University of Pittsburgh

PA · Public · Mid-Atlantic

Acceptance rate: 35% (1,606 applicants)
Median LSAT: 160 (middle 50%: 158–163)
Median GPA: 3.54 (middle 50%: 3.26–3.74)
Tuition: $53,434 (per year, nonresident)
Bar passage: 93.0% (+13.0 pts vs. state average)

Deadlines

Application deadline: May 1, 2027

Essays

Personal statement (2 pages, double-spaced)

Your personal statement plays a crucial role in your application to law school. In your statement, you should discuss any significant personal, social, or academic experiences that have influenced your decision to pursue a law degree. It's important that you identify how your unique skills and perspectives will enhance the law school community. Additionally, you should explain how you plan to use your legal education to positively impact your future career.

Optional addendum: underrepresented community (2 pages, double-spaced)

Applicants may submit an addendum regarding their intent to engage in law-related work on behalf of a community or group inadequately represented by the legal profession because members face challenges in access to justice or for some other reason. Please describe in what way you believe the community or group is inadequately represented by the legal profession, what inspires you to do this work, and how you think you can contribute to addressing the problem.

Optional addendum: additional information (2 pages, double-spaced)

Applicants may choose to submit an addendum containing additional information that they believe would be beneficial for the admissions committee to consider when making a decision on their application.

Optional addendum: grades or LSAT (2 pages, double-spaced)

Applicants may submit an addendum containing any personal background or circumstances that have caused their LSAT scores or undergraduate grades not to reflect their academic ability to perform successfully in law school. Factors might include disabilities, English as a second language, primary or secondary education quality, maturing non-academic experiences such as work, or other social or cultural factors.

Editor's notes

Get your file complete by Feb. 1. Pitt says that's the date for full scholarship consideration, and about 80% of its J.D. students get Law School scholarship money. May 1 is the last day to apply, not the smart day.
The personal statement prompt asks for three things: what led you to law, what you'll bring, and how you'll use the degree. Two pages is enough for all three if you tell one main story and spend real sentences on the last part.
Look hard at the GRE rule before you register. Pitt takes the GRE only with a 3.5 or higher GPA and at least an 85th percentile score. If you don't clear both, plan on the LSAT or JD-Next.
Public interest applicants have extra doors here: the underrepresented-community addendum, the Public Interest Scholarship due March 15, and the Cappy Scholarship for Pitt graduates. Apply early enough to be admitted before those deadlines.