Finding the Best Pre-Law Colleges: A Comprehensive Guide

For students with aspirations of attending law school, selecting the right undergraduate institution is a crucial first step. While "pre-law" isn't a specific major at most colleges, the undergraduate experience can significantly shape a student's readiness for the rigors of law school. This article provides guidance on identifying the best pre-law colleges, choosing a major, and understanding the resources available to aspiring lawyers.

Understanding Pre-Law Education

It's important to first understand that "pre-law" is not a college major; it's a designation for students intending to apply to law school. Since pre-law is not a major in most schools, pre law students may choose any major. As such, pre-law programs for undergraduates can vary greatly from school to school. Instead of a checklist of classes, Assumption’s Pre-Law Program emphasizes cultivating relationships among students, faculty, staff, and alumni interested in careers in law. Pre-Law students and the Pre-Law advisors form a community for sharing advice, mentoring, and networking to aid you in achieving your goals for studying law and pursuing a career in law. Some students who are very interested in law wonder if there is an undergraduate degree in law. These BA in Law programs are designed to help you learn how to think like a lawyer. Other schools offer bachelor’s degrees in Legal Support or Legal Studies. These pre law programs for undergraduates exist at schools such as Purdue, Berkeley, and Belmont.

What Makes a College a "Good" Pre-Law School?

Since many schools do not offer formal pre law tracks, determining the best pre law schools can be challenging. One good indicator of the best pre law schools is their law school acceptance rate. For example, Colgate University boasts that 85% of all Colgate applicants earned acceptance to law school, including 93% of graduating seniors. Additionally, institutions with high-ranking law schools might also be considered a good choice for pre law. This is especially true if they offer opportunities for their students to take advantage of these resources during their undergraduate studies.

The best pre law schools will offer many, if not all, of these supports. For example, pre law is a concentration at University of Indianapolis, where students are given a curriculum guide and access to the pre law Student Association where they can talk to law school representatives. At Colgate University, pre law students can benefit from an annual pre law panel, personalized advising, and access to the Colgate Lawyer’s Association which includes alumni who went on to become lawyers.

Choosing a Major: Skills Over Specific Subjects

The American Bar Association says that the best undergraduate majors for law schools are ones that you are most passionate about and which prepare you with critical thinking, research, and writing skills. Experts say law schools don't expect incoming students to have specific legal knowledge. However, there are some things students can do, regardless of major, to make law school transition smoother.

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While there are no specific courses that are part of pre law requirements, some courses are recommended for pre law students. Pre law courses will vary by school. If you have a particular passion that coincides with your interest in the law, there may be classes that align with those interests. Additionally, this list of representative courses from Loyola Marymount University includes courses such as Asian Pacific Americans and the American Law or United States Constitutional Law. While taking courses related to law as an undergraduate may further inspire your interests and help you discover why you really want to attend law school, they won’t necessarily help you get into law school. Additionally, consider choosing a major that helps you develop important law skills or context. For example, if you want to develop strong writing skills you might want to major in English. If you want to learn more about how the economy works so you can work in corporate law, consider majoring in economics.

Recommended Majors and Their Benefits

History: In studying history, you will explore the evolution of cultures and civilizations, understanding the implications of important historical events to make sense of modern social issues.
Economics: As an economics major, you will study social systems through the lens of its markets, understanding how different factors affect human financial behavior. Economics majors develop sharp logical reasoning skills which can help in law school.
English: English majors focus on comprehending and analyzing literature.
Philosophy: Philosophy majors focus on understanding and developing arguments about ethics and morality. Few majors will give you stronger training in logic, ethics, and constructing compelling arguments-all essential for excelling in law school.
Political Science: For those who are interested in government, public policies, and political behavior, political science may be the best major. By far the most popular major among law school applicants, political science introduces you to the structure of government, legal systems, and public policy-all foundational knowledge for legal studies. A government major is similar to political science but often more focused on public administration and policy-making, blending perfectly with legal aspirations.
Finance: While some may not associate finance with the best undergraduate majors for law school, the major’s emphasis on business economics can help future lawyers specialize in corporate law.
Arts and Humanities: A broad umbrella for several different majors including music, social sciences, religion, and theater, arts and humanities majors are among the majors with the highest acceptance rates to law school.
Communications: Communications majors study a variety of topics, including public speaking, marketing, journalism, and writing.
Psychology: As a psychology major, you will study the science of human behavior. Understanding psychology can greatly aid in understanding different stakeholders in a courtroom, including juries, clients, and judges. Understanding human behavior and thinking patterns can give you an edge in areas like jury selection, negotiation, and even understanding client behavior.
Sociology: Sociology is the study of social dynamics and relations.
Business Administration: As a business administration major, you can expect to learn about how businesses are run from a variety of lenses.
Criminal Justice: For future law students hoping to become defense attorneys, criminal justice may be the right major. This major directly overlaps with legal studies, giving you insights into criminal law, judicial processes, and law enforcement systems-a solid start for anyone interested in criminal law.

Skills to Develop Regardless of Major

More important than what you major in are the skills you learn. Regardless of your chosen major, experts recommend focusing on developing:

Strong research abilities
Excellent writing skills
Critical-thinking abilities
Analytical reasoning skills

Top Pre-Law Schools in the U.S.

For our list of top pre law schools, we focused on how likely students are to be admitted to law school upon graduation, as well as the resources provided by their pre law programs for undergraduates. Here’s a look at some of the most renowned schools with standout pre-law offerings:

Yale University: At the very top of our list of best pre law schools is Yale University. Yale is commonly counted among the best law schools in the nation. For its class of 2027, the school offered admission to just 229 students from a pool of 4,449 applicants and had an 86% yield rate. Yale’s Office of Career Strategy has a pre-law advisor who can help students navigate the law school application process. Another iconic Ivy League institution, Yale’s interdisciplinary approach and proximity to its top-ranked law school make it an excellent choice for future attorneys. Sometimes there are alternative pipeline programs that lead to Yale Law School.
Harvard University: In second place on our list of top pre law schools is Harvard. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard is one of the best pre law colleges, but not just for its famous reputation. Harvard’s pre law supports include pre law mentors and dedicated tutors which help students prepare for the LSAT. Attending a prestigious and selective college like Harvard boosts the chances of any student hoping to gain admission to law school. Another benefit to Harvard undergraduates is the school’s residential system, which places students into “houses” at the end of their first year. Though it doesn’t offer a specific pre-law major, it provides incredible advising and career resources for students aiming for law school. Its rigorous academics, renowned faculty, and countless extracurriculars (like the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau) ensure top-tier preparation.
Stanford University: The third school on our list of best pre law schools is Stanford University. Located in sunny Stanford, California, Stanford’s pre law program includes in-depth advising and access to Stanford Law School events. Stanford University offers a number of majors that instill essential skills needed to excel in law school, such as communication and critical thinking. Other programs that support pre-law students include shadowing Stanford alumni working in the legal profession, visits from law school deans of admission, and informational panels.
Columbia University: The first New York City school on our list of top pre law schools is Columbia University. Columbia’s pre law resources include access to the Pre Law Society where students can talk with attorneys and law students. High school students interested in law and debate will thrive in Columbia's immersive program, which often includes workshops, lectures, and collaborative law projects.
University of Chicago: Number five on our list of best pre law schools is the University of Chicago. Located on the south side of Chicago, UChicago pre law students benefit from the Careers in Law program. The University of Chicago’s Careers in Law program features a variety of resources to aid students in gaining admission to law school and makes it one of the best pre-law schools in the country. The Careers in Law program allows students to explore different career paths in the legal field through activities like workshops, panels, job shadowing, and internships.
New York University (NYU): The second New York City school on our list of best pre law schools in USA is New York University. Positioned in the heart of NYC, NYU provides its pre-law students with access to world-class faculty, resources, and networking events-not to mention the energy of Manhattan’s legal scene. The College of Arts and Sciences offers excellent preprofessional advising when students select law as their potential field of choice. NYU is also home to a variety of programs that allow pre-law students to build valuable skills and professional networks-for example, NYU’s Lunch with a Lawyer program invites NYU alumni to discuss their legal work, while the Lawyer Alumni Mentor Program (LAMP) pairs pre-law students with alumni for the academic year.
University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley): On the west coast you will find number seven on our list of best pre law colleges. UC Berkeley is located in Berkeley, California. Berkeley’s Career Engagement Center connects students with resources for exploring the legal field as well as acing critical parts of their law school applications such as letters of recommendation. Known for its robust legal studies offerings, Berkeley prides itself on building students’ analytical reasoning and critical thinking skills-two essential pillars for aspiring lawyers. UC Berkeley provides a variety of majors that build essential skills needed for success in law school, such as communication, critical thinking, and research. UC Berkeley provides students with pre-law advising through its career center.
University of Michigan: Eighth on our list of best pre law schools is the University of Michigan, situated in Ann Arbor. The University of Michigan offers many majors that foster the skills needed to succeed in law school, such as critical thinking, logical reasoning, and effective writing.
Duke University: Number nine amongst our best pre law colleges is Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. Students benefit from access to the Bench and Bar Pre Law Society and the Black Pre Law Society. Although there is no pre-law program at Duke, there is a pre-law process-it involves identifying an appropriate pathway and cultivating essential skills like research, negotiation, and mediation. Duke is also home to organizations like the Duke Bench & Bar Pre-Law Society, which host a variety of activities and events.
Northwestern University: Just outside of Chicago is Northwestern University, the tenth school on our list of best pre law schools. Northwestern is one of the rare schools that offers pre law majors in legal studies to help students explore legal topics as undergraduates. Northwestern not only offers incredible academic training but supports pre-law students with plenty of extracurricular options, from mock trial teams to legal internships within Chicago. Northwestern believes the best preparation for law school is to get the best liberal arts education possible and has earned a reputation for placing its undergraduates in top law schools across the nation.
Princeton University: Next on our list of best pre law schools is Princeton University. Princeton’s pre law supports include an extensive guide to applying to law school and a database of information about Princeton grads who applied to law school previously. Princeton University provides numerous opportunities for students pursuing a career in law. On campus, students are treated to information sessions from law school representatives along with pre-law workshops and panels.
University of Pennsylvania: Another excellent option amongst pre law colleges is the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Thanks to its abundance of resources and a stellar record of placing students in top law schools, UPenn is often thought of as one of the best pre-law schools in the nation.
Georgetown University: Next on the list of best pre law schools is Georgetown University, located in Washington, DC. Located in Washington, D.C., Georgetown offers a Political Economy program and Pre-Law Center that connects students to unparalleled opportunities, like internships at federal agencies or law firms. Many students start in the Walsh School of Foreign Service before engaging in a law degree as well. There are a multitude of opportunities available to Georgetown University students planning to attend law school. Pre-law advisors are available to assist students with the application process-from start to finish-helping them with tasks such as building a list of law schools that meet their needs, writing their personal statements, and reviewing their applications.
Dartmouth College: Another option on our list of best pre law schools in USA is Dartmouth College. Dartmouth is in Hanover, New Hampshire. Dartmouth offers a variety of majors that provide good preparation for law school, such as economics, government, history, and philosophy.
Brown University: The final name on our list of best pre law schools in USA is Brown University. Brown University provides students with a broad course of study to forge the skills and abilities required to succeed in law school.
University of Southern California (USC): For students interested in studying pre law in California, there are many great options. The top choice for best pre law schools in California is the University of Southern California, located in Los Angeles. USC provides an enormous amount of support to its students planning to attend law school. Pre-law advisors are available for one-on-one consultations and to aid in all aspects of the law school application process. USC also sponsors events such as an annual law school fair and a law school personal statement and resume review.
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA): Also in Los Angeles is the second on our list of top pre law schools in California - the University of California, Los Angeles. UCLA provides students of all majors with individual pre-law advising.
University of California, San Diego: Our third and final choice for best pre law schools in California is the University of California, San Diego.
Cornell University: Hoping to attend one of the best pre law schools in New York? Though located in the upstate city of Ithaca, New York, Cornell University’s pre law program offers a rigorous summer law experience in New York City. Cornell University is a popular destination for students interested in attending law school.
Fordham University: With two campuses in the Bronx and Manhattan, New York City, Fordham University is one of the best pre law schools in New York. Fordham’s 3+3 program offers undergrads the rare opportunity to combine their undergraduate education with a law school degree granted by Fordham Law School.
Yeshiva University: The final school on our list of best pre law schools in New York is Yeshiva University.
Texas A&M University: Our top choice for best pre law schools in Texas is Texas A&M University in College Station. The school offers several specialty pre law programs, including a business administration management major with a pre law focus and a philosophy major with pre law certificate.
University of Texas at Austin: Another one of the top pre law schools in Texas is the University of Texas at Austin, which offers regular pre law events and a slew of preparatory resources.
Southern Methodist University: Situated in Dallas, Texas is Southern Methodist University, the final school on our list of best pre law schools in Texas.
Washington University in St. Louis: Another amazing option amongst pre law colleges is Washington University in St. Louis. Washington University in St. Louis is a great choice for students planning to attend law school. Students can find further support through the WashU Pre-Law Society.
Amherst College: Second on our list of great pre law colleges is Amherst College. A top-ranked liberal arts college in Massachusetts, Amherst has a unique Law, Jurisprudence, and Social Thought major. Amherst College offers many majors that serve as common pathways to law school, like political science and economics.
Swarthmore College: Another one of the best colleges for pre law students is Swarthmore, located in Pennsylvania. Swarthmore’s rigorous academics are excellent preparation for law school, building foundational skills such as the ability to read, analyze, critique, write, persuade, and speak clearly.
Williams College: Located in the beautiful Berkshires region of western Massachusetts, Williams College is a top liberal arts college. Williams College provides a multitude of opportunities to pre-law students-the college offers advising through its career center and a host of law-related extracurricular activities are available, including the Williams Law Society and alumni-sponsored internships.
Boston University: The final school on our list of best pre law colleges is Boston University.
University of Virginia (UVA): UVA boasts a vibrant pre-law community stemming from its prestigious law school. The university offers specialized advising and promotes activities like the Undergraduate Moot Court. UVA offers a pre-law minor, which is designed to provide students with the skills and knowledge needed to gain acceptance to (and succeed in) law school. Numerous student organizations are available to legal-minded UVA students, including the Jefferson Literary and Debating Society and the Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Fraternity.
Pomona College: Pomona’s rigorous academics serve as excellent preparation for law school, as students build vital analytic, reading, writing, and speaking skills and are challenged by demanding coursework.
Rice University: Rice University’s curriculum can help students develop the breadth of skills required to succeed in law school and a legal career-such as the ability to think, write, and speak clearly, along with an understanding of moral and ethical issues.
Claremont McKenna College (CMC): CMC students can take a legal studies sequence, a series of courses related to law that cuts across disciplines within the liberal arts curriculum.
Vanderbilt University: Vanderbilt has a dedicated pre-law advisor to provide students with personally tailored assistance in preparing for law school.
University of Notre Dame: The University of Notre Dame offers pre-law advising and provides programming throughout the year to students interested in attending law school.
Bowdoin College: Bowdoin has a rich history of graduates going on to careers in law-the college is known for instilling numerous beneficial attributes in students with an interest in attending law school, such as strong written and verbal communication, critical thinking and analytical skills, research ability, and leadership.
Assumption University: Assumption University awakens in students a sense of wonder, discovery, and purpose, forming graduates known for their intellectual seriousness, thoughtful citizenship, and devotion to the common good. Students are provided an education that shapes their souls, forms them intellectually, and prepares them for meaningful careers. Instead of a checklist of classes, Assumption’s Pre-Law Program emphasizes cultivating relationships among students, faculty, staff, and alumni interested in careers in law.

Extracurricular Activities and Skill Development

Regardless of major, participation in extracurricular activities can significantly enhance a student's preparation for law school.

Recommended Activities

Moot court
Model United Nations or Arab League programs
On-campus student government
Debate clubs

Summer Programs for High School Students

If you’re still in high school and thinking about law as a future career, you don’t have to wait until college to start exploring it! There are a variety of summer programs specially designed to give high school students a glimpse into the legal world.

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Notable Summer Programs

Georgetown Pre-College Programs: This summer intensive offers an introduction to legal studies. Students even get the chance to partake in a mock trial and learn from law professors.
Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies: Stanford’s Law and Justice summer program explores critical issues in the legal system. You will learn about constitutional rights, ethics, and so much more.
Columbia University's Pre-College Programs: High school students interested in law and debate will thrive in Columbia's immersive program, which often includes workshops, lectures, and collaborative law projects.
National Student Leadership Conference (NSLC) on Law & Advocacy: This program puts you at the heart of law and trial advocacy. You’ll practice essential skills like public speaking and legal analysis while connecting with like-minded peers.
Yale Young Global Scholars Program (YYGS): The "Politics, Law, and Economics" session at YYGS is ideal for high school students looking to study law through an interdisciplinary lens. Politics, Law, and the Economy (PLE) is a tremendous way to see how law impacts global markets and politics.

Building Your College List

With so many amazing pre law colleges to choose from, you might be wondering how to choose which schools to apply to. Remember that looking at rankings alone should not determine where you apply. Secondly, prioritize factors that matter to you specifically. If you hope to attend a school that offers a pre law major so you can get early exposure to law concepts, consider a school like Tulane University which offers a BA in General Legal Studies. On the other hand, if you think that you may struggle with LSAT preparation, consider applying to schools that offer free LSAT prep support, such as the University of Texas at San Antonio. Additionally, if you are planning to attend law school, factor the cost into your decision as you evaluate different law school tiers. Finally, remember to build a college list with a balance of reach, target, and safety schools.

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