Cornell Law School’s incoming Class of 2027 showcases a wide range of backgrounds and experiences while boasting impressive academic credentials. The latest cohort of 216 students was selected from a competitive pool of 3,746 applicants.
Students in the incoming class had a median LSAT score of 173 and a median GPA of 3.89. Notably, 67 percent of them have postgraduate experience, highlighting their rich life and professional backgrounds.
“We are so excited to welcome this new group of students who will enrich the law school community as they seek to become ‘lawyers in the best sense,’” said Shane Cooper ’03, senior associate dean for Admissions, Financial Aid, and Student Services. “Each of these students brings a different perspective, having encountered and overcome challenges, and demonstrate a strong potential to be great lawyers who will improve our society.”
Geographically, the class is diverse, with students coming from 34 states and the District of Columbia, as well as eight countries, including Canada, China, Colombia, France, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, and Venezuela. States with significant representation include New York (46 students), California (31), and Massachusetts (14).
The students’ undergraduate backgrounds are equally varied, with 143 different institutions represented. Notable clusters include Cornell University (28 students), UCLA (8), NYU (7), and Boston University (6). Additionally, 15 percent of the class are first-generation college students, 5 percent are veterans or military reservists, and 7 percent are part of Cornell’s 3+3 pathway program.
The class is 44 percent women, 54 percent men, and 2 percent nonbinary students. Nearly 40 percent of the class are people of color, as defined by the American Bar Association. And the age range of students spans from 19 to 42 years, with a median age of 23.
Cooper notes that he is especially proud of the significant growth in the number of veterans and the number of students who went to Cornell as undergraduates in the incoming class.
Click here for an in-depth profile of the Class of 2027.