University at Buffalo School of Law
early decision Nov 15, 2026 · regular Mar 1, 2027
0 of 6 required items complete· next deadline in 29 days
Your numbers against the class of 2025
This is a comparison against published numbers, not a prediction. Admissions committees weigh essays, letters, and experience that no percentile captures.
977 applications, 414 offers, 167 enrolled · Verified 2026-08-18 · view source
What it costs, how graduates fare
- Tuition2025-26
$26,430–$32,100 full-time · resident to non-resident · plus $3,320 annual fees
Living expenses $24,814 on campus
Tuition and the fees the school certifies alongside it — not a full cost of attendance.
Verified 2026-08-27 · ABA Standard 509 report
- Bar passageclass of 2025
88.5%first-time+1.2
87.2% is the average for all ABA-accredited schools’ graduates in the same jurisdictions this school’s graduates sat in · 115 of 130 first-time takers passed
89.7% of the class of 2023 were admitted within two years of graduating
A pass rate on its own says as much about which states a school feeds as about the school, so the ABA’s own like-for-like average is shown with it.
Verified 2026-08-27 · ABA bar passage report
- Employmentclass of 2025
125 of 137 (91.2%) in full-time, long-term jobs requiring bar admission
Ten months after graduation · 5 more in JD-advantage jobs · 6 still seeking · 1 of the bar-admission jobs are funded by the school
The ABA collects employment status and job type only. It collects no salary, so no salary figure comes from this filing.
Verified 2026-08-27 · ABA employment summary
- First-year attrition2024-25
10.0% of the first-year class · 15 students
No law school publishes a graduation rate, so this is not one. It is the students who left in their first year, academic and other, as filed. Transfers out are reported separately and are not counted here.
Verified 2026-08-27 · ABA Standard 509 report
- EarningsCollege Scorecard
Not a starting salary.
$64,220 median one year after finishing · $85,126 after four
$107,773 is the national median at four years for the same credential
A College Scorecard median for 2017-18 and 2018-19 completers who received federal aid, measured a fixed number of years after they finished — not what this year’s graduates are being paid, and not a figure the school or the ABA publishes. The ABA collects no salary data at all.
Verified 2026-08-27 · College Scorecard
Essays
- Personal statementRequired · 2 pgstart by Oct 25, 2026
The Admissions Committee uses the personal statement to learn about each applicant. We are particularly interested in knowing what motivates you to pursue a law degree. We are also interested in learning about your life experiences, academic experiences and academic accomplishments that make you uniquely qualified to pursue a JD The personal statement should also be an excellent example of your writing skills. Ideally, your personal statement should be tailored to the School of Law. It should not exceed two pages, double-spaced, 12-point font.
Notes & source
Quoted verbatim; the missing sentence-ending period after 'pursue a JD' is the page's own typo and is reproduced as published. The same page carries an unusually strict AI rule that governs this and every other component: 'All components of your application must represent your own original work. The use of AI tools to draft, edit, or generate any portion of your personal statement or other application materials is prohibited.' The Standards for J.D. Admission page (law.buffalo.edu/admissions/standards-for-jd-admission.html) adds that the committee weighs writing ability as evidenced by the personal statement, any optional statements, and the LSAT Writing Sample or GRE Analytical Writing section.
Verified 2026-08-31 · source page
- Why this schoolOptional · 1 pgschool-specificstart by Nov 5, 2026
Applicants may choose to discuss academic offerings, professional goals, geographic considerations, or personal experiences that have informed their interest in UB Law. This statement is optional and should complement, rather than repeat, the personal statement. It should not exceed one page, double-spaced, 12-point font.
Notes & source
Titled 'Why Buffalo Statement (Optional)' on the apply page.
Verified 2026-08-31 · source page
- Perspective statementOptional · 2 pgstart by Nov 1, 2026
UB School of Law values diversity of any and all types. Describe how your background, life experience, and/or perspective will enhance the diversity of the University at Buffalo School of Law. The Committee is particularly interested in any disadvantages, discrimination, and/or adversity faced, how you dealt with it, and how your experience could contribute to the law school and legal profession. It should not exceed two pages, double-spaced, 12-point font.
Notes & source
UB still calls this a 'Diversity Statement (Optional)' rather than adopting the post-2023 'perspective statement' naming; typed here to the canonical taxonomy.
Verified 2026-08-31 · source page
- AddendumOptional · 2 pgstart by Nov 12, 2026
Applicants may choose to submit an optional addendum addressing one or more of the topics below if doing so would help place their qualifications in context. Addenda should not exceed two pages, double-spaced, in 12-point font.
Notes & source
Only two topics are listed. LSAT (or GRE): 'An explanation of why standardized test score(s) may not accurately reflect academic potential or preparedness for law study, along with other indicators of ability and readiness.' GPA: 'Additional context regarding elements of an academic record that may have negatively affected cumulative GPA, such as isolated poor performance, gaps in enrollment, or course withdrawals.' No character-and-fitness addendum is invited, and the page explains why: 'Pursuant to policy established by the State University of New York (SUNY), the University at Buffalo School of Law does not make inquiries into the criminal records of applicants for purposes of admission.' The Transcripts section separately suggests 'a one-page explanation' for an unexpected event that produced inconsistent academic performance.
Verified 2026-08-31 · source page
Letters & documents
- Letter of recommendationRequiredstart by Oct 18, 2026
Notes & source
Site wording: 'Two to three letters are recommended, but only one letter is required to complete your file. The Admissions Committee will accept up to four letters.' The committee 'highly values letters from faculty members, former employers or colleagues who know you well' and highly encourages faculty writers; letters from employers are acceptable for applicants returning after time away. 'Personal recommendations (e.g. letters from family, friends, members of the clergy, politicians, etc.) are strongly discouraged.' Recommendations should stress the ability to think and write critically, analyze large volumes of text, and address the applicant's level of responsibility in the classroom. The Waitlist FAQ (law.buffalo.edu/admissions/faqs/waitlist-faq.html) notes that an additional letter sent after waitlisting may go directly to law-admissions@buffalo.edu rather than through LSAC, on professional letterhead, signed, in PDF, and that the committee strongly prefers academic letters from recent college graduates.
Verified 2026-08-31 · source page
- RésuméRequiredstart by Nov 8, 2026
Notes & source
Site wording: 'All applicants are required to submit a résumé listing employment, extracurricular and/or public-service activities, honors, awards, and special interests related to your academic career to date.' No page limit or formatting requirement is published — recorded as the page's silence, not as an absence of limits.
Verified 2026-08-31 · source page
- Transcripts via LSAC CASRequiredstart by Oct 25, 2026
Notes & source
'Transcripts from ALL undergraduate and graduate institutions attended must be submitted to LSAC. Your application will not be released to us without all required transcripts.' The GRE FAQ (law.buffalo.edu/admissions/faqs/gre-faq.html) confirms CAS is required of everyone: 'All applicants for admission must apply through LSAC using LSAC's Credential Assembly Service (CAS).' A baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university, or its international equivalent, is required for JD eligibility. English proficiency: applicants whose first language is not English must take the TOEFL (minimum 4.5, or 90 for exams taken before January 21, 2026) or IELTS (minimum overall band 7.0), with preference for TOEFL 5.0+ (100+ pre-January 21, 2026) and IELTS 7.5+; scores must be dated within two years of prospective enrollment. An automatic exemption applies to citizens of a listed set of English-medium countries, and other waivers go to the University's Office of International Admissions with no guarantee of approval.
Verified 2026-08-31 · source page
- LSAT or GRERequiredstart by Sep 16, 2026
Notes & source
Either test is accepted with no stated preference and no minimum score for the LSAT or any GRE section. 'The School of Law will accept LSAT/GRE scores from tests taken within the preceding five years.' The June LSAT is the latest score that can be considered for fall admission; GRE applicants should sit no later than June 15 of the year they plan to matriculate. Per the GRE FAQ (law.buffalo.edu/admissions/faqs/gre-faq.html): applicants indicate the GRE option at question 11 of the application; the file does not go into review until ETS sends scores (ETS code 2925); applicants who have taken both exams within the past five years must submit both; all GRE scores from the last five years must be sent; GRE applicants must notify the Office of Admissions of any plan to take the LSAT, and failure to do so 'may result in rescinded admission and/or scholarship reduction or removal'; all three GRE sections are weighted equally. Separately, the Direct Admissions Program (law.buffalo.edu/admissions/direct-admissions-program.html) admits UB undergraduate seniors and recent graduates with a 3.5+ cumulative GPA over at least six semesters and an SAT or ACT score at or above the 85th percentile without an LSAT or GRE, under the ABA Standard 503 allowance; applicants who take the LSAT or GRE are ineligible for that route.
Verified 2026-08-31 · source page
Administrative
- Application feeRequiredat submission
Notes & source
'A nonrefundable application fee of $85 is required. Individuals facing economic hardship can seek an application fee waiver by sending a request to law-admissions@buffalo.edu before submitting the application. The School of Law cannot waive LSAC fees, however.' The $85 figure also appears in UB's 2025 ABA Standard 509 report.
Verified 2026-08-31 · source page
Every item above was verified against www.law.buffalo.edu on 2026-08-31. Expand any item for its own source. Always confirm against the school before you submit — and if we have something wrong, report an error.