pennsylvania

The City of Harrisburg, the state capital of Pennsylvania is a town with a rich history that spans more than 200 years. With a cost of living 25.1% lower than the U.S. average, Harrisburg is home to about 49,322 people.

There’s only one Law school in Harrisburg Pennsylvania, which is:

Widener University Commonwealth Law School 

Widener University Commonwealth Law School is a law school located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and part of Widener University, a private university in Wilmington, Delaware. 

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What is the Easiest Law School to get into?

Every law school has an acceptance rate that measures the maximum percentage of students they’re willing to admit every academic year. It differs for each law school because of their different structures and holding capacity. 

In the process of applying to a law school, you should put your applications first to the law schools with a higher acceptance rate, to increase your chances of being admitted and put you in a safe spot. 

The Easiest Law School to get into in Pennsylvania is:

Widener University Commonwealth Law School 

Widener University is marked with the highest acceptance rate of 68.09%. It is very accommodating to applicants and admission isn’t quite strict as long as you follow the requirements placed by the school. 

This university is the easiest law school to get into in Pennsylvania.

Law students hoping to study in Pennsylvania tend to drop applications here a lot because of their high acceptance rate compared to other law schools in Pennsylvania. 

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Law Schools in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh is a city in Western Pennsylvania in the United States. Its population makes up an estimate of over 302,205 people. 

Law Schools in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania are known for providing a world-class legal education giving students better employment scores after graduation.

These are the Law Schools in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania:

1. Duquesne University School of Law

Duquesne University is a private Catholic university. It is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1911. The University is ABA-approved and is also a member of the American Association of Law Schools. 

Duquesne University School of Law is ranked 6th in the United States as the “Top Law School for Bar Passage.” The School of Law was recently recognized among the top law schools in the country whose graduates surpass associate universities in terms of bar-passage rate.

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2. University of Pittsburgh Law School

The University of Pittsburgh is ranked #78 in Best Law Schools. This was ranked according to their performance across a set of widely accepted indicators of excellence.

The University of Pittsburgh Law provides world-class legal education, advancing and transforming law in all areas of society. 

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Cheapest Law Schools in Pennsylvania

Law schools in Pennsylvania are one of the least expensive law schools in the United States. These schools are quite affordable and would still offer the best of their services to their students.

Whenever there’s a struggle to pay these fees, Some Law Schools in Pennsylvania provide funding in terms of scholarships to financially assist students finding it hard to complete the required fees. 

While applying to law schools you should have in mind your financial budget, it’ll guide you into the best-suited law school for you.

Every law school in Pennsylvania has a particular tuition fee for both in-state and out-of-state applicants, it all depends on the choice of school you decide to go for at the end of the day. 

The Cheapest law Schools in Pennsylvania include:

1. Drexel University School of Law

With a tuition fee of about $420 per semester, $1,630 per credit hour, and $48,900 for an annual flat rate, Drexel University tops other law schools in Pennsylvania as the Cheapest law school. 

Drexel University is first considered an option for both international students and those already in the state. The tuition fee makes it possible for low-income earners to easily gain access to the school. 

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2. Temple University

Temple University is the Second Cheapest law school in Pennsylvania with an in-state tuition of $16,970 and out-of-state tuition of $29,882.

Every academic year, it records a good number of law applicants because the tuition fee is very favorable. 

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Pre-Law Schools in Pennsylvania

Pre-law schools are taken by law applicants in preparation to study at a law school. This Pre-Law Program is designed to assist students interested in furthering their degree in a legal field. 

Law school aspirants should select a major that is challenging while sharpening their research, writing, and presentation skills. Pre-law students mostly major in areas like; Philosophy, Political Science, History, Management, Psychology, English, and Sociology. 

Pre-law Schools in Pennsylvania are open to students of any major. These are the Pre-Law Schools in Pennsylvania:

1. Mount Aloysius College

Mount Aloysius Pre-law College is designed to prepare students to compete successfully for admission to law school and to excel in the law school environment. The curriculum provides a foundation in liberal arts, criminology and court processes, ethics, and the law.

After completion of the curriculum, students will receive a bachelor’s degree in History/Political Science or Criminology with a concentration in Pre-Law.

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2. Thomas Jefferson University

Thomas Jefferson University is a private research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was established in 1824 before officially combining with Philadelphia University in 2017.

Thomas Jefferson University offers pre-law programs to help students move a step forward in getting a law degree. 

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3.DeSales University

DeSales University is a private Catholic university in Center Valley, Pennsylvania.

The university has a track in criminal justice-pre law program, which is available for students who want to pursue a career in law, especially those who wish to have a career in criminal law. 

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Law Schools in Pennsylvania rankings

Law Schools in Pennsylvania rankings are based on the U.S. News and World Report as they specialize in comparing and ranking different schools, universities, and organizations at large. 

All accredited law schools in the US are ranked using various criteria. These criteria include the school’s acceptance rate, job placement rate after graduation, bar passage rate, tuition fee, the student-to-faculty ratio, and median LSAT scores and GPAs of those that are accepted.

Law school rankings are very important when starting the application process because they’ll help you determine if the school is worth applying to or not. It’ll also help you decide on the proper application statistics to be a competitive candidate.

International students typically apply to law schools in Pennsylvania based on their rankings because the higher a school is ranked, the more likely its graduates will be widely sought after by employers after graduation.

These are the Law Schools in Pennsylvania rankings from the highest to the least:

• 1. University of Pennsylvania 
• 2. Villanova University
• 3. Pennsylvania State University Dickinson Law
• 4. Temple University 
• 5. Pennsylvania State University
• 6. Drexel University 
• 7. University of Pittsburgh
• 8. Duquesne University
• 9. Widener University

Which Pennsylvania State Law School is Better?

Of all the state law schools in Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania State University, Dickinson’s Law is one of the nation’s most outstanding law schools according to the Princeton Review. It ranked No. 5 among schools in the Northeast. 

Pennsylvania State University is a top-ranked public state university known for its high-quality academics and impressive academic programs and extracurricular activities. 

With an acceptance rate of 58.7% and a tuition fee of  $18,450 for in-state applicants and $35,514 for out-of-state applicants, it tops other state law schools in Pennsylvania.

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Part-time Law Schools in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania has few part-time law schools to make the academic program less stressful for students with busy work schedules. It makes it easy for these applicants to still get a legal degree while working and practicing in their field afterward. 

Part-time Law schools in Pennsylvania have a very flexible academic calendar to support law applicants who want to get a law degree but still have to maintain a stable job while at it. These are the Part-time Law Schools in Pennsylvania:

• 1. Temple University
• 2. Duquesne University
• 3. Widener University

ABA-Approved Law Schools in Pennsylvania

There are currently 9 law schools in Pennsylvania that are approved by the ABA. In most states in the U.S, a graduate from a law school wouldn’t be able to take the bar exam without attending a law school accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA). 

The ABA accreditation process is very meticulous and long, it lasts for a minimum of three years. The accreditation process is designed in such a manner to ensure a level of national consistency in legal education and practice.

Passing the bar exam is a requirement for the practice of law almost everywhere in the United States. You must attend a school approved by the ABA to enable you to sit for the bar exam in any state.

Here are the ABA-Approved Law Schools in Pennsylvania:

• 1. Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law
• 2. Duquesne University School of Law
• 3. Penn State Dickinson Law
• 4. Penn State Law
• 5. University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School
• 6. University of Pittsburgh School of Law
• 7. Temple University School of Law
• 8. Villanova University School of Law
• 9. Widener University Commonwealth Law School

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Public Law Schools in Pennsylvania

Most law school applicants would prefer going to a public law school in Pennsylvania since it increases their chances of getting employment after law school. A graduate from a prestigious law school is very respected in society. 

Public law schools in Pennsylvania put their graduates on the market after law school, thus making it easy for them to find their feet in society. With many alumni from these public law schools in Pennsylvania, the school system creates an avenue for networking. 

Pennsylvania has two public law schools and they are:

• 1. University of Pittsburgh
• 2. Temple University

How many Law Schools are there In Pennsylvania?

Law Schools in Pennsylvania are on the second list of law schools with the most full-time applications directly after law schools in California.

There are not many law schools in Pennsylvania but the law schools found here stand out as one of the best law schools in the United States. 

There are 9 law schools in Pennsylvania. Each law school is distinct in its quality of education and the services it provides to its students. One reason Pennsylvania is everyone’s choice is that the state has a very affordable cost of living. 

Pennsylvania is home to nine prestigious law schools, so it’s no surprise that it’s a great place to practice law.

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Colleges with Law Programs in Pennsylvania

A law degree is a professional degree in society, it comes with a lot of hard work and discipline. Pennsylvania is one of the States in the U.S amongst others that has colleges with law programs. 

There are Colleges with Law with Law programs in Pennsylvania. These Colleges offer diverse categories of law, giving their students enough options to decide on what discipline to further practice their legal education in. 

These are the Colleges with Law programs in Pennsylvania:

1. Peirce College

Peirce College is a private college in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The college focuses on mostly adult learners. It is a small institution with a total of 225 undergraduate students.

Pierce College offers common majors like Business, Paralegal, Criminal Justice, and Law Enforcement Administration.

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2. Dickinson College

Dickinson College is a private liberal arts college founded in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. The College was formerly known as Carlisle Grammar in 1773.

Dickinson was chartered on 9th September 1783, making it the first college to be founded after the formation of the United States. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of about 1,932 students.

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3. Clarion University of Pennsylvania

The Clarion University of Pennsylvania is a public university in Clarion, Pennsylvania. It is one of 14 universities that are part of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.

The school was founded in 1867. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 3,587 students. 

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4. Northampton Community College

Northampton Community College is a public community college in Pennsylvania with campuses in Bethlehem Township in Northampton County and Tannersville in Monroe County.

The college was founded in 1967, it also has satellite locations on the south side of Bethlehem and Hawley. 

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FAQs About Law Schools in Pennsylvania 

Summary

Applying to a law school in Pennsylvania is something you won’t regret. Law schools in Pennsylvania, with ABA-approved programs and well-organized buildings and libraries, would provide excellent possibilities for students to advance in their careers.

I hope this post has helped you decide which law school to apply to in the upcoming academic year.

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