How many law students drop out after first year?

Asked by: Myron Kozey  |  Last update: January 22, 2026
Score: 4.4/5 (70 votes)

The decision to attend law school shouldn't just be financially driven. You'll also want to consider the high dropout rates of law school, particularly among minorities. Overall, dropout rates are over 6% for first-year students. For American Indian, Hawaiian native, and Black students, the dropout rate is 11% to 13%.

How many first year law students drop out?

Approximately 46 percent of students who began study at a CALS did not enroll in a second year.

What percentage of college students drop out after the first year?

According to the latest data, 32.9% of students in undergraduate degree programs drop out. The dropout rate for college freshers is 23.3%. The dropout rate among students aged 16 to 24 years is just 5.3%. The average dropout rate for first-time first-year college students is 19.0%.

How common is failing out of law school?

The first-year law school attrition rate nationwide is 3.8% in 2023. 15 Enrolling in law school but failing to finish offers no greater marketability than a bachelor's degree.

Why do so many people drop out of law school?

Poor grades are a major driving factor behind many students dropping out. Some students may come into law school overconfident and very sure that they will succeed on top of their class, so when this doesn't happen, they may feel dejected to the point of dropping out.

10 Famous Law School Dropouts

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What is the fail rate for law school?

How race and ethnicity play a role in law school attrition. The 2023 law school attrition rate was 3.8 percent, varying across demographics and institutions. This article delves into the types of attrition, the schools with the highest rates, and the impact of these rates on student choices and institutional policies.

What is the average debt for law students?

The average law school graduate owes $130,000 in student loan debt. 71% of law school students graduate in debt. $119,292 is the average amount students borrow just to attend law school. $92,267 is the average amount borrowed to attend one of the top 10 law schools in terms of salary-to-debt ratio.

What is the hardest year in law school?

Law school is an academic challenge; most students agree the first year (“1L” year) is the most difficult. In part, this is because law school is taught using methods entirely different than the lecture method used in most college classrooms.

What is a bad GPA for law school?

If your GPA is at or below a school's 25th percentile, your GPA will be considered low for that school. So generally, if you're trying to get into the top schools, a GPA below 3.6 will be considered low.

Is law school declining?

When first-year enrollment rises or falls in sequential years, those effects multiply. Today, overall JD enrollment has roughly stabilized at a level not seen in over 40 years. Compared to the peak in JD enrollment in 2010 (147,525 students), overall JD enrollment was down 20.8% in 2023.

Which degree has the highest dropout rate?

7 Degrees With The Highest Dropout Rates In The World
  1. Medicine. Many students leave engineering programmes due to the rigorous coursework and heavy workload that can be overwhelming.
  2. Engineering. ...
  3. Architecture. ...
  4. Law. ...
  5. Computer science. ...
  6. Philosophy. ...
  7. Mathematics.

What is the #1 reason students drop out of college?

The No. 1 reason students have thought about leaving school is due to financial challenges (30 percent), followed by motivation or life changes (24 percent) and mental health challenges (18 percent).

What percentage of students return after their first year?

More than 76 percent of students who started college in the fall of 2022 returned for their second year, according to a new report on college students' persistence and retention rates from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.

Is being a lawyer worth it financially?

Lawyers have the opportunity to earn a lucrative income. The average annual income for an attorney in the United States is $127,990 per year as of 2021 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor.

Do law firms care where you went to law school?

Your Previous (On-the-Job) Training

Certain firms have the reputation for training people very well—and everyone knows that they have high expectations for the people there. If you get a good job right out of school or thereafter (with a major law firm), firms no longer really care about where you went to law school.

Is 3.7 too low for law school?

Most law schools require a minimum GPA of 3.5 for admission. However, top law schools typically require a GPA of 3.7 or higher to be considered a competitive applicant.

How hard is it to get a 170 on the LSAT?

The LSAT is scored on a bell curve, ranging from 120 to 180. On recent tests, the hump of the curve has centered around 153. Percentiles vary slightly between tests, but generally around 25% of test-takers score 160 or higher, 5% score 170 or higher, and 1% score 175 or higher. Only one in 1,000 test-takers scores 180.

What is the easiest law school to get into?

16 Easiest Law Schools to Get Into Based on Acceptance Rate
  • Creighton University Law School – 79%
  • University of Wyoming Law School – 78%
  • Marquette University Law School – 77%
  • Loyola New Orleans Law School – 76%
  • Drake University Law School – 75%
  • Oklahoma City University School of Law – 72%

Is law school harder than med school?

Each path demands extensive education and a commitment to rigorous training before becoming a qualified professional. Although both law and medical schools present their unique challenges, it's generally accepted that medical school demands a higher level of intense coursework and thorough training.

What age do most finish law school?

What Is The Average Age Of Law Students? The average age of law students is 25 or younger. Only 20% of law students are 30 or older. While only a small percentage of law students are above the age of 40, there have been several successful older graduates.

What type of lawyer makes the most money?

Patent Attorney Salary

Patent attorneys are the highest-paid type of lawyers, with an average salary of $185,351, ranging from $119,88 to $285,530. Various factors contribute to a patent attorney's average salary, including experience, firm, location, and subject matter expertise.

What percent of law students drop out?

The decision to attend law school shouldn't just be financially driven. You'll also want to consider the high dropout rates of law school, particularly among minorities. Overall, dropout rates are over 6% for first-year students. For American Indian, Hawaiian native, and Black students, the dropout rate is 11% to 13%.

Is law school worth it financially?

Earn More Money Over Your Lifetime

Starting salaries may dissuade you from investing in law school. Nevertheless, research shows that "law degree holders' earnings grow rapidly and peak late in life," suggesting better financial outcomes than forgoing a JD degree.

How long to pay off 200k law school debt?

How long does it take to pay off $200,000 in loans? If you choose the standard 10-year repayment plan, you'll pay off your loans in a decade. Longer plans, like those with 15- or 20-year terms, reduce monthly payments but significantly increase the total interest you'll pay over time.