Oldest Law Schools with Long History

121 Law Schools Established Over 100 Years Ago

Among 199 ABA-accredited law schools, Marshall-Wythe School of Law is the oldest school. It established in 1779 and is serving for 188 years excepts 59 years closing which is closed in 1861 and reopened in 1920.

Harvard Law School and University of Maryland School of Law have also long histories established in 1817 and 1823 respectively.

For comparison, you may want to explore newest law schools.

Top 25 Oldest Law Schools

The following table compares the top 25 Oldest Law Schools with important academic indicators.

The rankings include 13 public and 12 law schools are included.

The average acceptance rate of the schools is 27.15% and the yield is 35.36%. The acceptance rate of Oldest Law Schools is low, compared to average rate of all law schools, 36.09%.

The average LSAT score submitted by enrolled students is 165 and the average GPA is 3.80 at Oldest Law Schools. Their LSAT scores are high, compared to average LSAT score of all law schools, 160.

For the Oldest Law Schools, the average 2027 tuition & fees is $45,279 state residents and $57,004 for out-of-state students in public law schools. In private law schools in the rankings, the tuition & fees is $75,744. The average financial aid amount of them is $29,504 which is 44.70% of tuition & fees.

You can sort the table by a column by clicking/touching the column title.

Comparison between Oldest Law Schools with 2026-2027 Tuition
Rank	School	Established	Enrollment	Tuition & Fees	Acceptance Rate	LSAT Score	Bar Exam Pass Rate
1	Marshall-Wythe School of LawPublicWilliamsburg, VA	1779	544	$74,208	21.97%	166	83.63%
2	Harvard Law SchoolPrivateCambridge, MA	1817	2,025	$86,344	9.20%	174	97.86%
3	University of Maryland School of LawPublicBaltimore, MD	1823	717	$64,362	26.08%	164	82.10%
4	University of Virginia School of LawPublicCharlottesville, VA	1826	982	$84,900	10.17%	173	94.98%
5	University of Cincinnati College of LawPublicCincinnati, OH	1833	489	$33,025	32.74%	159	85.59%
6	Penn State Dickinson LawPublicCarlisle, PA	1834	858	$61,470	42.99%	159	87.04%
6	Penn State LawPublicUniversity Park, PA	1834	567	$61,938	51.40%	155	86.79%
8	New York University School of LawPrivateNew York, NY	1835	2,172	$90,638	13.39%	172	96.72%
9	Maurer School of LawPublicBloomington, IN	1842	549	$59,872	35.77%	164	87.37%
10	Saint Louis University School of LawPrivateQueens, NY	1843	599	$59,790	56.43%	157	83.98%
10	Yale Law SchoolPrivateNew Haven, CT	1843	676	$81,818	4.06%	174	96.50%
12	Baylor Law SchoolPrivateWaco, TX	1845	448	$69,605	20.59%	164	94.92%
12	University of North Carolina School of LawPublicChapel Hill, NC	1845	543	$57,854	11.19%	168	92.27%
14	Louis D. Brandeis School of LawPublicLouisville, LA	1846	377	$32,900	63.39%	157	75.61%
15	Cumberland School of LawPrivateBirmingham, AL	1847	500	$48,764	48.97%	156	78.81%
15	Tulane University School of LawPrivateNew Orleans, LA	1847	849	$77,648	39.97%	161	77.73%
17	Washington and Lee University School of LawPrivateLexington, VA	1849	369	$62,835	22.73%	167	89.36%
18	University of Pennsylvania Law SchoolPrivatePhiladelphia, PA	1850	1,032	$88,184	8.05%	173	96.70%
18	University of Pittsburgh Law SchoolPublicPittsburgh, PA	1850	590	$57,200	34.87%	160	86.33%
20	Albany Law SchoolPrivateAlbany, NY	1851	726	$67,174	37.45%	158	74.27%
21	University of Mississippi School of LawPublicUniversity, MS	1854	468	$28,260	41.96%	157	73.17%
22	Columbia Law SchoolPrivateNew York, NY	1858	1,740	$92,194	11.84%	173	95.85%
23	University of Georgia School of LawPublicAthens, GA	1859	1,000	$41,646	12.72%	169	90.37%
23	University of Michigan Law SchoolPublicAnn Arbor, MI	1859	1,032	$83,422	8.57%	171	95.57%
23	Northwestern Pritzker School of LawPrivateChicago, IL	1859	1,205	$83,938	12.30%	173	91.80%

*The tuition & fees for the 2026-2027 academic year and Other admission date is for the 2025-2026.

Articles & Statistics for Law School Admission