Admissions Timeline

Students in Ridge Commons

J.D. Binding Early Decision I

Application open — September 15 through December 1
Decision by — December 30

J.D. Binding Early Decision II

Application open — September 15 through February 1*
Decision by — March 1

If you’re admitted through Binding Early Decision I or Binding Early Decision II, you must agree to:

  • withdraw any pending applications to other law schools;
  • not initiate any new applications to other law schools; and
  • enroll at Penn State Dickinson Law in the fall semester.

Once you’re admitted under the early decision program, you may not request to defer to the regular application process.

*Applications from candidates with pending LSAT results from a January LSAT administration will be considered timely for the Early Decision II option if those scores are transmitted to Penn State Dickinson Law as part of LSAT’s January score release in early February. All other application components necessary for the application to be considered complete must be received by February 1.

J.D. Regular Decision

Application open — September 15 through June 30
Decision by — Rolling basis

The sooner you apply, the sooner you’re likely to receive a decision. Please be patient, however, since we read every application.


Penn State Dickinson Law and Penn State Law are reunifying to operate as Penn State University’s single law school. While ABA approval for the reunification is pending, both schools are currently fully accredited. We submitted an application for acquiescence to operate as a single law school in July 2024 and plan to enroll a unified class in Fall 2025.