After years of uncertain trajectory for the Oklahoma City University School of Law due to
dwindling bar passage rates and low admissions standards. OCU law is rewriting the script with hikes in bar passage rates and the most statistically impressive 1L class in school history.
The Oklahoma Board of Bar Examiners reports that OCU Law’s overall bar passage rate increased 9 percent year-over-year, with 68 percent of test takers passing the exam. First-time passage rates also increased 15 percent since 2023, with 76 percent of first-time test takers passing. Comparatively, OCU Law still has the lowest bar passage of any Oklahoman law school. The University of Oklahoma takes the top spot with an overall passage rate of 92 percent.
However, this does not undercut the impressive strides the University has made, rebounding
from a period of low passage rates surrounding COVID-19. Just 56 percent of test-takers passed in 2022– the lowest in recent history.
President Kenneth Evans and Dean David Holt have publicly shared their focus on progressing
the law school’s competitiveness by increasing academic standards.
This focus has proved successful with the newest class of OCU Law students. Law school admissions are highly competitive and rely heavily on undergraduate GPA and the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) scores.
The 2024 1L class boasts the highest median GPA in the school’s history, with 50 percent of students having a 3.47 or above. Likewise, the median LSAT score for the 1L class is at its highest since 2011, with the majority of students scoring 151 or above.
Standard 509 reports, a nationally mandated form of publishing law school admissions statistics. The reports reveal that OCU will continue to have the lowest median GPA and LSAT scores in the state.
OCU senior Tate Smithhart plans to attend law school upon graduation and is currently in the midst of the law school admissions process. He shares, “When considering law schools, their passage rate of the bar is one of the biggest things that I have considered. I’m very hesitant to apply somewhere that the bar passage rate is not up to par with the surrounding schools, because it makes me question the quality of education there.”
Smithhart’s sentiments present an obligation to university and law school leadership to continue focusing on increasing the bar passage rate to attract high-quality prospective students.
He views the importance of GPA and LSAT median differently. Smithhart said, “They can be
handy tools in finding the right fit for you individually.” He added, “Find a situation you fit, rather than chasing something too ambitious or conservative.”
Attracting high-performing students is one way to increase student performance metrics such as
bar-passage rates, consistent increases in GPA, and LSAT median. These measures allow schools to better align themselves with the academic quality of high-performing prospective students.
Even with challenges relating to the COVID-19 pandemic and leadership changes, OCU Law currently has academic metrics at an all-time high and in line with national averages. Morale amongst leadership, faculty, and students is strong and positive as it starts its next chapter in rebuilding its reputation.
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