Schools with a Variance to Accept JD-Next

To date, over 65 ABA-accredited law schools have received approval to consider JD-Next^® as an alternative admissions assessment.

BEGIN A VARIANCE REQUEST

Law school building representing schools authorized to consider JD-Next.

What is a Variance?

The American Bar Association (ABA) is a national, nonprofit organization that accredits law schools in the United States. To receive accreditation, law schools must meet the ABA's rigorous standards that govern law school admissions, curriculum, faculty qualifications, student support, and bar passage outcomes.

ABA Standard 503 requires accredited law schools to use a “valid and reliable” test when making admissions decisions. A JD-Next variance means a school has ABA approval to use JD-Next as a valid and reliable alternative to legacy admissions tests like the LSAT or GRE.

Applicants who wish to apply to a particular law school using a JD-Next score should consider whether the school has an ABA-approved variance, the history of the school’s acceptance of JD-Next students as documented in publicly-available ABA 509 reports, and that school’s policy towards JD-Next as reflected on its website. An applicant who remains unsure how a school uses JD-Next in its admissions decisions after consulting these sources should contact the admissions office for further clarification.

View ABA Variance Documentation →

Law Schools Granted Requests for a Variance from Standard 503

Note: Admissions decisions and requirements are made independently by each law school. JD-Next does not guarantee admission or any specific admissions outcome.

SCHOOL NAME	ABA APPROVAL DATE
Akron, University of	2/21/2025
Arizona State University	11/17/2023
Arizona, University of	5/31/2023
Arkansas at Little Rock, University of	5/17/2024
Atlanta's John Marshall Law School	11/17/2023
Baltimore, University of	11/1/2025
Boston College	11/17/2023
Brigham Young University	8/18/2023
California Western School of Law	8/18/2023
California-Davis, University of	8/18/2023
Cardozo, Yeshiva University	11/17/2023
Case Western Reserve University	8/18/2023
Charleston School of Law	8/18/2023
Cincinnati, University of	8/18/2023
City University of New York, University of	8/18/2023
Cleveland State University	8/18/2023
Cooley Law School	11/17/2023
Creighton University	8/18/2023
Dayton, University of	8/18/2023
Denver, University of	8/16/2024
DePaul University	5/17/2024
Drake University	8/18/2023
Florida A&M University	2/21/2025
Florida International University	8/18/2023
Florida State University	8/1/2025
Fordham University	5/17/2024
George Mason University	11/8/2024
George Washington University	11/17/2023
Georgetown University	8/18/2023
Georgia, University of	8/18/2023
Gonzaga University	2/1/2026
Hofstra University	8/18/2023
Illinois, University of	5/17/2024
Indiana University-Bloomington	11/17/2023
Loyola University-New Orleans	8/18/2023
Maine, University of	11/17/2023
Marquette University	5/1/2025
Maryland, University of	11/8/2024
Massachusetts/Dartmouth, University of	11/17/2023
Miami, University of	8/18/2023
Mississippi College	8/18/2023
Missouri, University of	2/21/2025
Nebraska, University of	8/18/2023
New England Law/Boston	2/23/2024
Oregon, University of	5/1/2026
Pace University	2/21/2025
Pacific, University of the	8/18/2023
Pittsburgh, University of	8/18/2023
Richmond, University of	8/1/2025
San Diego, University of	11/17/2023
Seattle University	2/23/2024
South Dakota, University of	8/18/2023
Southern Methodist University	8/16/2024
St. Mary's University	8/18/2023
Suffolk University	8/18/2023
Syracuse University	8/18/2023
Temple University	8/18/2023
Texas A&M University	8/18/2023
Toledo, University of	11/17/2023
Tulsa, University of	8/16/2024
Vanderbilt University	8/18/2023
Washington University (St. Louis)	2/23/2024
Wayne State University	11/8/2024
Western New England University	11/17/2023
Widener University Delaware Law School	8/18/2023
Willamette University	2/21/2025
Wisconsin, University of	11/17/2023

Law School That Accepts JD-Next — No ABA Variance Required

Purdue Global Law School

When a Variance is Not Needed

Many law schools are eager to incorporate JD-Next into their admissions processes, though implementation policies vary. Some institutions prioritize JD-Next scores, while others use them to complement traditional LSAT results. The following situations do not require an ABA variance:

✓

For an applicant to submit a JD-Next test score as a supplement to an LSAT or GRE score
✓

When a law school relies on ABA Interpretation 503-3 to admit applicants
✓

When the JD-Next test is being used for purposes other than making admissions decisions
✓

For a law school to use the JD-Next course and/or test to prepare applicants or determine admitted students' readiness for law school
✓

For law schools that are not accredited by the ABA and may accept JD-Next without an ABA variance

Apply for a Variance

The process is simple and straightforward. To request a variance, complete the form here:

VARIANCE APPLICATION