Gonzaga University

WA · Private · Pacific

Acceptance rate: 51% (1,273 applicants)
Median LSAT: 155 (middle 50%: 153–158)
Median GPA: 3.55 (middle 50%: 3.24–3.76)
Tuition: $57,962 (per year)
Bar passage: 85.8% (+3.9 pts vs. state average)

Deadlines

Application deadline: April 15, 2027

Essays

Personal statement (2 pages, double-spaced)

A maximum two-paged, double-spaced personal statement explaining your motivations for pursuing a legal education at Gonzaga Law.

Carl Maxey Social Justice Scholarship essay (500 words)

Applicants must include a supplemental essay of 500 words (or less) addressing how they would contribute to the mission of the program. The essay should address your demonstrated commitment to social justice, your potential and promise to be a leader, and your contribution to the profession.

Addendum (—)

Statements relating to cultural and ethnic diversity, public service, or other relevant information for your application may be included in a separate addendum.

Editor's notes

Get your file complete by early February, even though the deadline is April 15. Review starts in January, the Carl Maxey scholarship looks only at files complete by Feb. 1, and the school itself calls the February LSAT the last safe test date.
Take the LSAT if you can. Gonzaga admits on the GRE or JD-Next, but it says scholarships may be limited without an LSAT, and every award is fixed at admission and guaranteed for the program. The number you apply with is the scholarship you keep.
Pick your track before you write. The Executive Two-Year J.D. has an earlier deadline (March 31), starts in late May and points to business and private practice. If you want public interest work or the Maxey scholarship, the traditional program is the one to apply for.
Gonzaga's statement asks why Gonzaga, and the school leans hard on service: a public service requirement, a public-defender LRAP, a full-tuition social justice scholarship. If service is part of your story, say so with specifics.