2026 CLASS PROFILE AND ABA 509 DATA
Irvine Law School Admissions: LSAT, GPA, Cost, and Jobs (2026)
The Irvine pitch in one line: a 169 median LSAT, a 14.9% acceptance rate, and a $71,325 sticker that 95.1% of the class never actually pays. The median GPA is 3.8, and 41.5% of the 2024 class went to biglaw.
The 2026 entering class
Irvine Law School's 2026 entering class had a median LSAT of 170, up 1 from 169 in 2025. The median GPA was 3.87.
| Year | LSAT 25th | LSAT 50th | LSAT 75th | GPA 25th | GPA 50th | GPA 75th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 164 | 170 | 172 | 3.67 | 3.87 | 3.95 |
Source: the school's own 2026 class profile, as of September 26, 2026. These numbers can shift until the 2026 ABA 509 reports publish. Everything below this section is 2025 ABA 509 data.
What it takes to get in
These are the school's own reported 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile LSAT and GPA numbers from its ABA Standard 509 filing, the same disclosure every accredited law school has to file each year. The 50th percentile is the median: half the admitted class scored above it, half below.
| Year | LSAT 25th | LSAT 50th | LSAT 75th | GPA 25th | GPA 50th | GPA 75th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 166 | 169 | 170 | 3.6 | 3.8 | 3.9 |
| 2019 | 162 | 165 | 167 | 3.4 | 3.6 | 3.7 |
| 2015 | 161 | 162 | 165 | 3.4 | 3.6 | 3.7 |
The median LSAT is up 4 points since 2019 and the median GPA moved +0.2. The bar moved here.
What it costs
| Sticker tuition (2025) | $71,325/yr |
| Resident | $59,080/yr |
| Nonresident | $71,325/yr |
| 3-year sticker total | $213,975 |
| Pays full sticker | 4.9% |
| Gets some grant | 95.1% |
95.1% of the class received a grant and just 4.9% paid full sticker, and a score above the 170 75th percentile gives you the strongest shot at the biggest award.
Your odds
A 169 LSAT is Irvine's median, with the middle 50% running from 166 at the 25th percentile to 170 at the 75th, one of the tightest bands in this data set. The acceptance rate is 14.9%, selective even by UC standards. Run your own numbers through the calculator before you spend a filing fee guessing.
See where you land: the LSAT Unplugged law school chances calculator. What is 1 LSAT point worth here? See the scholarship math.
What you get out (Class of 2024)
| Class year reported | 2024 |
| FT/LT employed, 10 months out | 92.7% |
| Biglaw (101+ lawyer firms) | 41.5% |
| Federal clerkships | 1.8% |
| Government + public interest | 22.6% |
| Bar pass rate | 86.9% |
92.7% of the 2024 class landed a full-time, long-term job within 10 months, 41.5% went to biglaw, and with 95.1% of students getting some grant, the $71,325 sticker rarely applies in practice.
Schools like Irvine
These 6 are the closest match by median LSAT, then median GPA, out of all 196 schools in the 509 master (as of 2026). Use them as your realistic comparison set, not the list of "reach" schools everyone starts with.
FAQ
What LSAT score do you need for Irvine Law School?
The median LSAT for Irvine's 2025 class is 169. The 25th percentile is 166 and the 75th is 170, up from a 165 median 6 years earlier.
What GPA do you need for Irvine Law School?
The median GPA is 3.8. The 25th percentile is 3.6 and the 75th is 3.9.
What is Irvine Law School's acceptance rate?
14.9% for the 2025 cycle, based on 555 offers out of 3,720 applications.
How much does Irvine Law School cost with and without aid?
Nonresident sticker tuition is $71,325 a year, or $213,975 over 3 years. California residents pay $59,080 a year instead. 95.1% of the class received a grant, and only 4.9% paid full price.
What jobs do Irvine Law School graduates get?
92.7% of the 2024 graduating class had a full-time, long-term job within 10 months. 41.5% went to biglaw, a strong share for a public law school.
Is Irvine Law School worth it at sticker?
Yes, for nearly all admitted students. A 92.7% FT/LT placement rate and a 41.5% biglaw share justify the cost easily once you factor in that 95.1% of the class receives some grant, leaving the full $71,325 sticker as a rare exception, not the norm.
Source: ABA Standard 509 Information Reports, 2015 to 2025, via LSAT Unplugged's 509 master. Verify against the school's filing before relying on it. Last updated 2026-09-30.
