The LSAT you take—or retake—can have a great impact on your admission chances. Some of you may be asking, “Is the January LSAT too late? Are the February or March LSATs too late?” We survey top law schools yearly with those exact questions to find out admissions deadlines and the latest LSAT each school will accept.
Many of the top law schools are still requiring a January LSAT deadline. But, as you’ll see in the chart below, the February and March LSATs are definitely viable options for test-takers. A quarter of the schools still allow for a June or July test result, however, they admit that they will not review your application until scores are in. Because of this, spots are limited or may not even exist at that time. If you need help with any part of your application, we’ve got expert admissions consultants you can work with!
Categories We Use
- Rank: The rank for each school was drawn from the US News & World Report Best Law Schools 2021 rankings. We listed schools in numerical order by rank.
- School Name: This one is obvious—this column identifies the name of the school! For this post, we stick to the top 100.
- Application Deadline: The deadline is the date after which the school will not consider or review newly received applications. Having said that, several schools mentioned that the number of unfilled spaces affected how they view their “deadline” date. If they still have spaces available in their classes, they might accept applications after the deadline. The law schools we surveyed said chances of admissions are lowered once the deadline passes. Though unlikely, this certainly makes the deadline less concrete.
- Latest Acceptable Test Date: For some schools, this is a “strongly recommended”. Schools that accept the June or July LSAT have been highlighted. To clarify, these schools will accept this test as the first and only LSAT you’ve taken. Note: LSAC hasn’t released the June and July test dates as of this posting and schools are waiting for the score release dates before agreeing to accept those tests.
- Notes: To compile this list, we pulled data from US News, visited the schools’ websites, and contacted a majority of the admissions offices on this list. In some cases, the admissions folks had additional thoughts or considerations about the deadline or use of the June or July LSAT, and we added those thoughts in this column.
Let’s take a look at the list! If you have any questions or comments, please post below. If you plan to apply to any of these schools, we strongly encourage you to contact them directly to ask about their deadlines. We’ve seen deadlines change just in the last month, so let us know if you notice something we missed!
2021 Rank | Law School name | Application Deadline | Latest Acceptable LSAT | Accept the GRE? | Notes from the University |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Yale University | 2.15.2021 | Jan 2021 | Yes | Under our review process there is no advantage, in terms of the likelihood of admission, to applying earlier in the application cycle. |
2 | Stanford University | 2.15.2021 | Jan 2021 | No | |
3 | Harvard University | 3.1.2021 | Jan 2021 | Yes | Priority deadline is 2/1/21 |
4 | Columbia University | 2.15.2021 | Jan 2021 | Yes | |
4 | University of Chicago | 3.1.2021 | Jan 2021 | Yes | |
6 | New York University | 2.15.2021 | Jan 2021 | Yes | |
7 | University of Pennsylvania | 3.1.2021 | Feb 2021 | Yes | |
8 | University of Virginia | 3.3.2021 | Jan 2021 | Yes | Will accept and review late applications and scores, but no guarantees. |
9 | Northwestern University | 2.15.2021 | Feb 2021 | Yes | |
9 | University of California - Berkeley | 2.15.2021 | Jan 2021 | No | |
9 | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor | 2.28.2021 | Jan 2021 | No | |
12 | Duke University | 2.15.2021 | Jan 2021 | Yes | Will continue to accept applications after these dates, but it is very late in the process. |
13 | Cornell University | 3.1.2021 | Jan 2021 | Yes | |
14 | Georgetown University | 3.1.2021 | Jan 2021 | Yes | |
15 | University of California, Los Angeles | 2.1.2021 | Jan 2021 | Yes | |
16 | University of Texas Austin | 3.1.2021 | Feb 2021 | Yes | |
17 | Washington University, St. Louis | 8.13.2021 | Jun 2021* | Yes | We accept applications until August 13 this cycle. Will accept July results if scores are scheduled to be released prior to deadline. |
18 | University of Southern California | 4.1.2021 | Feb 2021 | Yes | |
18 | Vanderbilt University | 4.1.2021 | Mar 2021 | No | |
20 | Boston University | 4.1.2021 | Jan 2021 | Yes | |
21 | University of Minnesota | 6.1.2021 | Apr 2021 | No | |
22 | University of Notre Dame | 3.15.2021 | Feb 2021 | Yes | |
23 | George Washington University | 3.1.2021 | Feb 2021 | No | |
24 | Arizona State University | 8.1.2021 | N/A | No | 3.1.2021 is their Priority, or preferred, deadline |
24 | Emory University | 3.1.2021 | Feb 2021 | No | |
24 | University of Florida | 7.15.2021 | Jun 2021 | No | |
27 | University of Iowa | 5.1.2021 | Jun 2021 | No | While the application must be submitted by May 1, you can indicate that you're taking the June LSAT and we will process your application and place a hold on it until we have received your June LSAT score. |
27 | Fordham University | 3.15.2021 | Feb 2021 | No | |
27 | University of California - Irvine | 3.15.2021 | Apr 2021 | Yes | |
27 | University of North Carolina Chapel Hill | 5.1.2021 | Mar 2021 | No | |
31 | University of Alabama | N/A | Jun 2021 | Yes | There is no application deadline for Fall 2021. However, the committee begins admitting applicants before December and by the end of May, most final decisions have been made. |
31 | Boston College | 3.31.2021 | Mar 2021 | Yes | |
31 | University of Georgia | 6.1.2021 | Jun 2021 | No | |
31 | University of Illinios | 3.15.2021 | Feb 2021 | No | |
31 | Washington and Lee University | 2.1.2021 | N/A | No | |
31 | William and Mary Law School | 3.1.2021 | Jan 2021 | No | |
37 | Brigham Young University | 6.30.2021 | Apr 2021 | Yes | |
38 | Indiana University - Bloomington | N/A | Jun 2021 | Yes | While there is no firm admissions deadline, the committee begins admitting applicants before the December recess. |
38 | Ohio State University | 7.1.2021 | Feb 2021 | No | June or July test scores will usually not be accepted–except in rare cases in which taking the February LSAT was not possible due to factors outside the applicant’s control, e.g. natural disasters. |
38 | University of California - Davis | 3.15.2021 | Mar 2021 | Yes | |
38 | University of Wisconsin - Madison | 4.1.2021 | Mar 2021 | No | |
42 | Wake Forest University | 3.1.2021 | Mar 2021 | Yes | Applications must be submitted by 3/1, complete by 4/1. |
42 | George Mason University | 4.30.2021 | Apr 2021 | Yes | |
42 | University of Washington | 3.15.2021 | Jan 2021 | No | |
45 | University of Utah | 3.10.2021 | Jan 2021 | No | |
46 | University of Colorado - Boulder | 4.1.2021 | Feb 2021 | No | |
47 | Pepperdine University | 4.15.2021 | Mar 2021 | Yes | |
47 | University of Arizona | 7.15.2021 | Jun 2021 | No | |
47 | University of Maryland | 4.1.2021 | Jun 2021 | Yes | |
50 | Baylor University | 3.19.2021 | Feb 2021 | No | |
50 | Florida State University | 7.31.2021 | Jun 2021 | Yes | |
50 | University of Connecticut | 4.30.2021 | Mar 2021 | No | |
53 | Yeshiva University | 4.1.2021 | Feb 2021 | Yes | |
54 | Tulane University | 3.1.2021 | Mar 2021 | No | Applicants are encouraged to submit applications between September 15 and March 1. Later applications will be considered, but space and scholarship opportunities may be limited. |
54 | University of Richmond | 3.1.2021 | Jan 2021 | No | |
56 | Temple University | 3.1.2021 | Apr 2021 | No | Will accept April 2021 LSAT scores as long as your application is transmitted by the March 1, 2021 application deadline. |
56 | Southern Methodist University | 3.1.2021 | Jan 2021 | Yes | |
56 | University of Houston | 2.15.2021 | Jan 2021 | No | |
59 | University of California, Hastings | 4.15.2021 | Apr 2021 | Yes | |
60 | Pennsylvania State University | 3.31.2021 | Feb 2021 | Yes | |
60 | Texas A&M | 5.1.2021 | Apr 2021 | Yes | |
62 | Loyola Marymount University | 2.3.2021 | Jan 2021 | No | |
62 | Pennsylvania State University | 3.31.2021 | Feb 2021 | Yes | |
62 | Seton Hall University | 4.1.2021 | Feb 2021 | Yes | |
62 | University of Nevada Las Vegas | 3.15.2021 | Jan 2021 | No | |
62 | Villanova University | 4.1.2021 | Mar 2021 | No | |
67 | Northeastern University | 3.1.2021 | Feb 2021 | No | |
67 | University of Miami | 7.31.2021 | Jun 2021 | No | |
67 | University of Missouri | 3.15.2021 | Feb 2021 | No | |
70 | Loyola University Chicago | 5.1.2021 | No | ||
70 | University of Kansas | 4.1.2021 | Feb 2021 | No | |
70 | University of Kentucky | 4.30.2021 | Apr 2021 | No | |
70 | University of Tennessee Knoxville | 8.15.2021 | N/A | No | |
74 | St. John's University | 3.16.2021 | Feb 2021 | No | |
74 | University of Denver | 3.1.2021 | N/A | No | |
76 | American University | 3.1.2021 | Mar 2021 | Yes | |
76 | Case Western Reserve University | 4.1.2021 | Feb 2021 | No | |
76 | Georgia State University | 6.1.2021 | Apr 2021 | No | |
76 | Rutgers University | 5.15.2021 | No | ||
76 | University of Nebraska | 3.1.2021 | Jan 2021 | No | |
76 | University of Oklahoma | 3.15.2021 | Apr 2021 | Yes | |
76 | University of Pittsburgh | 4.1.2021 | Feb 2021 | No | |
83 | Brooklyn Law School | N/A | Jun 2021 | Yes | |
83 | Chicago-Kent Law School | 3.15.2021 | Jan 2021 | Yes | |
83 | University of Cincinnati | 3.15.2021 | Feb 2021 | No | |
83 | University of San Diego | 7.31.2021 | Jul 2021 | No | |
83 | Wayne State University | 6.20.2021 | Jun 2021 | No | |
88 | University of Oregon | 8.13.2021 | Jun 2021* | No | We strongly encourage applicants to apply by our priority deadline of March 1st and to take the LSAT that will allow students to recieve score prior to March 1st. Last year we accepted both the June and July LSATs, since the scores for those tests were released prior to August deadline. |
88 | University of New Hampshire | 3.15.2021 | Feb 2021 | Yes | |
90 | Florida International University | 7.31.2021 | Jun 2021 | Yes | |
90 | Saint Louis University | 9.16.2021 | Jun 2021 | No | |
90 | University of Arkansas | 4.15.2021 | Feb 2021 | No | |
93 | Drexel University | 8.1.2021 | Jun 2021 | No | We recommend submitting your application by 4/1. Will hold off on reviewing applications that have a future LSAT registration in their file, so if you're retaking in June, you should still submit the application by April 1st. |
93 | Lewis & Clark College (Northwestern) | See note | N/A | No | Due to the many and varied impacts of the ongoing COVID-19 situation, we will continue to accept applications throughout the summer. |
93 | Michigan State University | 4.30.2021 | Apr 2021 | No | |
96 | University of South Carolina | See note | Jun 2021 | Yes | Our priority deadline for complete applications is March 1, but we welcome applications through early summer. Spring LSAT recommended. We will accept a score from the summer tests, but we will have begun to fill places in the entering class by the time your LSAT score is received, which can affect your chances of admission. |
96 | Louisiana State University | 7.1.2021 | Jun 2021 | No | |
96 | University of Hawaii | 4.1.2021 | Mar 2021 | Yes | |
99 | University at Buffalo - SUNY | See note | Jun 2021 | Yes | While we suggest applying by March 1, we welcome applications beyond this date and accept the June LSAT. |
99 | University of Louisville (Brandeis) | 4.15.2021 | Mar 2021 | No | |
99 | University of New Mexico | 3.1.2021 | Jan 2021 | No |
Andrew says
Thanks for the response Dave! What I meant by the reply I made on my first comment was **I** should have said “schools that will accept LSAT scores from these months” not “schools that will **only** accept…” because in my first comment the “only accept” in my original comment totally changed my question (I feel like I’m analyzing an LR with tricky language question right now lol!).
I am still a bit confused by the “first and only” in the original bullet, so I will restate my intended question: Will the schools that accept the 2021 June/July LSAT this year disallow a score from June/July 2021 if I take the February LSAT and cancel my score and then retake in June/July and submit that score?
The first and only makes it sound like you are only eligible to submit the June/July score if it is not a retake. Am I mistake in my understanding of first and only?
Thanks again Dave!
Dave Killoran says
Ahh, gotcha! And yes, it like an LR question 🙂
To your questions, good news: no, they won’t disallow it. If you take February and then cancel, June (etc) is still open to you. The “first and only” means that at those schools, students can wait as long as June (etc) before taking their LSAT. Thus, if June was your first LSAT then at those schools it would be just fine 🙂 Retakes are not being factored into the chart at all, because they don’t matter; if a school accepts a certain LSAT, it does not matter if it is a retake or the first time. The bottom line being is that we are trying to let students know how late of an LSAt they could take and still be in the running.
I hope that helps!
Andrew says
“Latest Acceptable Test Date: For some schools, this is a “strongly recommended”. Schools that accept the June or July LSAT have been highlighted. To clarify, these schools will accept this test as the first and only LSAT you’ve taken. Note: LSAC hasn’t released the June and July test dates as of this posting and schools are waiting for the score release dates before agreeing to accept those tests.”
I’m a bit confused by this bullet. Are you saying that schools that will only accept LSAT scores from these months only if they are the first and only test you have taken? For example if I take the test Feb 2021 for the first time and use the score preview to cancel a score I don’t like, will those schools disqualify me if I retake on June/July and submit that score?
Andrew says
Should say “schools that will accept LSAT scores from these months” not “schools that will **only** accept…”
Dave Killoran says
Hi Andrew,
Thanks for the message! This is a case where the category name contains really critical information. As per the title, you are looking at the last date of each cycle that a school will accept. Now, for many schools that date is a hard deadline, but for others it’s more of a soft deadline, which is noted in the very first line of this description. But, in every case, as this is a the “last acceptable,” it means schools would accept results from that test and all prior tests.
So, for example, let’s use Yale. Their last acceptable was January 2021. That means if you took your first LSAT in January 2021 and kept it, you are in the clear and can apply. If you took any prior LSAT to January 2021 and received a score, you are in the clear. If you took your first LSAT in January 2021 LSAT and cancelled, then you are out fo the running at Yale; they don’t take later LSATs and January 2021 was the last acceptable.
Now let’s use Arizona. Their last acceptable is June 2021. That means if you took your first LSAT in June 2021 and kept it, you are in the clear and can apply. If you took any prior LSAT to June 2021 and received a score, you are in the clear. If you took your first LSAT in June 2021 LSAT and cancelled, then you are out of the running at Arizona; they don’t take later LSATs and June 2021 is the last acceptable (that can always change, so we recommend checking with the school when new LSAT dates come out in a few weeks).
The “first and only” simply means you can take that late LSAT as your only and be fine; it’ doesn’t have to be that specific month; if you took a test earlier one you’d be fine too. Think of it as a timeline window that opens int he fall, and then goes for various lengths depending on the school. Some close that window early (Yale), others much later (Arizona). So, aased on the name of the category, the description is actually correct here and requires no change–it’s accurate as stated.
Thanks!
Harry Wise says
Hi, I took the LSAT back in my Junior year of college in 2017. I did average on the test and know scores are valid for 5 years. I am strongly considering law school again after obtaining real world engineering experience and would pursue IP Law. Looking at acceptance dates now and knowing I would want to retake the LSAT, I am unsure the best course of action. The closest LSAT available now is the April test due to registration dates. I am unsure the best course of action. Apply to schools with my current test and denote I plan to register and take April? Otherwise, hold off, and limit the quantity of schools that will accept scores/applications following that test?
I appreciate the help and advice.
Dave Killoran says
Hi Harry,
Thanks for the question! to answer accurately, I need a sense of the schools you’d be looking at. Are they in the Top 10? Top 50? Etc.
Thanks!