Dedman School of Law Class Profiles by Year

SMU Law Tuition, Admission, and Enrollment Trends from 2016 to 2026

The following table shows SMU Law's class profiles by year. The green or red colored numbers indicate changes in value or percentage for each subject compared to previous year.
Dedman School of Law Class Profiles From 2016 to 2026
YearTuition & FeesLSAT Score GPAAcceptance RateYield EnrollmentBar Exam Pass Rate
2015-16 $48,796 161 3.63 41.38% 30.03% 784 -
2016-17 $49,962
▲2.39%		 161 3.67
▲0.04		 39.00%
▼-2.39% 		30.81%
▲0.78% 		815
▲31		 -
2017-18 $51,096
▲2.27%		 161 3.68
▲0.01		 43.87%
▲4.88% 		29.34%
▼-1.48% 		809
▼-6		 88.31%
2018-19 $52,586
▲2.92%		 161 3.68 47.19%
▲3.32% 		24.66%
▼-4.67% 		744
▼-65		 83.98%
▼-4.33%
2019-20 $54,094
▲2.87%		 161 3.7
▲0.02		 47.41%
▲0.22% 		32.29%
▲7.63% 		766
▲22		 86.51%
▲2.53%
2020-21 $55,764
▲3.09%		 162
▲1		 3.73
▲0.03		 40.77%
▼-6.64% 		26.96%
▼-5.33% 		764
▼-2		 85.18%
▼-1.33%
2021-22 $59,286
▲6.32%		 163
▲1		 3.76
▲0.03		 33.42%
▼-7.35% 		28.72%
▲1.76% 		795
▲31		 86.96%
▲1.78%
2022-23 $61,058
▲2.99%		 164
▲1		 3.71
▼-0.05		 33.91%
▲0.49% 		28.93%
▲0.21% 		769
▼-26		 85.28%
▼-1.68%
2023-24 $63,502
▲4.00%		 164 3.83
▲0.12		 32.69%
▼-1.22% 		26.30%
▼-2.63% 		725
▼-44		 84.86%
▼-0.42%
2024-25 $66,044
▲4.00%		 165
▲1		 3.86
▲0.03		 30.39%
▼-2.30% 		28.89%
▲2.59% 		717
▼-8		 84.86%
2025-26 $68,686
▲4.00%		 167
▲2		 3.81
▼-0.05		 24.59%
▼-5.81% 		34.00%
▲5.12% 		746
▲29		 90.2%
▲5.34%

LSAT Score from 2016 to 2026

The 2026 LSAT score at Dedman School of Law is 167. The LSAT score is 3 points higher than last year's score. Compared to the LSAT score 10 years ago, this year's score is 6 points higher.
The following table and chart visualize the changes of LSAT scores at Dedman School of Lawfrom 2016 to 2026.
SMU Law LSAT Scores Changes (2016-2026)
25th percentile50th percentile75th percentile
2016 156 161 163
2017 155
▼-1		 161 163
2018 154
▼-1		 161 163
2019 155
▲1		 161 163
2020 155 161 163
2021 156
▲1		 162
▲1		 164
▲1
2022 158
▲2		 163
▲1		 164
2023 160
▲2		 164
▲1		 165
▲1
2024 160 164 166
▲1
2025 161
▲1		 165
▲1		 166
2026 163
▲2		 167
▲2		 168
▲2

GPA Trends from 2016 to 2026

The 2026 GPA at Dedman School of Law is 3.81. The GPA is 0.02 points lower than last year's GPA. Compared to the GPA 10 years ago, this year's GPA is 0.18 points higher.
The following table and chart visualize the changes of GPAs at Dedman School of Lawfrom 2016 to 2026.
SMU Law GPA Changes (2016-2026)
25th percentile50th percentile75th percentile
2016 3.27 3.63 3.75
2017 3.39
▲0.12		 3.67
▲0.04		 3.78
▲0.03
2018 3.36
▼-0.03		 3.68
▲0.01		 3.79
▲0.01
2019 3.43
▲0.07		 3.68
 3.8
▲0.01
2020 3.33
▼-0.10		 3.7
▲0.02		 3.83
▲0.03
2021 3.44
▲0.11		 3.73
▲0.03		 3.84
▲0.01
2022 3.43
▼-0.01		 3.76
▲0.03		 3.89
▲0.05
2023 3.35
▼-0.08		 3.71
▼-0.05		 3.87
▼-0.02
2024 3.67
▲0.32		 3.83
▲0.12		 3.91
▲0.04
2025 3.6
▼-0.07		 3.86
▲0.03		 3.93
▲0.02
2026 3.52
▼-0.08		 3.81
▼-0.05		 3.92
▼-0.01

Changes in Acceptance Rate from 2016 to 2026

The 2026 acceptance rate at Dedman School of Law is 24.59%. The acceptance rate is 8.100 percents lower than last year's rate. Compared to the rate 10 years ago, this year's rate is 16.793 percents lower.
The following table and chart visualize the changes of acceptance rate, yield, and number of applicants at Dedman School of Lawfrom 2016 to 2026.
SMU Law Acceptance Rate and First-year Enrollment Changes (2016-2026)
YearApplicantsAdmittedEnrolled Acceptance RateYield
2016 1,706 706 212 41.38% 30.03%
2017 1,831
▲125		 714
▲8		 220
▲8		 39.00%
▼-2.39%		 30.81%
▲0.78%
2018 1,616
▼-215		 709
▼-5		 208
▼-12		 43.87%
▲4.88%		 29.34%
▼-1.48%
2019 1,727
▲111		 815
▲106		 201
▼-7		 47.19%
▲3.32%		 24.66%
▼-4.67%
2020 1,757
▲30		 833
▲18		 269
▲68		 47.41%
▲0.22%		 32.29%
▲7.63%
2021 1,847
▲90		 753
▼-80		 203
▼-66		 40.77%
▼-6.64%		 26.96%
▼-5.33%
2022 2,334
▲487		 780
▲27		 224
▲21		 33.42%
▼-7.35%		 28.72%
▲1.76%
2023 2,253
▼-81		 764
▼-16		 221
▼-3		 33.91%
▲0.49%		 28.93%
▲0.21%
2024 2,175
▼-78		 711
▼-53		 187
▼-34		 32.69%
▼-1.22%		 26.30%
▼-2.63%
2025 2,540
▲365		 772
▲61		 223
▲36		 30.39%
▼-2.30%		 28.89%
▲2.59%
2026 3,038
▲498		 747
▼-25		 254
▲31		 24.59%
▼-5.81%		 34.00%
▲5.12%

Tuition Increase from 2016 to 2027

The SMU Law's 2027 tuition & fees is $70,750, which is $2,064 (3.00%) higher than last year's tuition. Compared to the amount 11 years ago, this year's tuition is $21,954 (44.99%) higher.
The following table and chart visualize the increase of tuition & fees at Dedman School of Law from 2016 to 2027.
SMU Law Tuition Changes (2016-2027)
YearTuition & Fees
2016$48,796
2017$49,962▲2.39%
2018$51,096▲2.27%
2019$52,586▲2.92%
2020$54,094▲2.87%
2021$55,764▲3.09%
2022$59,286▲6.32%
2023$61,058▲2.99%
2024$63,502▲4.00%
2025$66,044▲4.00%
2026$68,686▲4.00%
2027$70,750▲3.00%

Enrollment Changes from 2016 to 2026

In the academic year 2025-2026, a total of 746 students enrolled in Dedman School of Law, including J.D. and Non-J.D. programs. 672 students joined in J.D. program and 74 students enrolled in Non-J.D. program.
The following table and chart show the enrollment by J.D. and Non-JD program at Dedman School of Lawfrom 2016 to 2026.
SMU Law JD and Non-JD Enrollment Trends (2016-2026)
YearJ.D. EnrollmentNon-J.D. EnrollmentTotal Enrollment
2016 672 112 784
2017 740
▲68		 75
▼-37		 815
▲31
2018 741
▲1		 68
▼-7		 809
▼-6
2019 655
▼-86		 89
▲21		 744
▼-65
2020 700
▲45		 66
▼-23		 766
▲22
2021 696
▼-4		 68
▲2		 764
▼-2
2022 719
▲23		 76
▲8		 795
▲31
2023 687
▼-32		 82
▲6		 769
▼-26
2024 663
▼-24		 62
▼-20		 725
▼-44
2025 649
▼-14		 68
▲6		 717
▼-8
2026 672
▲23		 74
▲6		 746
▲29

Bar exam pass rate from 2018 to 2026

The 2026 bar exam pass rate of Dedman School of Law is 90%. 245 graduates took the exam first-time and 221 passed the exam.
The following table and chart show the changes of bar exam pass rate for Dedman School of Lawgraduates from 2018 to 2026.
SMU Law Bar Exam Pass Rate Changes (2018-2026)
YearTotal GraduatesNot Take ExamPrior/Early Exam TakersTotal Exam TakersExam PassersPass Rate
2018 220 7 17 231 204 88.31%
2019 248
▲28		 29
▲22		 11
▼-6		 231 194
▼-10		 83.98%
▼-4.33%
2020 254
▲6		 18
▼-11		 31
▲20		 267
▲36		 231
▲37		 86.51%
▲2.53%
2021 223
▼-31		 45
▲27		 16
▼-15		 189
▼-78		 161
▼-70		 85.18%
▼-1.33%
2022 210
▼-13		 17
▼-28		 42
▲26		 230
▲41		 200
▲39		 86.96%
▲1.78%
2023 269
▲59		 18
▲1		 14
▼-28		 265
▲35		 226
▲26		 85.28%
▼-1.68%
2024 216
▼-53		 12
▼-6		 17
▲3		 218
▼-47		 185
▼-41		 84.86%
▼-0.42%
2025 216 12 17 218 185 84.86%
2026 246
▲30		 11
▼-1		 14
▼-3		 245
▲27		 221
▲36		 90.20%
▲5.34%
Articles & Statistics for Law School Admission