ABA 509 DATA BY STATE, 2025
Law Schools in Alabama: LSAT, GPA, Cost, and Jobs (2025)
3 ABA-accredited law schools operate in Alabama, and the median LSAT across them lands at 156, the median GPA at 3.6. The real split shows up in acceptance rates: Alabama takes 1 in 4 applicants, Faulkner takes more than half. Faulkner's also the state's cheapest sticker, at $39,900 a year.
Every ABA law school in Alabama
Ranked by median LSAT, highest first. Every school's own page has the full 25th/50th/75th breakdown, cost, and job outcomes.
| School | LSAT 50th | GPA 50th | Accept. rate | Sticker/yr | FT/LT jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 167 | 4.0 | 25.6% | $48,100 | 91.6% |
| Samford | 156 | 3.6 | 49% | $46,334 | 86.5% |
| Faulkner | 150 | 3.3 | 53.9% | $39,900 | 89.2% |
See what 1 extra LSAT point is worth in grants at each school above.
Reading the Alabama market
Alabama's 3 ABA-accredited schools split cleanly by tier. The University of Alabama sits well above the other two, with a median LSAT of 167 and a median GPA of a perfect 4.0, and it accepts just 25.6% of applicants. Samford drops to a 156 median LSAT and a 49% acceptance rate, nearly double Alabama's. Faulkner is the access point, with a 150 median LSAT, a 3.3 median GPA and a 53.9% acceptance rate, the easiest door into a JD in the state.
The cost spread is tighter than the admissions gap suggests. Alabama charges $48,100 a year, Samford $46,334, and Faulkner comes in cheapest at $39,900, a difference of about $8,200 between the priciest and cheapest options. What actually moves the real number is the discount rate. Alabama hands a grant to 96.2% of its class, Samford to 93%, and even Faulkner discounts 71.9% of students, so sticker price rarely applies to anyone who actually enrolls. A strong LSAT score against any of these medians is worth more than the listed tuition implies.
Job placement tells a story close to the admissions one. Alabama posts the best full-time, long-term placement rate at 91.6%, Faulkner follows at 89.2%, and Samford trails at 86.5%. None of that is a weak outcome. All 3 clear 85%, which holds up fine for a single-state market with no T14 school in it.
Is Alabama worth it if you're staying in-state? For someone set on practicing in Alabama, yes: the flagship delivers strong outcomes at close to a public-school price once aid lands, and even the 2 private options place graduates above 85%. If you're chasing a national name or planning to practice somewhere else entirely, none of these 3 has the pull to justify skipping a better offer elsewhere. Run your own numbers through the calculator before you decide anything.
FAQ
How many ABA-accredited law schools are in Alabama?
Alabama has 3 ABA-accredited law schools: the University of Alabama, Samford, and Faulkner.
What's the easiest law school to get into in Alabama?
Faulkner has the lowest median LSAT in the state at 150, with a 3.3 median GPA and a 53.9% acceptance rate. Easiest still means real numbers, not a guarantee, and Faulkner is selective against its own applicant pool even if it's the most accessible of Alabama's 3 schools.
What's the cheapest law school in Alabama?
Faulkner has the lowest sticker tuition in the state at $39,900 a year, and it still discounts 71.9% of its class, so most students pay less than that.
Which Alabama law school has the best job placement?
The University of Alabama posts the state's strongest full-time, long-term placement rate at 91.6% for recent graduates, ahead of Faulkner at 89.2% and Samford at 86.5%.
Is it worth going to law school in Alabama if I don't plan to practice there?
It depends on what you're comparing it to. Alabama's flagship posts strong outcomes and a heavy discount rate, so the debt math works fine if you're set on the state. None of Alabama's 3 schools carries the national name recognition to beat a stronger offer somewhere else, so weigh cost and placement against your other options before committing.
Source: ABA Standard 509 Information Reports, 2015 to 2025, via LSAT Unplugged's 509 master. Verify against each school's own filing before relying on it. Last updated 2026-10-05.
