Overview
Applicants
550
Acceptance Rate
61%
Median Undergrad GPA
3.30
Accepted Applicants Who Attend
112
Test Scores
LSAT
25th-75th percentile
(enrolled students)
(enrolled students)
146 - 152
Deadlines
Application Deadlines
July 1
Application Process
Rolling Admissions
Yes
Application Fee
$0
CAS Service Used
Yes
Applicants accepted in terms other than fall
No
Transfer Applicants Accepted
Yes
Deferred Admission
Yes
Other Admission Factors
Academic
LSAT Score
Undergraduate GPA
Selectivity Rating
Faculty Information
Student/Faculty
9:1
Total Faculty
27
62.5
Female
11
Underrepresented Minorities
Students Say
Southern Illinois University is a 鈥渟mall school鈥 where 鈥渢he tuition is low鈥 yet the 鈥渜uality of education鈥 is 鈥渉igh.鈥 From professors to staff, the school fosters a 鈥渇riendly/familial feel鈥 that includes 鈥減ersonal attention鈥 to students鈥 needs. 鈥淭he atmosphere鈥 at SIU 鈥渋s friendly and respectful.鈥 鈥淚'd say the best aspect is the rapport between the students, faculty, and administration,鈥 a 1L says. 鈥淵ou can tell the day that you start, that everyone [wants] you to succeed.鈥 The school鈥檚 small size appeals to many, but can also cause 鈥渁 significant amount of 鈥榣ittle school syndrome.鈥欌 The 鈥済reat facilities鈥 provide plentiful resources for 鈥渓egal research, IT help, and assistance from librarians.鈥 鈥淔rom adequate parking space, to on-site tech support,鈥 鈥渢here are all of the resources鈥 students at a law school need. 鈥淚n the library there are computers and all of the rooms have outlets for our laptops,鈥 and the school is open to students 鈥渢wenty-four hours a day.鈥
The friendly atmosphere and 鈥渟mall鈥 size means the 鈥渉elpful, insightful, and always accessible鈥 administration 鈥渒nows nearly all the students by name from day one.鈥 鈥淪tudents are very close with the administration鈥 and the overall experience is 鈥済reat and friendly.鈥 Although some students say the administration can be 鈥渜uite disorganized and disorderly,鈥 most say that 鈥渨hen there is a problem, it is fixed before anyone notices.鈥 鈥淸The administration is] willing to sit down and explain the law school process, as well as help in any way to balance law school, family, and social life,鈥 says one 2L. Students do wish that the school offered 鈥渕ore diverse classes.鈥 Academically, there is strong 鈥渆mphasis on practical skills鈥 and 鈥渆mphasis on legal writing.鈥 鈥淲e gain practical skills that prepares us well for outside employment,鈥 one student reports. SIU makes sure to work with the local community, and 鈥渢he volunteer hours the local attorneys give to talk with students, coach students, and mentor students is phenomenal.鈥 As for the faculty themselves, they 鈥渁re amazingly approachable and supportive鈥 professors that 鈥渃are deeply about their students鈥 and 鈥渁lways open to conversation, whether it was about law school or not.鈥 鈥淭he professors at SIU have an open door policy and encourage one-on-one encounters,鈥 leading students to be impressed by 鈥渉ow accessible they are to meeting with students outside of class.鈥 The professors here are 鈥渇reely willing to give students their personal contact information.鈥 鈥淚t is very nice to have instructors that have not only written texts but also model rules and the current law in the state,鈥 a happy 1L says. In general, the faculty and staff work to foster a culture that 鈥渕inimizes competition and promotes collaboration.鈥
The friendly atmosphere and 鈥渟mall鈥 size means the 鈥渉elpful, insightful, and always accessible鈥 administration 鈥渒nows nearly all the students by name from day one.鈥 鈥淪tudents are very close with the administration鈥 and the overall experience is 鈥済reat and friendly.鈥 Although some students say the administration can be 鈥渜uite disorganized and disorderly,鈥 most say that 鈥渨hen there is a problem, it is fixed before anyone notices.鈥 鈥淸The administration is] willing to sit down and explain the law school process, as well as help in any way to balance law school, family, and social life,鈥 says one 2L. Students do wish that the school offered 鈥渕ore diverse classes.鈥 Academically, there is strong 鈥渆mphasis on practical skills鈥 and 鈥渆mphasis on legal writing.鈥 鈥淲e gain practical skills that prepares us well for outside employment,鈥 one student reports. SIU makes sure to work with the local community, and 鈥渢he volunteer hours the local attorneys give to talk with students, coach students, and mentor students is phenomenal.鈥 As for the faculty themselves, they 鈥渁re amazingly approachable and supportive鈥 professors that 鈥渃are deeply about their students鈥 and 鈥渁lways open to conversation, whether it was about law school or not.鈥 鈥淭he professors at SIU have an open door policy and encourage one-on-one encounters,鈥 leading students to be impressed by 鈥渉ow accessible they are to meeting with students outside of class.鈥 The professors here are 鈥渇reely willing to give students their personal contact information.鈥 鈥淚t is very nice to have instructors that have not only written texts but also model rules and the current law in the state,鈥 a happy 1L says. In general, the faculty and staff work to foster a culture that 鈥渕inimizes competition and promotes collaboration.鈥
Career overview
% of graduates who are employed within ten months of graduation
78%
% of job accepting graduates providing useable salary information
97%
Career Services
On campus summer employment recruitment for first year JD students
Yes
On campus summer employment recruitment for second year JD students
Yes
# of Employers that Recruit on Campus Each Year
28
Employers who most frequently hire graduates
The employers that most frequently hire graduates are private law firms with under 10 attorneys.
Graduates Employed by Area
45%
Private Practice
22%
Government
4%
Business/Industry
2%
Public Interes
1%
Judicial Clerkships
Graduates Employed by Region
62%
MidWest
5%
South
1%
Mid-Atlantic
1%
Mountain
1%
South West
Prominent Alumni
Senait Fisseha
Director of Global Programs, the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation
William Enyart
Former US Congressman, 113th Congress
Timothy Eaton
2020 Person of the Year by Chicago Lawyer magazine
Jil Tracy
Illinois State Senator, 50th District
Sameer Vohra
Director, Illinois Department of Public Health
Dates
Financial Aid Rating
Apr 1
Financial Aid Statistics
Average Annual Total Aid Package Awarded
$16,039
% Students Receiving Some Aid
61%
Expenses per Academic Year
In-State Tuition
$16,957
Out-Of-State Tuition
$16,957
Estimated On-Campus Room and Board
$11,747
Estimated Off-Campus Room and Board
$12,328
Estimated Cost for Books / Academic Expense
$1,137
Fees
$4,598
Student Body Profile
Total Enrollment
237
Parent Institution Enrollement
11,366
Average Age at Entry
27
% Out-of-State
47%
% International
1%
Demographics
12.00%
% Under-represented Minorities
100% are full time
0% are part time
47% female
53% male
Campus Life
Students Say
Your experience at SIU is influenced greatly by whether you are 鈥渁 city-slicker鈥 or someone who will like 鈥渢he great outdoors鈥 and 鈥渢he small town feel of Carbondale.鈥 Carbondale, with a population of around 25,000, has 鈥渟ome beautiful scenery鈥 but otherwise is 鈥渂lah.鈥 However, 鈥渢here are some of the most beautiful state parks and federal lands in the Midwest within [a] 20 minute drive of the law school.鈥 Some students report 鈥渃abin-fever,鈥 but many come to SIU specifically for 鈥渢he slower pace of the small town life.鈥 As one student says: 鈥渟ome come, love it, and never leave.鈥 The student body has a Midwest feel, being mostly composed of students 鈥渇rom across the region, with about 15 percent coming from outside the region.鈥 While some feel the student body is 鈥渘ot racially diverse,鈥 students agree that everyone gets along. SIU is a place where 鈥渟tudents can actually interact with each other instead of competing with each other.鈥 鈥淲e are a small community and we all care a lot for each other,鈥 a 1L explains. 鈥淓veryone is friendly and I truly think that relationships that I have formed are unique and special to our school.鈥
More Information
% of Classrooms with Internet Access
100%
Admissions Office Contact
Contact
Michael Ruiz
Assistant Dean for Admissions and Financial Aid
Assistant Dean for Admissions and Financial Aid
Address
Lesar Law Building, Room 104
1150 Douglas Drive
Carbondale, IL 62901
1150 Douglas Drive
Carbondale, IL 62901
Phone
618-453-8858
Email
lawadmit@siu.edu
