Why Loyola University-new Orleans?

Loyola University New Orleans College of Law offers a unique legal education in a mixed civil and common law jurisdiction, deeply rooted in Jesuit values and a strong commitment to experiential learning and social justice.

Loyola University-new Orleans is a less selective JD program with an acceptance rate of approximately 66.7%. The median entering 1L profile is a 3.47 GPA and 152 LSAT, with the 25th–75th percentile bands at 3.21–3.71 GPA and 149–155 LSAT. The full-time first-year class is approximately 209 students. Recent graduates have placed most heavily in Louisiana, Washington, DC, and Texas — useful context if your geographic preference shapes your school list. In the 2025 ABA reporting cycle, Loyola University-new Orleans admitted 1 transfer student into the 2L class. 1 1L transferred out.

Visit Loyola University-new Orleans's site

Specialty strengths

Environmental LawPublic Interest Law and Social JusticeCivil and Common LawTrial Advocacy and Experiential LearningHealthcare Law & AdministrationImmigration & Citizenship Law

Class profile

US News rank: #135
Median GPA: 3.47; 25th–75th: 3.21–3.71
Median LSAT: 152; 25th–75th: 149–155
Acceptance rate: 66.7%
Class size (FT 1L): 209
Transfers admitted (2025): 1; ABA 2025 reporting cycle

2025 transfer admit profile

Actual GPAs of students Loyola University-new Orleans admitted as transfers in the 2025 ABA cycle.

25th percentile: —; Suppressed (small cohort)
Median: —; 50th percentile
75th percentile: —; Suppressed (small cohort)

1 1L transferred out of Loyola University-new Orleans in the same cycle — context for how portable Loyola University-new Orleans's 1L credit is among admissions committees elsewhere.

Top employment markets

1Louisiana
2Washington, DC
3Texas

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 Loyola University-new Orleans's practical training. Mention specific clinic names in your "Why Loyola University-new Orleans" essay where they align with your interests.

Stuart H. Smith Law Clinic and Center for Social Justice
Students represent low-income clients in diverse areas including immigration, family, civil litigation, child welfare, criminal defense, youth defense, and disability justice.
Environmental Law & Policy Lab
Students work on environmental advocacy projects for non-profit or community clients, focusing on policy development and legislative drafting.
Prosecution Clinic
Third-year law students litigate as prosecutors under supervision in Orleans and Jefferson Parishes.
Children and Families Justice Clinic
Provides direct legal services for children experiencing abuse and neglect.

Notable journals

Student-edited publications you could write for or cite as a research interest.

Loyola Law Review— General legal scholarship
Journal of Public Interest Law— Scholarly articles on national and international public interest legal issues
Maritime Law Journal— Research and writing in maritime law

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.

Mary Garvey Algero
Legal Research and Writing, Advocacy
Andrea Armstrong
Criminal Law, Prison Law
John F. Blevins
Constitutional Law, Civil Rights
Dane S. Ciolino
Professional Responsibility, Ethics
Mitchell F. Crusto
Corporate Law, International Business Transactions
Davida Finger
Clinical Law, Social Justice, Civil Rights
Robert A. Garda, Jr.
Moot Court, Evidence, Trial Advocacy
Madeleine Landrieu
Trial Advocacy
Blaine LeCesne
Evidence, Trial Advocacy
Lloyd "Trey" Drury, III
Civil Law, Property Law

What makes Loyola University-new Orleans distinctive

Programs, history, or institutional features that set this school apart beyond rank.

·Offers curricula in both Civil Law and Common Law, reflecting Louisiana's unique mixed jurisdiction.
·Strong emphasis on experiential learning, including the Stuart H. Smith Law Clinic and various labs, starting in the first year.
·Rooted in the Jesuit, Catholic tradition, promoting justice, ethical decision-making, and service to others.
·Houses the Gillis Long Poverty Law Center, dedicated to legal research and services for low-income individuals.
·Offers various LL.M. specializations and Certificates of Concentration, including Environmental Law, Healthcare Law & Administration, and Immigration & Citizenship Law.

Using this for your "Why Loyola University-new Orleans" 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 Loyola University-new Orleans

What is the median GPA and LSAT at Loyola University-new Orleans?▾

Loyola University-new Orleans's most recent entering 1L class had a median GPA of 3.47 and a median LSAT of 152. The 25th–75th percentile range was 3.21–3.71 GPA and 149–155 LSAT. Per ABA 509 disclosures.

What is Loyola University-new Orleans's acceptance rate?▾

Loyola University-new Orleans's most recent reported acceptance rate was approximately 66.7%, per ABA 509 disclosures.

What clinics does Loyola University-new Orleans offer?▾

Loyola University-new Orleans's notable clinical programs include: Stuart H. Smith Law Clinic and Center for Social Justice, Environmental Law & Policy Lab, Prosecution Clinic, Children and Families Justice Clinic. Visit the school's official clinical programs page for the full list.

What journals does Loyola University-new Orleans publish?▾

Loyola University-new Orleans's notable student-edited journals include: Loyola Law Review, Journal of Public Interest Law, Maritime Law Journal.

Where do Loyola University-new Orleans graduates work?▾

Loyola University-new Orleans graduates concentrate employment in Louisiana, Washington, DC, Texas, per the school's most recent ABA 509 employment summary.

How many transfer students does Loyola University-new Orleans admit?▾

Loyola University-new Orleans admitted 1 transfer student into the 2L class in the 2025 ABA reporting cycle.

Schools similar to Loyola University-new Orleans

Other schools at a comparable rank tier — useful for building a transfer list, balanced 0L application list, or essay-research shortlist.

#136

Cleveland State University College of Law

GPA 3.50 · LSAT 154

#136

Quinnipiac University

GPA 3.65 · LSAT 152

#136

University of Baltimore

GPA 3.45 · LSAT 154

#136

University of New Hampshire

GPA 3.50 · LSAT 156

#138

South Texas College of Law

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Sources (6) — verify any fact above

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.