St. Thomas College of Law returns to compliance with ABA accreditation standards
The St. Thomas University College of Law in Florida is back in compliance with two accreditation standards and remains an approved law school, according to a memo by the council of the ABA Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar.
In September, the law school was found out of compliance with Standard 205, which directs law schools to treat people equally and be fair in hiring, admissions and retention.
The managing director’s Guidance Memo on Standard 205 says schools should “provide the reasons—such as state or federal laws, other authorities or university policy—which limit the inclusion of any specific group” in their accreditation review. Standard 205 also states that law schools can have a religious affiliation or purpose that influences admissions or employment as long as notice of these policies have been stated.
In addition, the school is considered back in compliance with Standard 202, related to a school’s ability to handle financial demands. The council had found it out of compliance in February.
“We have worked diligently with the council to ensure that each of its concerns can be fully and favorably resolved,” wrote Tarlika Nunez-Navarro, the dean of the law school, to the ABA Journal. “We are pleased by the council’s determination.”
The section’s council, a separate and independent entity from the ABA, is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as the sole accrediting body for domestic law schools.
The Miami Gardens, Florida, law school enrolled 820 students in fall 2024, according to the most recent information submitted to the ABA. Additionally, the class of 2022, which was the most recent year for which stats were available, had a bar pass rate of 87.68%. Tuition for the 2024-2025 academic year was $43,470, according to the school’s latest Standard 509 Information Report.
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