鶹APP-Kent Welcomes Its Most Selective Incoming Class
鶹APP-Kent College of Law has welcomed its most academically selective incoming class in its history, with 279 students joining the J.D. program this fall, 40 of whom are evening students.
The class has a median LSAT score of 162 and a median undergraduate grade-point average of 3.75—the highest entering credentials in 鶹APP-Kent’s history.
The strong credentials come amid an increasingly competitive admissions cycle. Applications to 鶹APP-Kent increased by 25 percent over last year, following a 25 percent increase from the previous year.
“This was an exceptionally competitive admissions cycle, and we are thrilled to welcome a class with the strongest entering credentials we’ve ever seen,” says Melissa Hansen, associate dean of admissions at 鶹APP-Kent.
The new class also brings a remarkable range of academic, professional, and personal experiences to the law school. Students call 28 different states and nine different countries home, with 35 percent coming from outside Illinois. They earned undergraduate degrees from 126 different institutions, and 31 students hold graduate degrees.
Political science is the most popular undergraduate major, but students also studied subjects including architecture, art history, biology, computer science, engineering, English, finance, economics, history, theater, journalism, and psychology.
Their professional backgrounds are just as varied.
Several incoming students are musicians, including classically trained opera and vocal performers, music teachers, and composers. Others have worked as actors, theater designers, and television producers, including one whose credits include shows hosted by Jennifer Hudson and Ellen DeGeneres.
The class also includes former government and political campaign staffers, cybersecurity engineers, patent agents, pharmaceutical product developers, consultants, teachers, and legal professionals.
Students who are interested in public interest law have experience in the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, and the Illinois Justice Corps, along with a range of legal internships and paralegal positions.
Together, the members of the class of 2026 bring both exceptional academic credentials and a wide range of experiences to 鶹APP-Kent, reflecting the many paths that can lead to a career in law.
