JD-Next vs GRE for law school: acceptance, cost and flexibility
Last checked October 22, 2026 · Sources: ETS’s GRE law school page and GRE vs LSAT comparison (acceptance, fees, scheduling, score reporting, CAS costs); JD-Next’s own pages; the ABA’s variance notices.
JD-Next vs GRE comes down to acceptance and flexibility. ETS says 130+ ABA-accredited law schools accept the GRE, including every T14 school, and you can take it year-round at home or at a test center for $249. JD-Next is accepted alone at about 60 schools with an ABA variance and costs $399 to $499, but includes an eight-week law course. Both are alternatives to the LSAT, which all 197 ABA-approved schools accept.
JD-Next vs GRE side by side
| JD-Next | GRE General Test | |
|---|---|---|
| Law school acceptance | 60+ schools with an ABA variance; others via Interpretation 503-3 | 130+ ABA-accredited schools, including every T14 |
| Standing with the ABA | School-by-school variances | Formally recognized as a valid admissions test in 2021, per ETS |
| Fee | $399 early, $459 standard, $499 late | $249 |
| What’s included | 8-week law course, exam, 3 score reports | Test; 4 free score reports on test day, $40 each after |
| Scheduling | Four sessions a year | Year-round, at home or a test center |
| What it tests | Case reading, legal reasoning and writing taught in the course | Verbal, quantitative and analytical writing |
| Other uses | Law school only | Business, public policy and PhD programs too |
| Score choice | Three reports included | ScoreSelect lets you choose which scores schools see |
GRE details from ETS’s pages; JD-Next from its own pages. Checked October 22, 2026.
Which to choose
- Choose the GRE if you’re applying broadly or to top-ranked schools, need a flexible test date, or are also considering other graduate programs.
- Choose JD-Next if every school you’re applying to accepts it and you’d rather prove yourself in a real law course than on a general test.
- Choose the LSAT if you want the one test every ABA-approved school accepts. See JD-Next vs LSAT.
Costs beyond the test
Whichever test you take, ETS notes that nearly all ABA-accredited law schools require LSAC’s Credential Assembly Service, which costs $219 plus a $45 Law School Report for each school. JD-Next’s price already includes its course; GRE prep, if you want it, costs extra.
Common questions about JD-Next vs GRE
Which is accepted by more law schools?
The GRE: ETS says 130+ ABA-accredited law schools accept it, against about 60 schools that accept JD-Next alone.
Which is cheaper?
The GRE registration is $249; JD-Next is $399 to $499 but includes an eight-week course and three score reports.
Do top law schools accept the GRE?
ETS says every T14 school accepts the GRE; most of the most selective schools aren’t on the JD-Next variance list.
Can I take both?
Yes. Schools can receive both; check how each school weighs them.
See also is JD-Next worth it?, law school test options and our GRE guide. MockTestPrep is independent and is not affiliated with ETS, JD-Next, Aspen Publishing or the ABA.