Frequently Asked Questions
Visit our Cost of Attendance page to learn more.
Yes. The NYLS Pro: Part-Time Evening Division was designed for students to attend courses on an adjusted schedule in the evenings and earn their J.D. degree in four years. Find more information on our NYLS Pro: Part-Time Evening Division page.
NYLS offers a wide range of scholarships. Admitted students are automatically considered for a merit-based scholarship ranging from $5,000 to full-tuition. Merit-based scholarships are awarded based on information in your application materials. They are renewable as long as you satisfy the criteria as stated in your admissions email and scholarship contract.
Continuing students can apply for NYLS’s financial literacy scholarships during their fall semesters. In addition, NYLS offers more than 100 donor scholarships, generously funded by our alumni. Continuing students can apply for donor scholarships during their spring semesters.
Finally, throughout the academic year, the Office of Admissions and Student Financial Services notifies all students of external scholarship opportunities. Visit our Scholarships page to learn more.
Our Think BIG curriculum targets the most in-demand fields—"B" for Business and Financial Services, "I" for Intellectual Property, Media, and Technology, and "G" for Government and Public Interest Law—to help students specialize in a fast-growing field and be practice-ready for any field.
No. We only offer admissions in the fall.
There is no fee to apply to NYLS.
No. NYLS welcomes and considers applications from all undergraduate majors.
No. The Admissions Committee considers all information included in an application and looks for the strongest candidates for law school, whether or not they have a graduate degree.
All applicants are required to submit a valid LSAT score. At this time, we do not accept the GRE in lieu of the LSAT.
Yes. If you apply and indicate on the application that you will be sitting for a future LSAT, your application will be held until we receive your score
Generally, the committee will take into account the highest score. However, in instances where the test has been taken more than three times, the average score is also taken into account. If you feel that one or more of your test scores does not reflect your full potential as a law student, you are welcome to address the disparity in an addendum to your application.
Visit our Facts and Stats page to learn more.
We recommend asking a professional colleague—ideally a supervisor—to write your letter of recommendation.
Yes. Examples include diversity statements, explanations of undergraduate and/or LSAT performance, and disability/financial hardship statements. Please make sure that the additional written material is not redundant to your personal statement.
No. However, our Admissions Committee reserves the right to invite applicants for an interview if the committee determines that additional information would be helpful before making a final admissions decision.
Yes. NYLS requires all applicants who are international students to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). The minimum required score is 104 on the TOEFL, or 7 on the IELTS. You must take the TOEFL or IELTS within two years of the date of your application.
If you earned 60 or more of your undergraduate credits at an international institution where the primary language of instruction is not English, you are required to take the TOEFL. But note this exception: Applicants who would otherwise need to take the TOEFL because of their educational background are exempt if they have worked in the United States for two or more years at a legally incorporated business.
Be sure to send NYLS official score reports for the TOEFL or IELTS; photocopies of score reports are not valid.
International applicants must submit their transcripts directly from the issuing institution to LSAC. All transcripts must be sent in a sealed envelope with the institution’s official stamp. Transcripts sent by you will not be accepted. Plan ahead; NYLS will need at least two weeks to review your transcript from the time it is processed by LSAC.
Use NYLS’s application status checker. Please note that our Office of Admissions will not release this information to anyone except the applicant. Further, the Office does not give admissions decisions by phone.
To accept admission, NYLS requires that you submit two nonrefundable tuition deposits, totaling $800. The due dates for both deposits are included in your acceptance email.
You may request to postpone your attendance at NYLS by emailing an explanation of the reasons for your request to the Admissions Committee. You will be notified of the committee’s decision in writing, and if your deferment is permitted, it will be valid for one year. Scholarship offers are not guaranteed with your deferment.
The office is open Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET and Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET.