DePaul University College of Law was established in 1897 as the Illinois College of Law. It was the first law school in Chicago, and one of the first in the Midwest. The school was founded by a group of prominent Chicago attorneys, including former Illinois Supreme Court Justice John Dean Caton. The college initially offered two-year programs in legal studies and three-year programs for those interested in becoming lawyers. The college quickly gained prominence and soon began offering four-year programs leading to a bachelor’s degree in law. In 1912, the school officially changed its name to DePaul University College of Law, after St. Vincent DePaul, patron saint of charity and justice.
By 1930, the college had grown to become one of the most respected law schools in the country and had developed a reputation for excellence across all areas of legal practice. The college continued to grow throughout the 20th century, with a particular focus on public interest law and international legal studies. In 2002, DePaul University College of Law became an independent institution as part of a restructuring at DePaul University that separated its various colleges into separate entities with their own boards. Today, it is ranked among the top 100 law schools in the United States by U.S News & World Report and is known for its practical approach to legal education that emphasizes real-world application and experience over theory alone.
DePaul University College of Law is located in the state of Illinois. As one of the leading law programs, DePaul University College of Law has a high average LSAT score of 154-161 when recruiting new students. As a return, the median starting salary for law graduates reaches $87,500 per year. See the following table for detailed admissions information and career profiles of DePaul University College of Law.
Admissions: DePaul University
DePaul University College of Law is a highly competitive school with an acceptance rate of only 28%. The average GPA of accepted applicants is 3.53, and the average LSAT score is 154. DePaul College of Law also requires applicants to submit two letters of recommendation, a personal statement, and a resume. The admissions department values well-rounded applicants who are passionate about their chosen field and have demonstrated leadership experience through extracurricular activities or community involvement.
In recent years, DePaul University College of Law has seen an increase in applications from diverse backgrounds. The school works hard to create an inclusive environment for all students and encourages applications from those who come from different cultures and experiences. In addition, DePaul offers several scholarship opportunities for students in need of financial assistance. This includes full tuition scholarships for up to four years for those who demonstrate financial need as well as merit-based scholarships for outstanding academic achievement. Furthermore, DePaul offers specialized programs such as the Women’s Leadership Initiative which provides support and mentorship to female law students throughout their academic career.
Fall 2019 Admissions and Enrollment Statistics
Total number of full- and part-time applicants
5,068
Total number of full- and part-time acceptances
1,988
Overall acceptance rate
39.2%
Total number of full- and part-time first-year students enrolled
112
Number of full-time program applicants
4,366
Number of full-time program acceptances
1,658
Full-time acceptance rate
38.0%
Number of first-year full-time students enrolled
252
Number of part-time program applicants
702
Number of part-time program acceptances
330
Part-time acceptance rate
47.0%
Number of first-year part-time students enrolled
112
Fall 2019 GPA and LSAT Scores
25th-75th percentile GPA scores for all students
3.09-3.53
25th-75th percentile LSAT scores for all students
154-161
25th-75th percentile undergraduate GPA for full-time students
3.11-3.57
25th-75th percentile LSAT scores for full-time students
158-162
25th-75th percentile undergraduate GPA for part-time students
3.04-3.41
25th-75th percentile LSAT scores for part-time students
154-157
Careers: DePaul University
Bar Statistics (Winter and Summer 2018 administrations)
State where the greatest number of first-time test takers took the bar
IL
School’s bar passage rate for first-time test takers
89.1%
Statewide bar passage rate for first-time test takers
90.8%
Class of 2018 Graduates
Total graduates
307
Graduates employed at graduation
81.4%
Graduates known to be employed nine months after graduation
94.0%
Starting Salaries of 2018 Graduates Employed Full-time
25th percentile private sector starting salary
$55,000
Median private sector starting salary
$87,500
75th percentile private sector starting salary
$145,000
Percent in the private sector who reported salary information
75%
Median public service starting salary
$55,000
Areas of Legal Practice (Class of 2018)
Percent employed in academia
5.5%
Percent employed in business and industry
20.0%
Percent employed in government
13.1%
Percent employed in all judicial clerkships
1.5%
Percent employed in law firms
55.1%
Percent employed in public interest
3.3%
Percent employed in an unknown field
1.5%
Percent employed in a judicial clerkship by an Article III federal judge
1.1%
2018 Graduates Employment Location
Graduates employed in-state
81%
Graduates employed in foreign countries
0%
Number of states where graduates are employed
21
New England (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT)
0.4%
Middle Atlantic (NY, NJ, PA)
1.8%
East North Central (IL, IN, MI, OH, WI)
86.1%
West North Central (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD)
1.1%
South Atlantic (DE, DC, FL, GA, MD, NC, SC, VA, WV)
5.1%
East South Central (AL, KY, MS, TN)
0.4%
West South Central (AR, LA, OK, TX)
0.0%
Pacific (AK, CA, HI, OR, WA)
1.1%
Mountain (AZ, CO, ID, MT, NV, NM, UT, WY)
1.5%
Employment location unknown
2.5%
Career Services
(Data appear as originally submitted by this school)
Career services operations
Law Career Services is the primary center for career resources. It serves as an exchange center for employment information and all students are encouraged to take full advantage of the information, facilities and resources the office provides. For further information, visit: http://www.law.depaul.edu/career/
Job Type
Bar admission required or anticipated (e.g., attorney and corporate counsel positions, law clerks, judicial clerks)
80.0%
J.D. preferred, law degree enhances position (e.g., corporate contracts administrator, alternative dispute resolution specialist, government regulatory analyst, FBI special agent)
6.0%
Professional/other (jobs that require professional skills or training but for which a J.D. is neither preferred nor particularly applicable; e.g., accountant, teacher, business manager, nurse)
9.0%
Nonprofessional/other (job that does not require any professional skills or training or is taken on a temporary basis and not viewed as part of a career path)
