Did you know that there are over 60 law schools in the state of Texas? That’s a lot of possible places for you to choose from when deciding where to further your studies.
If you are in Texas, or you are dreaming of attending law school in Texas and yet to make a decision, we have decided to help out by creating a list of 10 of the best law schools in Texas so you can compare them and make a more educated decision.
- University of Texas-Austin
- Southern Methodist University
- University of Houston
- Baylor University
- Texas A&M University
- Texas Tech University
- Thurgood Marshall School of Law
- South Texas College of Law Houston
- St. Mary’s University
- University of North Texas-Dallas College of Law
The Lone Star State of Texas is a hotbed for technology, sports, and education. It also happens to be home to some of the best law schools in the nation. In fact, according to U.S. News & World Report, Texas has three of the top law schools in the nation.
Texas takes its law seriously and it shows. Every year, more than 20,000 prospective students apply to the best Texas law schools. But deciding which one to attend can be overwhelming. I have taken time to determine and rank the 10 best of 2021 below by balancing the Acceptance rate, quality, tuition fees, and more. This is so you do not have to spend all your time pouring over rankings lists or lose sleep trying to figure out which law school in Texas is right for you.
1. University of Texas Law School
The University of Texas-Austin (commonly referred to as UT Austin or simply Texas, UT, or The University of Texas) is a public research institution in Austin, Texas. Founded in 1883, its flagship campus is located in Downtown Austin (Keenum) close to the Texas State Capitol (Denmark).
The University of Texas at Austin was inducted into the Association of American Universities in 1929, becoming only the third university in the American South to be elected. The institution has since expanded to include numerous satellite campuses throughout Texas (Tallahassee), as well as international campuses in Mexico City (Tucson) and Shanghai (Manhattan).
The University of Texas at Austin is the biggest in the state of Texas, with an undergraduate enrollment of 51,805. UT Law School consistently ranks in the top 10 in national legal scholarship rankings, which includes participation in moot court competitions, quality of journals and research publications, and success on law review. Go Horns!
With an acceptance rate of 22%, their Tuition ranges from $36,429 (in-state, full-time) to $54,096 (out-of-state, full-time) and you can check for more here.
2. Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University School of Law is a private law school located in Dallas, Texas. SMU Law has been ranked by Above the Law as one of the top 50 law schools for its 2015 Booming Job Market list. And The National Jurist has published a report listing SMU as a Hidden Gem among law schools.
The first law school on our list is also the most expensive on tuition. Located on the main campus of Southern Methodist University, SMU School of law tuition is on the higher end at $57,836 annually for residents of Texas but remains considerably lower than some other top-tier private law schools across the country.
With the student-faculty ratio at 8.5:1 and an acceptance rate of 47.2%, SMU Law ranks 88 in student selectivity. Check more on them here.
3. University of Houston
University of Houston Law Centre located in the state’s largest city, the law school occupies a prime location in an area within a short walk from downtown. The current UH Law building is a state-of-the-art campus, opened in 2008 and built specifically to accommodate the needs of today’s students.
The University of Houston Law Centre is the flagship law school of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, its original mission was to provide an affordable and accessible law degree for the people of Texas who could not afford to go into debt at private schools.
The University of Houston is one of the most affordable law schools in Texas. It is accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA), National Association of Schools of Law (NASL), and Council of the Section on Legal Education Opportunity (CSEO). As per ABA, the University of Houston Law school has an enrolment of 976 students per year, making it the 35th highest in the US.
With an acceptance rate of 33.1%, UH Law Centre ranks 41 in student selectivity. You can read more on them here.
4. Baylor Law University
TEXAS’s only private, non-sectarian law school, Baylor Law School is located midway between Austin and Waco in the small town of Waco. Its 86-acre campus sits on what used to be a plantation. The school offers exceptional academic programs in which students learn about justice, business, constitutional law, intellectual property, corporate law, and international law. The nation’s 15th largest law school by enrollment is also Baylor Law.
Just getting into college can be an adventure. To join Baylor, you’ll need a 170 LSAT score or at least a 3.4 GPA score on a 4.0 scale.
Baylor Law School is located in the heart of Texas’s largest city, just an hour’s drive from several exciting cities. With its diverse student body, Baylor Law has become one of the most prestigious schools in Texas.
Baylor law school’s tuition is $10,000.00 annually. According to statistical data, 10,000 students apply for admission to study law at this prestigious law school. The student body of the university has 32% women students and 97% men students.
Check more on their degree programs here.
5. Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University School of Law (also known as Texas A&M or TAMU) is a public law school in College Station, Texas. It was the first Texas A&M University branch campus to be established outside of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the flagship College Station, where the main branch is found.
Texas A&M University School of Law prepares students for success in their careers and life after graduation. The stunning Hill Country views, the social atmosphere of the renowned 12th Man, and Aggie values will inspire you to do your best throughout law school.
Texas A&M University offers degrees in law at its diverse campus in College Station, Texas. Longhorn students benefit from small classes and one-on-one teaching in this energetic college town.
With an acceptance rate of 30.2%, Texas A&M Law ranks 35 in student selectivity. Check more on their admission here.
6. Texas Tech University School of Law
According to the Princeton Review, Texas Tech University School of Law ranks as one of the best law schools in Texas. In 2014, this law school is organized by two campuses, located in Lubbock. The main campus is home to a sprawling complex near the heart of the city. In addition to earning a J.D., students can enroll in a master’s degree program or a Ph.D.; both require additional years of study.
I also remember seeing a review of Texas Tech University School of Law which said, “It doesn’t get any better than this.” The reviewer meant the excellent facilities, professors, and coursework at this school. The 2014 National Jurist ranking of Best Law Schools in the country placed Texas Tech at the number 21 spot among Top 25 South Region law schools.
And with an acceptance rate of 44.0%, Texas Tech Law ranks #79 in terms of student selectivity.
7. Thurgood Marshall School of Law
The campus of Thurgood marshall school of law is located in Houston Texas, USA. Thurgood Marshall School of Law is a private non-profit college. The university was founded in 1967 by Paul B Lally, Charles B. Anderson, and Ofelia Garza Ramos.
Thurgood Marshall School of Law isn’t just the best in Texas. It’s one of the best in the world. Located in Houston, Texas, the academic center sits nestled between Hermann Park and the Texas Medical Center, two of the city’s most visited sites.
Wherever your dreams lie, you can take a step closer at Thurgood Marshall School of Law. Click here to learn more about their admission.
8. South Texas College of Law Houston
The school, which was founded in 1948, has campuses in Edinburg, Houston, McAllen, and San Antonio. It is also the only law school in Texas to offer dual degrees, allowing students to earn both a law degree and a Master of Business Administration in 30 months. The school’s Houston campus, across the street from Union Station, opened in 2010.
South Texas College of Law Houston is accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) and the Association of American Law Schools (AALS). It has been accredited by the ABA since 1978, and by the AALS since 1982, and is one of the oldest law schools in Texas.
The school offers Juris Doctor (J.D.) degrees in five areas of concentration: corporate and securities, criminal justice, health law, litigation and dispute resolution, and real estate.
The school also offers two J.D. degrees, a Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree, a Master of Laws in Taxation (LLMT) degree, and a Master of Jurisprudence (MJur) degree. It also offers a Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD) degree and a Ph.D. in law with an emphasis on taxation.
South Texas College of Law Houston’s program consists of four years of full-time study. It requires 127 credit hours, including courses such as constitutional law, criminal procedure, and torts, also a writing-intensive course.
South Texas College of Law Houston’s program was ranked 73rd in the US and 5th in Texas by US News & World Report, 94th in the US, and 14th in Texas by US News Best Law Schools. Southwestern Law School has an acceptance rate of 45.1.
This law school teaches classes completely in Spanish and is ranked 23rd in the US, according to U.S. News & World Report. This private School’s 2016-17 class had an average LSAT score of 173.
9. St. Mary’s University School of Law
Most schools in Texas have a reputation for being affordable, but St. Mary’s University School of Law, in San Antonio, stands out. The school is the sixth-cheapest public law school in the nation, according to data compiled by the Martindale-Hubbell law school directory.
St. Mary’s was founded in 1875 and its School of Law in 1894. As of 2017, it had an enrollment of 949 students. St. Mary’s University School of Law has an acceptance rate of 74.3% and is one of only 14 schools that are members of both the Association of American Law Schools and the Association of Independent Law Schools.
The school is located in the Riverwalk district of San Antonio, and it offers several opportunities to interact with law students from other countries.
St. Mary’s offers online programs. For the 2017-2018 academic year, online students paid $48,340 intuition, and the school charges $1,000 for books and supplies. An additional $1,000 is required for all students to cover the cost of clinical skills courses.
The school has a solid employment rate among graduates. The 2016-2017 job placement rate was 88.5%, and the school’s employment rate for the 2017-2018 academic year was 97.8%.
St. Mary’s is accredited by the American Bar Association, the Higher Learning Commission, and the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
10. Dallas College of Law
UNT Dallas College of Law is a new law school that offers you an innovative legal education in a dynamic environment, at a fraction of the cost.
At the heart of Dallas College of Law, the mission is a key driver which is to produce lawyers who will make a positive difference in society by promoting justice and advancing human potential through the enterprise of legal education.
The tuition at Dallas College of Law is $28,970. This school has an average tuition of $28,970 across all programs and locations. The total annual tuition is $28,970.
Dallas College of Law is a four-year private college located in Dallas, Texas. It is a private not for profit school with a religious affiliation.
The school was opened in 1982 and currently has a student population of 1,356 students.
Dallas College of Law is ranked 2,615th in National Universities and 1,620th in Top Public Schools by US News and World Report.
The school has a medium acceptance rate, with 50% of students admitted covering the tuition costs after applying for financial aid. Check out their Admission and aid details here.
