Why University of Cincinnati?
The University of Cincinnati College of Law is the fourth-oldest law school in the U.S., offering an intimate, justice-focused legal education with guaranteed experiential learning opportunities in a vibrant urban environment.
University of Cincinnati is a moderately selective JD program with an acceptance rate of approximately 44.8%. The median entering 1L profile is a 3.80 GPA and 158 LSAT, with the 25th–75th percentile bands at 3.64–3.91 GPA and 156–161 LSAT. The full-time first-year class is approximately 130 students. Recent graduates have placed most heavily in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana — useful context if your geographic preference shapes your school list. In the most recent older reporting cycle, University of Cincinnati admitted 5 transfer students into the 2L class.
Specialty strengths
Class profile
- US News rank
- #82
- Median GPA
- 3.80
- 25th–75th: 3.64–3.91
- Median LSAT
- 158
- 25th–75th: 156–161
- Acceptance rate
- 44.8%
- Class size (FT 1L)
- 130
- Transfers admitted (2025)
- 0
- ABA 2025 reporting cycle
Top employment markets
- 1Ohio
- 2Kentucky
- 3Indiana
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 University of Cincinnati's practical training. Mention specific clinic names in your "Why University of Cincinnati" essay where they align with your interests.
- Criminal Defense ClinicStudents represent clients charged with misdemeanors and low-level felonies in Hamilton County, Ohio.
- Domestic Violence and Civil Protection Order ClinicStudents work with domestic violence survivors.
- Entrepreneurship and Community Development Clinic (ECDC)Provides free transactional legal services to start-ups, small businesses, and non-profit organizations.
- Legal Access Clinic (TLAC)Addresses the access to justice gap for low- and middle-income people in the tristate area.
- Patent and Trademark Clinic (PTC)Students assist business owners in protecting their patents and trademarks.
- Sixth Circuit ClinicStudents handle appeals before the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and other appellate courts.
Notable journals
Student-edited publications you could write for or cite as a research interest.
- University of Cincinnati Law Review— General-interest law journal, one of the oldest and most respected legal journals in the country.
- Human Rights Quarterly— Recognized as a leading academic journal in the human rights field with a worldwide audience.
- Immigration and Human Rights Law Review— Focuses on the development of legal knowledge in immigration law and human rights.
- Intellectual Property and Computer Law Journal— Covers intellectual property, computer and technology law, entertainment, media, and privacy.
- Freedom Center Journal— Covers issues related to race, gender, sexuality, class, freedom, justice, and law, published jointly with the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.
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.
Dean and Nippert Professor of Law
- Haider Ala Hamoudi
Clinical Law
- Sarah Adkins· also Director of Legal Access Clinic
Associate Dean of Faculty & Research
- Timothy K. Armstrong· also Law
Law
- Lin (Lynn) Bai
- Jennifer Bard
- Louis D. Bilionis
- Emily M.S. Houh
- Kristin Kalsem
- Elizabeth Lenhart
- Anne Lofaso
Associate Dean of Academic Affairs
- Kimberly D. Bailey· also Gender Violence, Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Evidence
Associate Dean of Academic Success and Bar Programs
- Dyann Margolis· also Law
What makes University of Cincinnati distinctive
Programs, history, or institutional features that set this school apart beyond rank.
- ·One of the nation's oldest law schools, founded in 1833.
- ·Guaranteed experiential learning opportunities, including clinics and externships, for every student.
- ·Home to the Ohio Innocence Project, one of the most successful Innocence Projects globally.
- ·Features six centers for research and experiential learning: Center for Practice, Corporate Law Center, Cincinnati Center for the Global Practice of Law, Nathaniel R. Jones Center for Race, Gender, and Social Justice, Ohio Innocence Project, and Urban Morgan Institute for Human Rights.
- ·Offers joint degree programs including JD/MBA, JD/MA in Women's, Gender & Sexuality Studies, and JD/Master of Community Planning.
Using this for your "Why University of Cincinnati" 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 University of Cincinnati
What is the median GPA and LSAT at University of Cincinnati?▾
University of Cincinnati's most recent entering 1L class had a median GPA of 3.80 and a median LSAT of 158. The 25th–75th percentile range was 3.64–3.91 GPA and 156–161 LSAT. Per ABA 509 disclosures.
What is University of Cincinnati's acceptance rate?▾
University of Cincinnati's most recent reported acceptance rate was approximately 44.8%, per ABA 509 disclosures.
What clinics does University of Cincinnati offer?▾
University of Cincinnati's notable clinical programs include: Criminal Defense Clinic, Domestic Violence and Civil Protection Order Clinic, Entrepreneurship and Community Development Clinic (ECDC), Legal Access Clinic (TLAC), Patent and Trademark Clinic (PTC). Visit the school's official clinical programs page for the full list.
What journals does University of Cincinnati publish?▾
University of Cincinnati's notable student-edited journals include: University of Cincinnati Law Review, Human Rights Quarterly, Immigration and Human Rights Law Review, Intellectual Property and Computer Law Journal, Freedom Center Journal.
Where do University of Cincinnati graduates work?▾
University of Cincinnati graduates concentrate employment in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, per the school's most recent ABA 509 employment summary.
Schools similar to University of Cincinnati
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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