Which Law Schools Accept JD-Next? The Complete 2026 List

By Jeremy M. Fine, Founder of ConnectPrep · Updated August 2026 · 12-minute read

JD-Next adoption has grown every ABA review cycle since 2023. Original graphic © ConnectPrep, compiled from published variance approvals.

The single most common question we hear at ConnectPrep — one of the nation’s leading JD-Next preparation programs — is: will the schools I care about actually take it? The answer, increasingly, is yes. More than 65 ABA-accredited law schools have now received formal authorization, known as a variance, to consider JD-Next in their admissions process. What started as a pilot experiment at a handful of schools in 2023 now includes nationally ranked programs like Georgetown, Vanderbilt, Boston College, and Fordham, and the list has grown in nearly every ABA review cycle since.

Below is the complete list as of August 2026, with each school’s variance approval date, followed by the analysis most lists skip: what the pattern of adoption tells you, and how to actually build an application strategy around it. Bookmark this page — we update it as new schools are approved.

First: What a “Variance” Actually Means

ABA accreditation standards require law schools to use a valid and reliable admissions test. Historically that meant the LSAT, full stop. A variance is the ABA’s formal permission for a school to use an alternative assessment — the JD-Next course and exam — in its admissions process. When you see a school on this list, it means the ABA has reviewed that school’s request and authorized it to consider JD-Next scores from applicants.

Two important caveats before you scan the list. First, a variance authorizes a school to consider JD-Next; it does not obligate the school to weigh it identically to an LSAT score. Some schools accept it as a full alternative, others use it alongside additional credentials or for particular applicant pools, and internal policies evolve between cycles. Second, this list is a snapshot: approvals continue to land, and occasionally a school’s policy details shift. Treat the list as your map, then confirm the current policy directly with each admissions office before finalizing your testing plan — we do exactly this with every ConnectPrep student during intake.

The Complete List of JD-Next Law Schools (with Approval Dates)

What the Adoption Pattern Tells You

Having watched this list grow cycle by cycle while coaching JD-Next students, three patterns stand out to us.

The trend line only points one way

Adoption went from roughly 43 schools by the end of 2023 to 56 by the end of 2024, 65 through 2025, and 67 as of mid-2026, with Gonzaga (February 2026) and Oregon (May 2026) the newest additions. Nearly every ABA review cycle has added schools, and none have publicly walked away. If you’re a sophomore or junior planning ahead, it is reasonable to expect this list to be longer when you apply than it is today.

Every tier is represented

This is not a list of schools that struggle to fill seats. It spans T14-adjacent national names (Georgetown, Vanderbilt), strong regionals with national reach (Fordham, George Washington, Washington University in St. Louis, Boston College, SMU), respected state flagships (Georgia, Wisconsin, Illinois, Maryland), and access-focused programs (CUNY, Cooley, Atlanta’s John Marshall). Whatever your target tier, the JD-Next path now reaches into it.

The early adopters share a philosophy

The schools that moved first tend to be ones that emphasize demonstrated readiness for 1L coursework — which is precisely what JD-Next measures, since the exam tests actual contracts doctrine and case analysis rather than abstract logic puzzles. That’s worth internalizing as an applicant: a school on this list has already signaled that it values proof you can do law school work. Your JD-Next preparation, done well, is that proof. (For how scores are read, see what counts as a good JD-Next score.)

How to Build Your School List Around JD-Next

Here’s the strategic framework we walk through with ConnectPrep students deciding on the JD-Next path.

Step 1 — Sort your targets into three buckets: schools on this list where JD-Next is an established route; schools on this list where you’ll want policy details confirmed; and dream schools not yet on the list, which still require the LSAT. If bucket three holds most of your list, JD-Next may be a supplement rather than your primary path.

Step 2 — Call or email each admissions office and ask five questions: Do you currently accept JD-Next for my application cycle? Is it accepted for all applicants or specific pools? How is the score weighted relative to the LSAT? Do you review the JD-Next essay? And does a JD-Next application affect merit-scholarship consideration? The answers vary more than applicants expect, and they change year to year.

Step 3 — Let the answers set your score target and timeline. Your target band should come from the most selective school in bucket one — then work backward to an exam date and a ten-week preparation runway. If your cycle deadlines are early, remember scores arrive about three weeks after you test.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I take JD-Next or the LSAT?

It depends on your strengths and your list. JD-Next rewards students who excel at learning real material; the LSAT rewards abstract reasoning under time pressure. If most of your targets appear above, the JD-Next path deserves serious consideration — my full breakdown is here: JD-Next vs. the LSAT.

Can I apply with both a JD-Next score and an LSAT score?

Yes, and some applicants do — a strong JD-Next result can complement an LSAT file by demonstrating readiness for law school coursework. Whether it helps depends on each school’s review policy, which is one of the five questions worth asking admissions directly.

What score do I need for the schools on this list?

It varies by selectivity. As a working framework, we treat 800–850 as the target band for the most selective programs here, with the 700s competitive at many others — full details in our scoring guide.

How often is this list updated?

We revise this page as the ABA publishes new variance approvals — typically several times a year. The list above reflects approvals through August 2026.

About the author: Jeremy M. Fine is the founder of ConnectPrep and has spent more than 20 years coaching students through high-stakes admissions exams. ConnectPrep’s JD-Next coaching program pairs 1-on-1 instruction with a phased, ten-week preparation system targeting the 800–850 score band.