University of Minnesota

MN · Public · West North Central

Acceptance rate: 27% (3,405 applicants)
Median LSAT: 171 (middle 50%: 166–173)
Median GPA: 3.88 (middle 50%: 3.62–3.95)
Tuition: $61,845 (per year, nonresident)
Bar passage: 95.3% (+10.0 pts vs. state average)

Deadlines

Binding early decision: Dec. 31, 2026
Scholarship priority: Feb. 5, 2027
Final: June 1, 2027

Essays

Personal statement (2 pages, double-spaced)

Through the personal statement, the Admissions Committee seeks insight into the abilities, motivation and experiences of an applicant, as well as an assessment of writing ability. Your personal statement (two pages, double spaced) should articulate significant achievements, professional goals, and reasons for pursuing a law degree. It is also helpful to the Committee to discuss specific interest in the University of Minnesota Law School (you may attach a supplemental statement for this, if you prefer).

Supplemental statement (1 page each, double-spaced)

Applicants may also submit one or more supplemental statements (one page, double-spaced) to highlight how your views, life experiences, and skills would contribute to this program and to your success in this program and/or ways that you have contributed to a culture of inclusivity and non-discrimination in your institutions or organizations; explain absences or breaks in academic history; or present other matters that may be of importance to the Admissions Committee.

Why Minnesota supplement (1 page, double-spaced)

It is also helpful to the Committee to discuss specific interest in the University of Minnesota Law School (you may attach a supplemental statement for this, if you prefer).

Editor's notes

Do the video interview. It's labeled optional, but Minnesota says participants get priority consideration and asks waitlisted applicants to finish it. Watch for the email about a week after you submit.
Early decision here runs to Dec. 31, later than most binding plans, and it carries no scholarship penalty: ED applicants get the same consideration. If Minnesota is your first choice and the numbers are in range, that's a good deal. Just know it's binding.
You get two pages for the main statement and as many one-page supplements as you need. Use that structure. Keep the statement on achievements, goals and why law, and give why Minnesota and any gap in your record their own pages.
Only one letter is required, and Minnesota wants an academic writer who knows your work. If you send a second, make it add something new, like an employer who has seen you work for years.