This year, the College of Law at the University of Idaho welcomed its largest incoming class since 1909, with 200 students across two campuses. There are 79 first-year students in Moscow and 121 in Boise. The College of Law grew 9.8% compared to 2024, with a student body of 502.
According to Aviva Abramovsky, dean of the UI College of Law, this increase in law students is part of a national trend. Reuters reported an increase in law students across the U.S. for the 2026 admission cycle, citing the current political climate and job market.
Applications for fall 2026 continue to increase, up 24% from last year. Abramovsky said UI is well equipped with the resources needed to serve all these students and wouldn’t enroll beyond their means.
“The position of the law school regionally is very strong… It’s important to recognize that we’re good value in the whole region,” said Abramovsky.
National Jurist’s preLaw magazine ranked UI’s tax law program an A, recognizing it as one of the top 12 programs in the nation. UI’s business law program was ranked as an A-, which places it in the top 65 programs in the nation.
“I am [proud] to have the opportunity to work with everyone. This is a great time to attend law school in either location,” Abramovsky said. “The need for people in Idaho to have well trained legal representation is high.”
Students from 24 U.S. states are enrolled in the UI law program, which Abramovsky says demonstrates UI’s place among other law schools across the country.
Abramovsky said there is also a demographical rise in women entering law and other underrepresented groups such as first generation and multicultural students.
UI’s College of Law offers the Juris Doctor degree, a three-year program with three areas of emphasis: business law, Native American law and natural resources and environmental law.
According to U.S. News and World Report, Idaho Law has a 67.2% acceptance rate and has an ultimate bar passage rate of 86%, with first-time bar passage at 74.8%.
Emily Morales can be reached at [email protected].
Mitch
I love this. Proud alumnus here. I think we were the largest class to date back in the early 80s. It certainly was a good value (by comparison), and I loved my education there. Helped me to pass multiple bar exams. Go Vandals Law.