Want to balance going to law school with maintaining an active lifestyle and scaling mountains? Then exploring law schools in Colorado should be at the top of your list. The state is known for its arid desert, river canyons, and the snow-covered Rocky Mountains. It’s a magnet for winter sport enthusiasts, those who love nature, and college students that want to earn their degree in a place surrounded by natural wonders.
If hiking snowy peaks isn’t your idea of a good time, the benefits of earning your JD in Colorado aren’t limited to the great outdoors. The capital and largest city, Denver, dates to the Old West and has a vibrant downtown that draws people from all walks of life.
Below, you’ll discover what the top law schools are in Colorado and the median LSAT score and GPA you’ll need to be a competitive applicant.
Top Law Schools in Colorado
- University of Colorado, Boulder Law School
- University of Denver, Sturm College of Law
These are the two highest-ranking law schools in Colorado. Both have prestigious programs with exciting student organizations and legal journals you can join.
Let’s take a closer look at each.
1. University of Colorado, Boulder Law School
U.S. News Top Law School Ranking: #54
Tuition: $37,325 (in-state) $45,335 (out-of-state)
Median Undergrad GPA of Program Entrants: 3.81
Median LSAT Score of Program Entrants: 164
Acceptance Rate: 27.6%
First-Time Bar Passage Rate: 90.4%
The University of Colorado Boulder Law School has an accelerated program that allows students to graduate with a JD in as little as 2.5 years. So, if speeding through your law degree is of interest, this is your place!
Areas of study at Colorado Law include legal theory, legal writing, health law and policy, and entrepreneurial and business law (among others). This law school also has an Experiential Learning Program for clinics, externships, and voluntary public service to help you gain practical experience.
There are three legal journals at this campus, including the University of Colorado Law Review, the Colorado Environmental Law Journal, and the Colorado Technology Law Journal. Additionally, there are more than 30 student organizations to check out, including the Colorado Law Animal Legal Defense Fund and the Environmental Law Society.
The application deadline is April 1 and the fee to submit is $65. The full-time tuition for both in-state and out-of-state students is less than that of many other top-ranked (and lower-ranked) programs.
2. University of Denver Sturm College of Law
U.S. News Top Law School Ranking: #91(Tie)
Tuition: $64, 472
Median Undergrad GPA of Program Entrants: 3.66
Media LSAT Score of Program Entrants: 160
Acceptance Rate: 41.3%
First-Time Bar Passage Rate: 84.9%
The Sturm College of Law at the University of Denver, founded in 1892, was one of the first law schools established in America’s Mountain West. The curriculum is heavily focused on clinical training, legal writing, trial advocacy, and ethics. This law school offers students a variety of pathways, including a traditional JD program, a professional part-time JD program, four LLM degree options, and four master’s degree options.
Students can tailor their legal training by enrolling in a variety of programs, including the Constitutional Rights and Remedies Program, the Environmental and Natural Resources Law Program, and the Animal Law Program. Earning certificates in one of these programs allows students to gain expertise, consider a career in a particular area of the law, and network with like-minded individuals.
The application deadline is June 1 and the fee to submit is $65. Tuition is significantly higher compared to the University of Colorado Boulder, which ranks at #54.
How Do I Get Accepted to a Colorado Law School?
Whether you’re applying to the best law school in Colorado or in another state, the process is the same. The first step in the law school admissions timeline is to take the LSAT. Although there are no required LSAT scores for law school, the median scores of these law schools in Colorado give you a pretty good indication of how you compare to their previous incoming class. Remember, law schools want to attract the best, so make sure you give yourself the ultimate chance by getting a high LSAT score.
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