Why University of North Dakota?
North Dakota's only law school, UND Law offers a practice-ready education with small class sizes and a focus on affordability.
University of North Dakota is a less selective JD program with an acceptance rate of approximately 72.7%. The median entering 1L profile is a 3.48 GPA and 150 LSAT, with the 25th–75th percentile bands at 3.24–3.75 GPA and 146–153 LSAT. The full-time first-year class is approximately 86 students. Recent graduates have placed most heavily in North Dakota, Minnesota, and Arizona — useful context if your geographic preference shapes your school list. In the 2025 ABA reporting cycle, University of North Dakota admitted 2 transfer students into the 2L class. 10 1Ls transferred out.
Specialty strengths
Class profile
- US News rank
- #156
- Median GPA
- 3.48
- 25th–75th: 3.24–3.75
- Median LSAT
- 150
- 25th–75th: 146–153
- Acceptance rate
- 72.7%
- Class size (FT 1L)
- 86
- Transfers admitted (2025)
- 2
- ABA 2025 reporting cycle
2025 transfer admit profile
Actual GPAs of students University of North Dakota admitted as transfers in the 2025 ABA cycle.
- 25th percentile
- —
- Suppressed (small cohort)
- Median
- —
- 50th percentile
- 75th percentile
- —
- Suppressed (small cohort)
10 1Ls transferred out of University of North Dakota in the same cycle — context for how portable University of North Dakota's 1L credit is among admissions committees elsewhere.
Top employment markets
- 1North Dakota
- 2Minnesota
- 3Arizona
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 North Dakota's practical training. Mention specific clinic names in your "Why University of North Dakota" essay where they align with your interests.
- Business & Non-Profit Law ClinicProvides complimentary legal assistance to small businesses, entrepreneurs, and non-profits.
- Family Law ClinicStudents gain practical skills in family law cases, including divorce, custody, and domestic violence protection orders.
- Immigration Law ClinicOffers low-cost immigration legal services to the state and provides students with diverse case experiences.
Notable journals
Student-edited publications you could write for or cite as a research interest.
- North Dakota Law Review— Provides critical analysis of legal issues and developments in the state, region, and national/international platforms.
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.
- Bradley MyersTrusts & Estates, Federal Income Taxation, Estate Planning
- Michael S. McGinnissProfessional Responsibility, Legal Ethics, Constitutional Law, Federal Courts
- Paul TraynorTorts, Insurance Law, Health Law, Business Associations
- Margaret Moore JacksonEvidence, Housing Discrimination, Employment Discrimination
- James GrijalvaTribal Environmental Law, Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources
- Dan LewerenzIndian Law, Statutory Interpretation
- Denitsa Mavrova HeinrichTrial Advocacy
- Blake KlinknerLaw & Technology, Cybersecurity
- Ariana MeyersFamily Law
- Carolyn WilliamsLegal Writing, Critical Reading, Andragogy
- Bethany GullmanLegal Writing
What makes University of North Dakota distinctive
Programs, history, or institutional features that set this school apart beyond rank.
- ·As the only law school in North Dakota, it offers unique opportunities to interact with state and tribal courts.
- ·Offers joint degree programs including J.D./M.B.A., J.D./M.P.A., and J.D./M.P.H.
- ·Provides certificate programs in Indian and Tribal Law, Aviation Law, and Energy, Environmental, and Natural Resources.
- ·Features an accelerated 3+3 Bachelor's/J.D. program, allowing students to complete both degrees in six years.
- ·Home to the Northern Plains Indian Law Center.
Using this for your "Why University of North Dakota" 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 North Dakota
What is the median GPA and LSAT at University of North Dakota?▾
University of North Dakota's most recent entering 1L class had a median GPA of 3.48 and a median LSAT of 150. The 25th–75th percentile range was 3.24–3.75 GPA and 146–153 LSAT. Per ABA 509 disclosures.
What is University of North Dakota's acceptance rate?▾
University of North Dakota's most recent reported acceptance rate was approximately 72.7%, per ABA 509 disclosures.
What clinics does University of North Dakota offer?▾
University of North Dakota's notable clinical programs include: Business & Non-Profit Law Clinic, Family Law Clinic, Immigration Law Clinic. Visit the school's official clinical programs page for the full list.
What journals does University of North Dakota publish?▾
University of North Dakota's notable student-edited journals include: North Dakota Law Review.
Where do University of North Dakota graduates work?▾
University of North Dakota graduates concentrate employment in North Dakota, Minnesota, Arizona, per the school's most recent ABA 509 employment summary.
How many transfer students does University of North Dakota admit?▾
University of North Dakota admitted 2 transfer students into the 2L class in the 2025 ABA reporting cycle.
Schools similar to University of North Dakota
Other schools at a comparable rank tier — useful for building a transfer list, balanced 0L application list, or essay-research shortlist.
About to start at University of North Dakota?
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Try Case Cub free →Sources (3) — verify any fact above
- https://law.und.edu/academics/clinics.html
- https://law.und.edu/academics/journals.html
- https://law.und.edu/faculty-and-staff/faculty.html
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.