University of North Dakota School of Law
The information on this page was provided by the law school.
Official Guide to ABA-Approved JD Programs
Founded in 1899, the University of North Dakota (UND) School of Law offers a high-quality legal education at an affordable price in an intimate environment that values our approximately 250 students as individuals. The School of Law has been a member of the AALS since 1910 and has been continually accredited by the ABA since 1923. UND Law is part of a nationally recognized doctoral research university of approximately 15,000 students, located in Grand Forks, North Dakota. A community of nearly 60,000, Grand Forks is in the heart of the Red River Valley on the North Dakota/Minnesota border. It offers a small-town feel with all the opportunities of an urban area and has a large legal community, including county, state, and federal trial courts.
Student Life
Student Activities
Our students participate in a variety of activities and organizations that build their leadership and professional skills while serving our community. A sampling of the organizations includes the Energy & Environmental Law Society, Law Women’s Caucus, Native American Law Students Association, Black Law Students Association, Public Interest Law Students Association, Student Trial Lawyers Association, Canadian Law Student Society and Student Bar Association. The North Dakota Law Review provides research and writing opportunities, and students participate in local, regional, and national moot court activities, with the North Dakota Supreme Court judging the in-house competition final argument each fall. The School of Law has chapters of the Order of the Coif, Order of the Barristers, and legal fraternities. A popular fall activity designed to bring UND’s two professional schools together is the Malpractice Bowl, pitting law students against UND medical school students in an annual flag football game. In the spring, our students take it to the ice rink in an annual Cross Border Classic against Manitoba's two professional schools for a round robin competition.
Career Placement and Bar Passage
Tuition and Aid
With a high-quality program and affordable tuition, UND School of Law is consistently recognized as a best value law school. Tuition and fees per semester for students averaging 15 credit hours in 2025–2026 were $9,785 for in-state residents and $18,643 for nonresidents. The semester fees include student activity, professional, and university fees. The student activity and university fees cover payment for health services, the university center, campus publications, and drama and athletic events. Fees are subject to change without notice. Loan funds for all qualified students are available through the university Student Financial Aid Office.
Admission Decisions: Beyond the Numbers
The School of Law has no specific undergraduate course prerequisites and agrees with the observations made in the Statement on Prelaw Preparation. The school admits students only in August and only for full-time study. Paper applications are available upon request. The policy of the faculty of the School of Law is to admit those applicants who, in the determination of the faculty, will be able to satisfactorily complete the law school program. The admission committee utilizes the following criteria to achieve this goal:
- LSAT score
- undergraduate GPA
- past performance in an academic environment
- past performance in activities that would tend to predict the applicant’s ability to successfully complete the law school program
- other evidence relevant to predicted success and prospective professional responsibility
The total number of students admitted is, of course, limited by considerations involving space and faculty course load.
The law school does not have a nonresident quota; however, preference is given to residents.
Students who have begun the study of law in other accredited law schools may be admitted with advanced standing provided they have fulfilled the requirements for admission to the UND School of Law. Ordinarily, no transfer credit will be allowed for more than two semesters of work completed elsewhere, nor will transfer credit be given for any courses in which an unsatisfactory or failing grade has been received. Moreover, admission may be conditioned upon meeting such additional requirements as the faculty may prescribe. No student who is ineligible to continue as a student at his or her present law school will be admitted as a transfer student with advanced standing.
Admitted Applicant Profile
