Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University
early decision Dec 31, 2026 · regular Apr 1, 2027 · final Jul 31, 2027
0 of 5 required items complete· next deadline in 75 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.
1,432 applications, 619 offers, 154 enrolled · Verified 2026-08-18 · view source
What it costs, how graduates fare
- Tuition2025-26
$58,898 full-time · plus $1,220 annual fees
$45,264 part-time
Living expenses $24,318 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
89.7%first-time+9.7
80.0% is the average for all ABA-accredited schools’ graduates in the same jurisdictions this school’s graduates sat in · 130 of 145 first-time takers passed
93.3% 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
132 of 152 (86.8%) in full-time, long-term jobs requiring bar admission
Ten months after graduation · 4 more in JD-advantage jobs · 11 still seeking
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
4.0% of the first-year class · 7 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.
$59,904 median one year after finishing · $82,014 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 Dec 10, 2026
A one- to two-page typed essay must be submitted. There is no required topic, but applicants should view the personal statement as an opportunity to provide the Admissions Committee with more information about themselves beyond their transcripts and LSAT scores. Applicants often address their backgrounds, why they want to practice law, and why they would like to attend the Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University.
Notes & source
Listed as item 5 of the eight items that must be submitted before an application can be considered. The school publishes no formatting requirements (spacing, font, margins) for the personal statement, in contrast to the Optional Essays, which do carry formatting guidance. The pages say nothing about generative AI.
Verified 2026-08-18 · source page
- Why this schoolOptional · 2 pgschool-specificstart by Dec 21, 2026
Essay One - Fit Please explain why Thomas R. Kline School of Law at Duquesne University is a good fit for you. You may wish to consider our academic programs, our Catholic Spiritan mission and values, our location in Pittsburgh, or your personal and professional goals, though you are welcome to address any aspect of fit that you find most meaningful.
Notes & source
First of four 'Optional Essays'; applicants are asked to 'complete one or more of the essays on the topics provided,' so any number from zero to four may be submitted. Shared instructions: 'The Optional Essays provide us with important, relevant information that may not be found in other parts of the application for admission... Essays will be evaluated based on your quality of writing, experiences as an individual, and unique ability to contribute to the Duquesne Kline School of Law. Essays should be one to two pages in length (double spaced, with 11-point font). Please include the essay title at the top of the page.'
Verified 2026-08-18 · source page
- Perspective statementOptional · 2 pgstart by Dec 17, 2026
Essay Two - Overcoming Obstacles Duquesne Kline Law is committed to promoting equal justice and democratic discourse, ideals that depend on a legal profession enriched by a wide range of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives. Our Spiritan tradition affirms the dignity of every person and recognizes that the obstacles one has faced, and overcome, often shape the contributions one is uniquely positioned to make. Obstacles take many forms. Personal or family hardship, financial constraints, educational setbacks, and barriers related to identity or background are just a few examples of the challenges that may have shaped your path. Describe how you have overcome obstacles in your life, your education, or your career. How do your experiences, background, and perspectives add to the strength of our educational community and the legal community?
Notes & source
Second of four 'Optional Essays' — Duquesne does not use the term 'perspective statement' or 'diversity statement'; this is the prompt that occupies that slot. Same shared instructions and one-to-two-page, double-spaced, 11-point formatting as the other Optional Essays. The section is introduced with the school's framing: 'From its establishment in 1911, the Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University has maintained a commitment to enrolling students who represent a broad section of our community and society.'
Verified 2026-08-18 · source page
- Optional essayOptional · 2 pgschool-specificstart by Dec 24, 2026
Essay Three - Leadership Our Law School's mission reads: Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University educates lawyers to excel in the ethical practice of law, to preserve the highest ideals of our profession, and to promote equal justice and democratic discourse through leadership, service, and civic engagement. We do so inspired by our Catholic Spiritan tradition and our law school's motto, "Salus populi suprema lex," which translates as "The welfare of the people is the highest law." Leadership is a lifelong journey, developed and demonstrated in many ways. Volunteer work, athletics, and professional experience are just a few of the contexts in which leadership takes shape. Please submit an essay describing either your leadership experience or the leader you aspire to become. You may choose to focus on leadership of self, leadership of others, or both.
Notes & source
Third of four 'Optional Essays.' Same shared instructions and one-to-two-page, double-spaced, 11-point formatting as the other Optional Essays.
Verified 2026-08-18 · source page
- Optional essayOptional · 2 pgschool-specificstart by Dec 24, 2026
Essay Four - Volunteer/Service Experience Duquesne University's mission can be stated simply: "We serve God by serving students who, in turn, go on to serve others." This spirit of service, rooted in our Spiritan tradition, calls each member of our community not only to give of themselves but also to walk alongside others, building authentic relationships grounded in mutual respect and shared purpose. Service and community go hand in hand. Volunteer work, ministry and religious service, community organizing, mentorship, and contributions to civic or professional organizations are just a few examples of the ways individuals build community and live out a commitment to service. Considering this mission, please discuss your volunteer, service, or community experience and reflect on what this experience has revealed about your own values and goals.
Notes & source
Fourth of four 'Optional Essays.' Same shared instructions and one-to-two-page, double-spaced, 11-point formatting as the other Optional Essays.
Verified 2026-08-18 · source page
Letters & documents
- Letter of recommendationRequiredstart by Dec 3, 2026
Notes & source
'One letter of recommendation is required for each applicant. Two additional letters may be submitted for consideration. A recommendation should be submitted by a professor familiar with the applicant's academic work. Applicants who have been out of school for some time may submit a letter from an employer. Submitting letters of recommendation from family members or friends is strongly discouraged. Letters of recommendation must be submitted through the CAS letter of recommendation service.' Letters arrive as part of the CAS Report.
Verified 2026-08-18 · source page
- RésuméRequiredstart by Dec 24, 2026
Notes & source
'Applicants must submit a current resume or CV via the LSAC application.' No page limit is published, and the page gives no content guidance — recorded as the page's silence, not as an absence of limits stated by the school.
Verified 2026-08-18 · source page
- Transcripts via LSAC CASRequiredstart by Dec 10, 2026
Notes & source
'The CAS Report includes your LSAT score(s), transcript(s), and letter(s) of recommendation. Applicants must submit their undergraduate and graduate transcripts from ALL institutions attended to LSAC so that they can be included in the CAS Report. CAS reports will also include all LSAT scores received in the last five years. The Admissions Committee will review all previous scores, but will use the highest score for reporting purposes.' Eligibility: 'All candidates for admission must be graduates of an accredited college or university before registration at the School of Law,' the sole exception being the pre-arranged 3/3 Early Admissions Agreements with partner undergraduate institutions. International applicants with a foreign-equivalent baccalaureate 'must complete all requirements for domestic applicants and submit credentials to the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) for translation and evaluation.' Foreign-degree candidates whose primary language is not English must take the TOEFL or IELTS, 'taken by February 1 of the year in which you plan to enroll,' with 'a total TOEFL score of 100 or IELTS of 7.5' generally considered minimally acceptable. The school 'does not accept students who have been dismissed from other law schools for academic reasons.'
Verified 2026-08-18 · source page
- LSAT or GRERequiredstart by Nov 1, 2026
Notes & source
'All applicants for admission are required to take the LSAT or the GRE.' LSAT scores arrive via the CAS Report; GRE takers 'must request that ETS send the GRE scores to Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University using our institution code 3377. We will only accept official score reports from ETS.' 'LSAT and GRE test scores are valid for five years,' the school takes the highest score ('We will accept the highest score you receive'), and it explicitly recommends testing twice. 'If you have taken both the LSAT and the GRE, all scores will be reported to the School of Law, and you will be considered an LSAT candidate.' Applicants may submit before testing: 'Students may submit their application before taking the LSAT or GRE.' Timing by division, from the admissions FAQ (duq.edu/academics/colleges-and-schools/law/admissions/index.php): 'Applicants to the full-time and part-time day division should plan to take the LSAT or GRE no later than February. Applicants to the part-time evening division may take the LSAT or GRE in April'; the November LSAT is the last score accepted for Early Decision. The pages make no mention of JD-Next and publish no minimum score — recorded as silence, not as a rejection of either.
Verified 2026-08-18 · source page
Administrative
- Application feeOptionalat submission
Notes & source
There is no application fee. Site wording: 'There is NO application fee to apply to the Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University.' The school's 2025 ABA Standard 509 report independently lists 'Application fee: 0.' Because no fee exists, the pages say nothing about fee waivers.
Verified 2026-08-18 · source page
- InterviewOptionalat submission
Notes & source
Not a standard part of J.D. admission, but the committee may ask. Admissions FAQ wording: 'As part of the admissions process for the 3/3 Early Admission Program, candidates are required to complete an in-person interview with the Admissions Committee. Interviews are arranged after applications are submitted and complete. The Admissions Committee reserves the option to interview applicants for regular admission as needed.' The pages do not say how often regular-admission interviews are used, whether they are live or recorded, or what format they take.
Verified 2026-08-18 · source page
Every item above was verified against www.duq.edu on 2026-08-18. Expand any item for its own source. Always confirm against the school before you submit — and if we have something wrong, report an error.