Why Ohio State University?

Ohio State University Moritz College of Law is known for its collegial community, rigorous academic programs, pioneering faculty research, and a nationally recognized program in dispute resolution.

Ohio State University is a selective JD program with an acceptance rate of approximately 37.1%. The median entering 1L profile is a 3.91 GPA and 164 LSAT, with the 25th–75th percentile bands at 3.64–3.97 GPA and 159–166 LSAT. The full-time first-year class is approximately 158 students. Recent graduates have placed most heavily in Ohio, California, and Pennsylvania — useful context if your geographic preference shapes your school list. In the 2025 ABA reporting cycle, Ohio State University admitted 5 transfer students into the 2L class. 2 1Ls transferred out.

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Specialty strengths

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ranked #1 nationally)Criminal Law and ProcedureLegal Writing (top twenty program)Corporate and Business LawIntellectual Property and Technology Law

Class profile

US News rank: #30
Median GPA: 3.91; 25th–75th: 3.64–3.97
Median LSAT: 164; 25th–75th: 159–166
Acceptance rate: 37.1%
Class size (FT 1L): 158
Transfers admitted (2025): 5; ABA 2025 reporting cycle

2025 transfer admit profile

Actual GPAs of students Ohio State University admitted as transfers in the 2025 ABA cycle.

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

2 1Ls transferred out of Ohio State University in the same cycle — context for how portable Ohio State University's 1L credit is among admissions committees elsewhere.

Top employment markets

1Ohio
2California
3Pennsylvania

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 Ohio State University's practical training. Mention specific clinic names in your "Why Ohio State University" essay where they align with your interests.

Civil Law Clinic
Students represent clients in a variety of civil cases, gaining practical litigation and client counseling skills.
Criminal Defense Clinic
Students represent clients facing criminal charges, learning about criminal procedure and defense strategies.
Criminal Prosecution Clinic
Students work with prosecutors on criminal cases, gaining experience in trial advocacy and prosecutorial ethics.
Mediation Clinic
Students serve as court-appointed mediators, helping parties resolve disputes in various civil matters.
Entrepreneurial Business Law Clinic
Students provide legal services to startups and small businesses, focusing on transactional and business law issues.
Immigration Clinic
Students represent immigrants in legal proceedings, addressing various immigration law issues.

Notable journals

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

Ohio State Law Journal— Generalist law review publishing scholarly articles on salient legal issues.
Ohio State Journal on Dispute Resolution— Focuses on alternative dispute resolution methods and theory.
Ohio State Technology Law Journal— Interdisciplinary journal on the intersection of law, policy, and information technology.
Ohio State Journal of Criminal Law— Dedicated to scholarship in criminal law and justice.
Ohio State Business Law Journal— Explores current issues and scholarship in business 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.

Kent Barnett
Contract Law, Administrative Law
Daniel C. K. Chow
Business Law, International Trade Law
Sarah Rudolph Cole
Alternative Dispute Resolution, Arbitration
Edward Foley
Constitutional Law, Election Law
César Cuauhtémoc García Hernández
Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, Immigration Law
Larry Garvin
Commercial Law, Contracts
Steven F. Huefner
Law and Judicial Administration, Election Law
Joshua Dressler
Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure
Douglas Berman
Sentencing Law, Criminal Justice
Amy Schmitz
Dispute Resolution, AI in Law

What makes Ohio State University distinctive

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

·The Moritz College of Law houses the nationally recognized Program on Dispute Resolution.
·Students can participate in a robust Moot Court and Lawyering Skills Program, which has won national championships.
·The Drug Enforcement and Policy Center offers interdisciplinary research and educational opportunities.
·Offers several dual-degree programs, including JD/MBA, JD/MHA, JD/MA in Public Policy, and JD/MD.
·The Program on Data and Governance explores the legal and policy implications of big data and artificial intelligence.

Using this for your "Why Ohio State 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 Ohio State University

What is the median GPA and LSAT at Ohio State University?▾

Ohio State University's most recent entering 1L class had a median GPA of 3.91 and a median LSAT of 164. The 25th–75th percentile range was 3.64–3.97 GPA and 159–166 LSAT. Per ABA 509 disclosures.

What is Ohio State University's acceptance rate?▾

Ohio State University's most recent reported acceptance rate was approximately 37.1%, per ABA 509 disclosures.

What clinics does Ohio State University offer?▾

Ohio State University's notable clinical programs include: Civil Law Clinic, Criminal Defense Clinic, Criminal Prosecution Clinic, Mediation Clinic, Entrepreneurial Business Law Clinic. Visit the school's official clinical programs page for the full list.

What journals does Ohio State University publish?▾

Ohio State University's notable student-edited journals include: Ohio State Law Journal, Ohio State Journal on Dispute Resolution, Ohio State Technology Law Journal, Ohio State Journal of Criminal Law, Ohio State Business Law Journal.

Where do Ohio State University graduates work?▾

Ohio State University graduates concentrate employment in Ohio, California, Pennsylvania, per the school's most recent ABA 509 employment summary.

How many transfer students does Ohio State University admit?▾

Ohio State University admitted 5 transfer students into the 2L class in the 2025 ABA reporting cycle.

Schools similar to Ohio State University

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

#30

Wake Forest University

GPA 3.79 · LSAT 165

#32

George Mason University

Arizona State University College of Law

Florida State University

GPA 3.93 · LSAT 165

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