DePaul University

IL · Private · East North Central

Acceptance rate: 35% (2,643 applicants)
Median LSAT: 158 (middle 50%: 154–160)
Median GPA: 3.61 (middle 50%: 3.17–3.80)
Tuition: $55,328 (per year)
Bar passage: 83.8% (+2.8 pts vs. state average)

Deadlines

/27: April 1, 2027

Essays

Personal statement (2 pages maximum)

A personal statement is required and must be electronically attached to the application for admission. It should not exceed two pages, and may provide the Admissions Committee with information regarding such matters as intellectual interests and pursuits; personal, family or educational background; experiences and talents of special interest; reasons for applying to law school as they may relate to personal goals and professional expectations; or any other factors that will assist the Committee's evaluation of the applicant's candidacy for admission.

Mission statement (Within the personal statement or as an addendum)

Applicants also may describe, either within the personal statement or as an addendum, how their admission would contribute to the mission of the College of Law.

Test score explanation (Brief)

Applicants with significant discrepancy among test scores may wish to provide a brief explanation for the discrepancy.

JD/LLM essay (JD/LLM applicants only) (2 pages maximum)

Applicants also must submit a brief essay of no more than two pages discussing the reason(s) for their interest in earning a JD/LLM in a specific area of law.

Editor's notes

Apply in the fall. DePaul reads files as they finish, scholarships go out on a rolling basis, and the school says applying early helps while most seats are open. April 1 is only a suggested deadline, so don't treat it as a target.
Write the mission statement. With no interview, the personal statement and this optional piece are the only places the committee hears from you. DePaul's application instructions open with its Vincentian mission of serving urgent human needs. Show where your record already connects to that.
If you have an LSAT, it's your main score. A GRE or JD-Next result counts only as a secondary factor. And a score that arrives after your decision won't reopen it, so time your last test before you submit or ask the office to hold the file.
Plan on the full-time program. The evening J.D. stopped taking new students in fall 2026, and DePaul's tuition is a fixed three-year package for full-time students.