Albany Law School

NY · Private · Mid-Atlantic

Acceptance rate: 37% (2,638 applicants)
Median LSAT: 158 (middle 50%: 154–161)
Median GPA: 3.54 (middle 50%: 3.16–3.75)
Tuition: $63,994 (per year)
Bar passage: 86.7% (+0.7 pts vs. state average)

Deadlines

Priority: March 15, 2027
Priority: June 30, 2027

Essays

Personal statement (2 to 3 pages)

Your personal statement should be written in your own words and limited to 2-3 pages on a topic of your choice that will provide additional insight into your qualifications and interests. While there is no required topic, if you are unsure of a topic, you may consider sharing: why you are interested in pursuing a law degree. what your anticipated career goals/interests are.

Optional statement and addenda (Brief)

Albany Law School values a wide range of lived experiences and perspectives that our students contribute to our community and classes. We also acknowledge that many applicants have overcome obstacles or hardships to achieve their current level of education. If you feel there is information not shared elsewhere in your application that the Admissions Committee may find relevant to their review process, you may choose to submit an optional statement and/or additional addenda. Brief optional addenda may also be useful to explain LSAT score discrepancies, grade inconsistencies, gaps in work history, or to provide context for reviewers on any other topic you feel is relevant to their decision. If not already included in your personal statement, you may also wish to share why you are specifically interested in pursuing your goals at Albany Law School.

Editor's notes

Beat March 15. Albany calls it a suggested priority deadline, and in the last cycle the committee was admitting by mid-November. The June 30 deadline is real, but scholarship money and seats both move earlier.
Decide residential or Flex before you apply. Albany makes you choose one, and switching means withdrawing and starting over. If you work full time, read the Flex FAQ first: 20 to 28 study hours a week plus evening classes is the stated load.
Use the why-Albany option if you have a real reason. The school invites it in the optional statement. A concrete tie to government, public interest work or New York practice says more than praise for the campus.
SUNY graduates have a clear scholarship floor if they apply by April 15: $20,000 for students who entered in 2025. Confirm this year's amount with admissions before you count on it.