The Dickinson School of Law at Pennsylvania State University–University Park
EDU
March 2, 2019
Law School Admissions
Application
| Director of admissions |
Amanda DiPolvere |
| Application deadline |
March 31 |
| Full-time program application fee |
$60 |
| Part-time program application fee |
N/A |
| Besides the fall semester, can enter in |
N/A |
Admissions & Enrollment (Overall)
| Acceptance rate |
30.4% – Medium |
| Median undergraduate GPA for all program entrants |
3.55 |
| Median LSAT score for all program entrants |
159 |
Admissions & Enrollment (Full-time)
| Acceptance rate |
30.4% |
| LSAT scores (25th-75th percentile) |
156-161 |
| Undergraduate GPA (25th-75th percentile) |
3.31-3.77 |
| Median undergraduate GPA for full-time program entrants |
3.55 |
| Median LSAT score for full-time program entrants |
159 |
Admissions & Enrollment (Part-time)
| Applicants |
N/A |
| Acceptance rate |
N/A |
| LSAT scores (25th-75th percentile) |
N/A |
| Undergraduate GPA (25th-75th percentile) |
N/A |
| Median undergraduate GPA for part-time program entrants |
N/A |
| Median LSAT score for part-time program entrants |
N/A |
Law School Academics
Academic Program Details
| Academic calendar |
Semester |
| Joint degrees offered |
| J.D./M.P.A. |
J.D./M.S. Educational Leadership |
| J.D./M.B.A. |
J.D./D.Ed. Educational Leadership |
| J.D./M.S.I.S. |
J.D./Ph.D. Educational Leadership |
| J.D./M.S. Forest Resources |
J.D./Ph.D. Higher Education |
| J.D./M.Agr. |
J.D./D.Ed. Higher Education |
| J.D./Ph.D. Forest Resources |
J.D./M.Ed. Higher Education |
| J.D./M.A. Educational Theory & Policy |
J.D./M.S. Human Resources |
| J.D./Ph.D. Educational Theory & Policy |
J.D./M.S. Env. Pol. Control |
| J.D./M.Ed. College Student Affairs |
J.D//M.I.A. Master of Intl Affairs |
| J.D./M.Ed. Educational Leadership |
|
| Special programs offered to J.D. students (as provided by the school) |
| As part of a preeminent research university, Penn State Law offers 19 dual degree programs and 7 research centers including Arbitration, M&A, and Public Interest Law. Experiential learning includes 8 clinics in areas such as appellate civil rights, immigration policy, child advocacy, rural development, and semester-long externships in D.C. and at the International Court of Justice at The Hague. |
| Programs/courses offered in |
| appellate advocacy |
intellectual property law |
| clinical training |
international law |
| dispute resolution |
tax law |
| environmental law |
trial advocacy |
| health care law |
|
Curricular Offerings (Overall)
| Classroom course titles, beyond the first-year curriculum, offered last year |
123 |
| Seminars |
24 |
| Positions available in seminars |
430 |
| Positions available in simulation courses |
871 |
| Positions available in faculty-supervised clinical courses |
124 |
| Student activities (as provided by the school) |
| Students prepare for the profession on competitive trial teams, moot court board, and 3 student-run law reviews. Students are active in 40+ organizations, including international human rights, ADR, public service, and host a multitude of symposia and outside speakers. In addition, the Penn State community offers hundreds of activities and opportunities to enrich a student’s graduate experience. |
Curricular Offerings (Full-time)
| Typical first-year full-time section size taught by full-time faculty (excludes small sections) |
40 |
| Is there typically a full-time “small section” of the first-year class taught by full-time faculty (excluding Legal Writing)? |
No |
| Typical size of first-year “small section” |
N/A |
| Positions filled in full-time program seminars |
249 |
| Positions filled in full-time program simulation courses |
566 |
| Positions filled in faculty-supervised full-time program clinical courses |
100 |
| Full-time students involved in field placements |
92 |
| Full-time students involved in law journals |
84 |
| Full-time students involved in advanced moot court or trial competitions |
32 |
| Full-time students enrolled in independent study |
49 |
Curricular Offerings (Part-time)
| Typical first-year part-time section size taught by full-time faculty (excludes small sections) |
N/A |
| Is there typically a part-time “small section” of the first-year class taught by full-time faculty (excluding Legal Writing)? |
N/A |
| Positions filled in part-time program seminars |
N/A |
| Positions filled in part-time program simulation courses |
N/A |
| Positions filled in faculty-supervised part-time program clinical courses |
N/A |
| Part-time students involved in field placements |
N/A |
| Part-time students involved in law journals |
N/A |
| Part-time students involved in advanced moot court or trial competitions |
N/A |
| Part-time students enrolled in independent study |
N/A |
Faculty Profile (Fall 2011)
| Student-faculty ratio |
9.2:1 – Low |
| Full- and part-time faculty |
70 |
| Full-time minority faculty |
13.2% |
| Part-time minority faculty |
11.8% |
| Total faculty |
88 |
| Total faculty (men) |
55.7% |
| Total faculty (women) |
44.3% |
| Total faculty (minorities) |
13.6% |
Class Size
Law School Ranking
|
|
|
(2) Ranking by Specialties
#14 in Dispute Resolution
#58 in Law Firms Rank Schools
|
Law Ranking Scores
| Score |
47 |
| Peer assessment score (out of 5) |
2.4 |
| Assessment score by lawyers/judges (out of 5) |
3.2 |
| GPA (25th-75th percentile) |
3.31-3.77 |
| Median undergraduate GPA for all program entrants |
3.55 |
| LSAT scores (25th-75th percentile) |
156-161 |
| Median LSAT score for all program entrants |
159 |
| Acceptance rate |
30.4% – Medium |
| Student-faculty ratio |
9.2:1 – Low |
| Graduates known to be employed at graduation |
41.7% – Low |
| Graduates known to be employed nine months after graduation |
74.3% – Low |
| Bar passage rate (first-time test takers) |
83.2% – Medium |
| State where the greatest number of first-time test takers took the bar |
PA |
| Statewide bar passage rate (first-time test takers) |
83.1% |
Law School Student Body
Student Body (Overall)
Student Body (Full-time)
| Enrollment (full-time) |
596 |
Student Body (Part-time)
| Enrollment (part-time) |
N/A |
| Gender distribution (part-time) |
N/A |
Attrition Rates for Full- and Part-time Students (2010-2011)
| First-year students discontinuing law school |
13.6% |
| Second-year students discontinuing law school |
1.0% |
| Third-year students discontinuing law school |
N/A |
| Fourth-year students discontinuing law school |
N/A |
| Male students discontinuing law school |
6.7% |
| Female students discontinuing law school |
3.4% |
Law School Cost
Financial Aid Contact Information
| Financial aid director |
Susan Bogart |
| Financial aid phone |
(800) 840-1122 |
| Financial aid application deadline |
March 1 |
Expenses
| Tuition and fees |
Full-time: $38,614 per year (in-state)
Full-time: $38,614 per year (out-of-state) |
| Room and board |
$11,412 |
| Books |
$1,456 |
| Miscellaneous expenses |
$10,188 |
| Is the tuition the same for first-, second-, and third-year students? |
Yes |
| Does the university offer housing restricted to law students? |
Yes |
| Does the university offer graduate student housing for which law students are eligible? |
Yes |
| Does the university offer a public-interest scholarship program to current J.D. students? |
Yes |
Grants (Full-time students)
| Students receiving grants of less than one-half tuition |
45.5% |
| Students receiving grants of one-half tuition or more but less than full |
15.4% |
| Students receiving grants of full tuition |
0.2% |
| Students receiving grants of more than full tuition |
0.0% |
| Median grant amount |
$10,000 |
| Grant range (25th–75th percentile) |
$5,500–$18,724 |
| Full-time students receiving grants |
61.1% |
Grants (Part-time students)
| Students receiving grants of less than one-half tuition |
N/A |
| Students receiving grants of one-half tuition or more but less than full |
N/A |
| Students receiving grants of full tuition |
N/A |
| Students receiving grants of more than full tuition |
N/A |
| Median grant amount |
N/A |
| Grant range (25th–75th percentile) |
N/A |
| Part-time students receiving grants |
N/A |
Indebtedness
| Average indebtedness of 2011 graduates who incurred law school debt |
$114,203 |
| Proportion who borrowed |
90.9% |
| Does the school offer a loan repayment assistance program for 2011 J.D. graduates? |
Yes |
Law School Library
Library Information Resources
| Print titles (excluding nonbook titles) |
58,612 |
| Microform titles |
49,621 |
| Electronic titles |
74,845 |
| Other non-book titles |
707 |
| Total titles |
183,785 |
| Volumes (excluding microforms) |
284,802 |
| Volume equivalent microforms |
294,481 |
| Total volumes and volume equivalents |
579,283 |
| Number of volumes in the collection that are stored off site and are systematically retrievable |
26,000 |
| Library’s online catalog or website includes links to electronic titles or databases made available by another campus library or consortia |
Yes |
Library Schedule of Operation
| Number of hours per week library is open on a regular schedule |
96 |
| Number of hours per week professional staff are on duty on a regular schedule |
53 |
| Number of hours per week only full-time support staff are on duty on a regular schedule |
3 |
| Number of hours per week only students or other part-time staff are on duty on a regular schedule |
40 |
| Number of hours of reference service provided per week on a regular schedule |
53 |
| Number of weeks per year library operates on an abbreviated schedule |
18 |
| Number of hours per week library is open on an abbreviated schedule |
48 |
| Number of hours per week professional staff are on duty are on an abbreviated schedule |
48 |
| Number of hours per week only full-time support staff are on duty on an abbreviated schedule |
3 |
| Number of hours per week only students or other part-time staff are on duty on an abbreviated schedule |
0 |
| Number of hours of reference service provided per week on an abbreviated schedule |
48 |
| Number of weeks per year library operates on expanded schedule |
34 |
Information Technology
| Department(s) responsible for the law school information technology operations |
law school information technology department, law school library, university information technology department |
| Approximate number of full-time-equivalent information technology staff (excluding hourly students and other temporary staff) |
13 |
| Number of open, wired network connections available to students in the law library (excluding computer labs) |
23 |
| Number of open, wired network connections available to students in classrooms |
23 |
| Number of open, wired network connections available to students in computer labs |
21 |
| Number of open, wired network connections available to students elsewhere in the law school |
56 |
| Does the law school have a wireless network? |
Yes |
| Wireless network is available |
in the law library, in classrooms, in computer labs, in administrative/faculty offices and work areas, elsewhere in the law school |
| Does the school require entering students to own a computer? |
No |
Physical Library Facilities
| Net square feet of space assigned for library purposes |
38,323 |
| Total seats available for library users |
395 |
| Details about the library and other facilities (as provided by the school) |
The University has invested over $130 million in award-winning signature facilities for the law school, featuring state-of-the-art libraries, courtrooms, classrooms and study spaces. Our facilities are pervasively equipped with advanced high definition audiovisual and recording technologies, and our buildings are designed to LEED certification standards and feature vegetated green roofs. |
Law School Careers
Bar Statistics (Winter and Summer 2010 administrations)
| State where the greatest number of first-time test takers took the bar |
PA |
| Bar passage rate (first-time test takers) |
83.2% – Medium |
| Statewide bar passage rate (first-time test takers) |
83.1% |
Class of 2010 Graduates
| Total graduates |
187 |
| Graduates known to be employed at graduation |
41.7% |
| Graduates known to be employed nine months after graduation |
74.3% |
Class of 2010 Graduates-Class Breakdown at Graduation
| Graduates whose employment status is unknown |
9.1% |
| Graduates whose employment status is known |
90.9% |
| Graduates known to be employed at graduation |
41.7% |
| Graduates known to be enrolled in a full-time degree program |
5.9% |
| Graduates known to be unemployed and seeking work |
42.2% |
| Graduates known to be unemployed and not seeking work |
1.1% |
Class of 2010 Graduates-Class Breakdown at Nine Months
| Graduates whose employment status is unknown |
4.3% |
| Graduates whose employment status is known |
95.7% |
| Graduates known to be employed nine months after graduation |
74.3% |
| Graduates known to be enrolled in a full-time degree program |
6.4% |
| Graduates known to be unemployed and seeking work |
9.6% |
| Graduates known to be unemployed and not seeking work |
5.3% |
Starting Salaries of Graduates Employed Full-time (Class of 2010)
| 25th percentile private sector starting salary |
$50,000 |
| Median private sector starting salary |
$54,393 |
| 75th percentile private sector starting salary |
$90,000 |
| Percent in the private sector who reported salary information |
13% |
| Median public service starting salary |
$46,691 |
Areas of Legal Practice (Class of 2010)
| Percent employed in academia |
4.3% |
| Percent employed in business and industry |
23.7% |
| Percent employed in government |
15.8% |
| Percent employed in all judicial clerkships |
19.4% |
| Percent employed in law firms |
31.7% |
| Percent employed in public interest |
2.9% |
| Percent employed in an unknown field |
2.2% |
Employment Location (Class of 2010)
| Graduates employed in-state |
59% |
| Graduates employed out-of-state |
30.0% |
| Graduates employed in foreign countries |
1% |
| Number of states where graduates are employed |
17 |
| New England (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT) |
1.0% |
| Middle Atlantic (NY, NJ, PA) |
65.0% |
| East North Central (IL, IN, MI, OH, WI) |
2.0% |
| West North Central (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD) |
1.0% |
| South Atlantic (DE, DC, FL, GA, MD, NC, SC, VA, WV) |
16.0% |
| East South Central (AL, KY, MS, TN) |
1.0% |
| West South Central (AR, LA, OK, TX) |
1.0% |
| Pacific (AK, CA, HI, OR, WA) |
1.0% |
| Mountain (AZ, CO, ID, MT, NV, NM, UT, WY) |
1.0% |
| Employment location unknown |
10.0% |
Career Services
(Data appear as originally submitted by this school)
| Career services operations |
The Career Planning and Development Office provides resources, programming and tailored one-on-one counseling to assist students in identifying and achieving their career goals. The Office networks with employers across the country, resulting in two formal, on-campus interview programs and the posting of more than 2,000 positions annually. Students can participate in more than 35 job fairs. |
Job Type
| Bar admission required/anticipated (e.g., attorney and corporate counsel positions, law clerks, judicial clerks) |
76.0% |
| Bar admission required/anticipated – percent employed in full-time positions |
89.5% |
| J.D. preferred, law degree enhances position (e.g., corporate contracts administrator, alternative dispute resolution specialist, government regulatory analyst, FBI special agent) |
16.0% |
| J.D. preferred – percent employed in full-time positions |
50.0% |
| Professional other (jobs that require professional skills or training but for which a J.D. is neither preferred nor particularly applicable; e.g., accountant, teacher, business manager, nurse) |
5.0% |
| Professional other – percent employed in full-time positions |
100.0% |
| Non-professional other (job that does not require any professional skills or training or is taken on a temporary basis and not viewed as part of a career path) |
2.0% |
| Non-professional other – percent employed in full-time positions |
0.0% |
