Why Gonzaga University?
Gonzaga Law offers a humanistic, Jesuit-informed legal education emphasizing practical skills, social justice, and a range of specialized programs including an Executive Two-Year J.D. and robust clinical opportunities.
Gonzaga University is a less selective JD program with an acceptance rate of approximately 61.9%. The median entering 1L profile is a 3.55 GPA and 154 LSAT, with the 25th–75th percentile bands at 3.24–3.76 GPA and 152–156 LSAT. The full-time first-year class is approximately 205 students. Recent graduates have placed most heavily in Washington, Idaho, and Nevada — useful context if your geographic preference shapes your school list. In the 2025 ABA reporting cycle, Gonzaga University admitted 1 transfer student into the 2L class. 5 1Ls transferred out.
Specialty strengths
Class profile
- US News rank
- #144
- Median GPA
- 3.55
- 25th–75th: 3.24–3.76
- Median LSAT
- 154
- 25th–75th: 152–156
- Acceptance rate
- 61.9%
- Class size (FT 1L)
- 205
- Transfers admitted (2025)
- 1
- ABA 2025 reporting cycle
2025 transfer admit profile
Actual GPAs of students Gonzaga University admitted as transfers in the 2025 ABA cycle.
- 25th percentile
- —
- Suppressed (small cohort)
- Median
- —
- 50th percentile
- 75th percentile
- —
- Suppressed (small cohort)
5 1Ls transferred out of Gonzaga University in the same cycle — context for how portable Gonzaga University's 1L credit is among admissions committees elsewhere.
Top employment markets
- 1Washington
- 2Idaho
- 3Nevada
Where the most recent graduating class concentrated employment, per the school's ABA 509 employment summary. Use this as a signal of where the alumni network and OCI recruiting pipeline are strongest.
Signature clinics
Clinical programs that define Gonzaga University's practical training. Mention specific clinic names in your "Why Gonzaga University" essay where they align with your interests.
- Business Law ClinicProvides legal services to small businesses and entrepreneurs.
- Catholic Charities Immigration ClinicOffers legal assistance for family reunification, humanitarian protection, and asylum applications.
- Elder Law ClinicProvides legal advice and representation to low-income individuals aged 60 and older in Spokane County.
- Environmental Law & Land Use ClinicAddresses environmental and public health issues through public interest litigation, policy development, and community advocacy.
- Federal Tax Law ClinicAssists low-income taxpayers with federal tax problems before the IRS and U.S. Tax Court.
- Lincoln LGBTQ+ Rights ClinicSupports individuals marginalized due to sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.
Notable journals
Student-edited publications you could write for or cite as a research interest.
- Gonzaga Law Review— Scholarly criticism and analysis of current legal issues.
- Gonzaga Journal of International Law— Diverse international law topics, international human rights, and foreign law issues.
Faculty highlights
Well-known faculty grouped by primary specialty. If a professor's scholarship aligns with your interests, name them in your essay and reference a specific paper or course.
- Jacob H. RooksbyIntellectual Property Law, Higher Education Law
- Jason GillmerCivil and Human Rights, Legal History
- Agnieszka McPeakCommercial Law, Privacy Law
- Jessica M. KiserBusiness Law, Wine Law
- Patrick J. CharlesLegal Research, Executive Two-Year JD Program
- Chris CragoFederal Tax Law
- Brooks R. HollandLegal Ethics and Professionalism, Criminal Law
- Kristina CampbellImmigration Law, Religious Liberty
- Upendra Dev AcharyaInternational Law, Global Legal Education
- Abe RitterBehavioral Legal Ethics, Criminal Courts
- Kai WangFinancial Regulation, Cryptocurrency Law
What makes Gonzaga University distinctive
Programs, history, or institutional features that set this school apart beyond rank.
- ·Executive Two-Year J.D. Program, designed for driven professionals seeking business or general practice outcomes, with guaranteed clinic placements.
- ·Extensive Dual Degree Programs including JD/MBA, JD/MAcc, JD/MSTax with the School of Business, and JD/MSW with Eastern Washington University.
- ·Center for Civil & Human Rights, fostering research, education, and community engagement on civil rights, social justice, and international human rights.
- ·Center for Law, Ethics & Commerce, integrating business, innovation, and technology with ethical considerations for the common good.
- ·Gonzaga in Florence study abroad program, offering international and comparative law courses in Italy.
Using this for your "Why Gonzaga University" essay
Strong "Why X Law School" essays are concrete and specific to the school — not interchangeable templates. Use these facts to anchor your essay, then layer on what you've found from the school's own faculty pages, clinical program descriptions, and journal listings.
Important note: admissions committees actively reject AI-written personal statements and "Why X" essays. Use this page as research material to write your own essay — never as a template to copy. Authentic, specific, personally-grounded reasoning is the only thing that wins these essays.
Frequently asked about Gonzaga University
What is the median GPA and LSAT at Gonzaga University?▾
Gonzaga University's most recent entering 1L class had a median GPA of 3.55 and a median LSAT of 154. The 25th–75th percentile range was 3.24–3.76 GPA and 152–156 LSAT. Per ABA 509 disclosures.
What is Gonzaga University's acceptance rate?▾
Gonzaga University's most recent reported acceptance rate was approximately 61.9%, per ABA 509 disclosures.
What clinics does Gonzaga University offer?▾
Gonzaga University's notable clinical programs include: Business Law Clinic, Catholic Charities Immigration Clinic, Elder Law Clinic, Environmental Law & Land Use Clinic, Federal Tax Law Clinic. Visit the school's official clinical programs page for the full list.
What journals does Gonzaga University publish?▾
Gonzaga University's notable student-edited journals include: Gonzaga Law Review, Gonzaga Journal of International Law.
Where do Gonzaga University graduates work?▾
Gonzaga University graduates concentrate employment in Washington, Idaho, Nevada, per the school's most recent ABA 509 employment summary.
How many transfer students does Gonzaga University admit?▾
Gonzaga University admitted 1 transfer student into the 2L class in the 2025 ABA reporting cycle.
Schools similar to Gonzaga University
Other schools at a comparable rank tier — useful for building a transfer list, balanced 0L application list, or essay-research shortlist.
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Try Case Cub free →Sources (10) — verify any fact above
- https://www.gonzaga.edu/school-of-law
- https://www.gonzaga.edu/school-of-law/academics/clinics-centers
- https://www.gonzaga.edu/school-of-law/academics/journals/gonzaga-law-review
- https://www.gonzaga.edu/school-of-law/academics/global-engagement/gonzaga-journal-of-international-law
- https://www.gonzaga.edu/school-of-law/academics/jd-programs/dual-degrees
- https://www.gonzaga.edu/school-of-law/academics/jd-programs/executive-two-year-jd
- https://www.gonzaga.edu/school-of-law/faculty-staff/regular-faculty
- https://www.gonzaga.edu/school-of-law/academics/clinics-centers/center-for-civil-human-rights
- https://www.gonzaga.edu/school-of-law/academics/clinics-centers/center-for-law-ethics-commerce
- https://www.gonzaga.edu/school-of-law/academics/global-engagement
Generated from public sources via search-grounded AI on 4/27/2026. If any fact looks wrong, click through to verify and let us know.