ABA 509 DATA BY STATE, 2025
Law Schools in Iowa: LSAT, GPA, Cost, and Jobs (2025)
Iowa versus Drake: 2 ABA-accredited schools, a 160 median-of-medians LSAT, and a closer race than the names suggest. Iowa's the more selective flagship at a 164 median LSAT, but Drake's cheaper sticker and its 81.9% discount rate mean the actual cost gap between them is smaller than it looks.
Every ABA law school in Iowa
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa | 164 | 3.8 | 44.3% | $52,191 | 93.8% |
| Drake | 156 | 3.7 | 54.8% | $50,920 | 91% |
See what 1 extra LSAT point is worth in grants at each school above.
Reading the Iowa market
Iowa's 2 schools sit close together on the numbers that matter. The University of Iowa posts a 164 median LSAT, a 3.8 median GPA, and a 44.3% acceptance rate. Drake runs looser, a 156 median LSAT and a 54.8% acceptance rate, but the gap is smaller than the 8-point LSAT difference might suggest, since both schools admit close to half their applicants.
Cost is nearly a wash. Iowa charges $52,191 a year and Drake $50,920, a difference of just over $1,200, effectively the same price before aid. Drake discounts slightly more of its class at 81.9% against Iowa's 76.6%, so the private school may actually come out cheaper after grants for a comparable applicant.
Placement favors the flagship but not by much. Iowa posts a 93.8% full-time, long-term rate, ahead of Drake's 91%, a gap of under 3 points. Both numbers are strong.
Iowa is a solid in-state market either way you go. The flagship offers a slightly stronger placement rate for essentially the same price as Drake once aid is factored in, so the choice mostly comes down to admissions odds and program fit rather than cost or outcomes. Neither school is the wrong call here.
FAQ
How many ABA-accredited law schools are in Iowa?
Iowa has 2 ABA-accredited law schools: the University of Iowa and Drake University.
What's the easiest law school to get into in Iowa?
Drake has the lower median LSAT of the 2 at 156, a 3.7 median GPA, and a 54.8% acceptance rate.
What's the cheapest law school in Iowa?
Drake is marginally cheaper at $50,920 a year against Iowa's $52,191, a difference of about $1,200, and Drake also discounts a slightly larger share of its class.
Which Iowa law school has the best job placement?
The University of Iowa posts a stronger full-time, long-term placement rate at 93.8%, ahead of Drake's 91%, though both numbers are solid.
Is it worth going to law school in Iowa if I don't plan to practice there?
Both schools post placement above 91% and cost roughly the same after aid, so the case for either holds up reasonably well outside the state too. Neither carries major national name recognition, so the strongest argument for Iowa is if you plan to practice in the Midwest specifically.
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 2026-10-06.
