University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School
early decision Nov 15, 2026 · early decision Jan 7, 2027 · regular Mar 1, 2027
0 of 7 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.
8,074 applications, 650 offers, 266 enrolled · Verified 2026-08-13 · view source
What it costs, how graduates fare
- Tuition2025-26
$78,348 full-time · plus $6,144 annual fees
Living expenses $31,640 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
94.4%first-time+9.9
84.6% is the average for all ABA-accredited schools’ graduates in the same jurisdictions this school’s graduates sat in · 237 of 251 first-time takers passed
98.8% 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
245 of 252 (97.2%) in full-time, long-term jobs requiring bar admission
Ten months after graduation · 4 more in JD-advantage jobs · 0 still seeking · 12 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
0.0% of the first-year class · 0 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.
$210,273 median one year after finishing · $302,120 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 statementRequiredstart by Oct 25, 2026
Notes & source
Required per the First-Year JD Application Checklist. No word or page limit published on the school's site pages.
Verified 2026-08-31 · source page
- Why this schoolOptionalschool-specificstart by Nov 5, 2026
These are the core strengths that make Penn Carey Law the best place to receive a rigorous, collaborative, and engaging legal education: genuine integration with associated disciplines; transformative, forward-looking faculty scholarship; highly-regarded experiential learning through clinics and our pro bono pledge; innovative, hands-on global engagement; and a manifest commitment to professional development and collegiality. These qualities define Penn Carey Law. What defines you? How do your goals and values match Penn Carey Law's core strengths?
Notes & source
One of five optional essay topics; applicants may write an additional essay on any of the listed topics.
Verified 2026-08-12 · source page
- Optional essayOptionalschool-specificstart by Nov 8, 2026
Describe a significant challenge you have faced. What have you learned from this challenge?
- Optional essayOptionalschool-specificstart by Nov 8, 2026
What is your motivation for pursuing a JD degree?
- Optional essayOptionalschool-specificstart by Nov 8, 2026
What strength or quality do you have that most people might not recognize?
- AddendumOptionalstart by Nov 12, 2026
If you do not think that your academic record or standardized test scores accurately reflect your ability to succeed in law school, please tell us why.
Notes & source
Listed among Penn's five optional essay topics; functions as an academic record/test score addendum. Explanations of multiple canceled scores may also be uploaded in the Optional Essays section.
Verified 2026-08-12 · source page
Letters & documents
- Letter of recommendation (1 of 2)Requiredstart by Oct 18, 2026
Notes & source
Two letters required to complete an application; up to four accepted. Must be submitted through the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service. Two letters from recent academic instructors or advisors are required, though letters from employers are sufficient for applicants out of school several years. File is completed once the first two letters are received.
Verified 2026-08-12 · source page
- Letter of recommendation (2 of 2)Requiredstart by Oct 18, 2026
Notes & source
Two letters required to complete an application; up to four accepted. Must be submitted through the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service. Two letters from recent academic instructors or advisors are required, though letters from employers are sufficient for applicants out of school several years. File is completed once the first two letters are received.
Verified 2026-08-12 · source page
- RésuméRequiredstart by Nov 8, 2026
Notes & source
Resume or Curriculum Vitae required per the First-Year JD Application Checklist.
Verified 2026-08-31 · source page
- Transcripts via LSAC CASRequiredstart by Oct 25, 2026
Notes & source
Undergraduate and graduate transcripts from all schools attended, plus the LSAC Credential Assembly Service Law School report. Foreign transcripts must be submitted through LSAC CAS. The Law School does not provide waivers for the CAS report fee.
Verified 2026-08-31 · source page
- LSAT or GRERequiredstart by Sep 16, 2026
Notes & source
Official score reports for an approved standardized test required: LSAT, GRE, or GMAT. Scores accepted from exams taken within five years prior to the current cycle (June 2020 or thereafter for the class entering fall 2026); tests administered before February 28, 2026 accepted if the application is received by the March 1 deadline. Committee may at its discretion evaluate based on the highest score.
Verified 2026-08-12 · source page
- Dean's certificationOptionalstart by Nov 1, 2026
Notes & source
Applicants are not required to submit a Dean's Certification with the application.
Verified 2026-08-12 · source page
Administrative
- InterviewOptionalat submission
Notes & source
The Law School does not interview as part of the first-year JD application process.
Verified 2026-08-12 · source page
- Application feeRequiredat submission
Notes & source
$85.00, or an approved Penn Carey Law or LSAC fee waiver. Automatic waivers for LSAT/CAS fee waiver recipients; members and alumni of AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, Teach For America; and active members and veterans of the US Military. Need-based and service-recognition waiver requests due by February 15.
Verified 2026-08-31 · source page
Every item above was verified against www.law.upenn.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.