Ranked the eighth best law school in the United States, the University of Pennsylvania is the premier law school in the state. The school offered admission to approximately 16 percent of over 5,811 applicants in 2009, with median LSAT scores of 170 and undergraduate GPAs of 3.80. Graduates of the law school boast an impressive 94.52 percent bar-passage rate, with graduates primarily sitting for tests in Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey.
University of Pennsylvania
3400 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6204
(215) 898-7400
law.upenn.edu
At number 61 in the Top 100 law school rankings for 2010, Villanova University represents the top Catholic university in Pennsylvania and the second best law school in the competitive Philadelphia market. In 2009, approximately 38 percent of of 3,110 applicants were offered admission with median LSAT scores of 162 and GPAs of 3.49. An 86.36 percent bar-passage rate was over three points higher than the Pennsylvania state average, with most test takers sitting for the Pennsylvania exam.
Villanova University
299 N. Spring Mill Road
Villanova, PA 19085
(610) 519-7010
law.villanova.edu
Penn State University jumped up 12 spots in the 2010 rankings, coming in at the 65th top law school in the nation. Located in central Pennsylvania, it is the only top law school in the state that is not located in the greater Philadelphia or Pittsburgh metropolitan areas. Approximately 33.5 percent of 2,675 applicants were admitted in 2009, with median LSAT scores of 157 and GPAs of 3.55. Graduates struggled on bar exams, posting percentages below state averages in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Lewis Katz Building
University Park, PA 16802
(800) 840-1122
dsl.psu.edu
Tied with Penn State at 65th in the national rankings, Temple University offers a public law school alternative to students wishing to study in Philadelphia. In 2009, over 40 percent of the 4,541 applicants were admitted, with median LSAT scores of 162 and GPAs of 3.44. Graduates of Temple University Law School have performed well on the Pennsylvania State Bar, posting an 87.26 percent passage rate in 2009. This success rate is five points above the state average.
1719 N. Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19122
(800) 560-1428
law.temple.edu
At 71th nationally, the University of Pittsburgh is the only ranked law school in the city of Pittsburgh. Approximately 37 percent of the 2,113 applicants were offered admission in 2009, with median LSAT scores of 159 and GPAs of 3.43. At 89.53 percent, the school boasts one of the highest Pennsylvania bar-passage rates in the state, with Pennsylvania being the primary jurisdiction for law school graduates.
3900 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
(412) 648-1415
law.pitt.edu