The 50 best law schools in America
Samantha Lee/Business Insider
While it can be tough to get into elite law schools, the real challenge happens post-graduation: securing a good job.
Law-school enrollment remains high — 39,984 students graduated in the class of 2015 — but the prestigious degree no longer holds the same clout that it once did, and an oversaturation of lawyers has left graduates struggling in the job market.
For the class of 2010, only 40% of graduates were working at law firms by 2015, and 20% of the class held jobs that didn’t even require a law license.
Even many who do land at a law firm can struggle to pay off the crushing debt. Law students incur an average loan burden of $84,000 by the time they graduate from a public school and $122,158 by the time they graduate from a private school, according to the American Bar Association.
But only about 17% of 2014 graduates employed at law firms full-time were making the coveted $160,000 salary, while half reported salaries of $40,000 to $65,000.
So, to determine which law schools stand as the best in the country, Business Insider focused on the institutions that lead to top jobs in the legal world. Using data from the ABA, the ranking primarily homed in on the percentage of graduates who land full-time, long-term, highly coveted jobs, which includes positions at big law firms that pay well — those with over 251 employees — and federal clerkships, which are difficult to secure and frequently set up successful careers.
The ranking also took into consideration the percentage of graduates with full-time, long-term jobs that require passing the bar, the percentage that are unemployed but seeking employment, bar-passage rate, tuition, and median LSAT scores. You can read more about our methodology here.
Placing a higher weight on jobs — and no weight on selectivity or reputation — yielded unexpected results. The University of Pennsylvania earned the top spot, followed by the University of Chicago at No. 2. The law programs at Yale and Harvard, perennially ranked Nos. 1 and 2 in other rankings, came in 10th and third, respectively.
Continue on to check out the full list.
Additional reporting by Kaitlyn Yarborough and Alexa Pipia.
Edited by Alex Morrell and Sara Silverstein.
50. Seton Hall University
Location: Newark, New Jersey
Percent of graduates with highly coveted positions: 7%
Bar passage rate: 83%
Median LSAT score: 157
The only private law school in New Jersey, Seton Hall offers instruction in the areas of health, intellectual property, public interest and public policy, and social justice. About 80% of graduates secured full-time, long-term jobs requiring bar-exam passage.
49. Louisiana State University
Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Percent of graduates with highly coveted positions: 6%
Bar passage rate: 84%
Median LSAT score: 155
In addition to a traditional law degree in common law, Louisiana State University’s Paul M. Herbert Law Center also gives students the option to earn an additional degree in civil law, which the school describes as a “blend of Roman, Spanish, and French legal traditions.” After graduation, 70% of LSU law students secure full-time, long-term jobs that require passing the bar.
48. University of Kansas
Location: Lawrence, Kansas
Percent of graduates with highly coveted positions: 10%
Bar passage rate: 86%
Median LSAT score: 156
Law students at the University of Kansas can complete dual-degree programs in several areas, including business, journalism, and communications. Tuition for the public school is the third-lowest on our list at $35,328.
47. Fordham University
Location: New York, New York
Percent of graduates with highly coveted positions: 31%
Bar passage rate: 86%
Median LSAT score: 163
Following its motto of “in the service of others,” Fordham University’s School of Law places an emphasis on pro bono work, and the class of 2015 racked up nearly 130,000 hours of public-interest work during their time in school. This hands-on experience pays off: 67% of graduates secured full-time, long-term jobs where they put their law degree to use.
46. University of Washington
Location: Seattle, Washington
Percent of graduates with highly coveted positions: 16%
Bar passage rate: 84%
Median LSAT score: 164
The University of Washington‘s law library is among the largest on the West Coast with more than 650,000 volumes aiding the school’s nationally recognized Law Librarianship program. Nearly 70% of graduates of the public school secured jobs that required passing the bar.
45. University of Nebraska
Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
Percent of graduates with highly coveted positions: 6%
Bar passage rate: 90%
Median LSAT score: 156
For students interested in subjects outside of law, the Nebraska College of Law offers eight joint degree programs where students can earn their master’s in subjects such as journalism, business, and community planning. The school also boasts a high success rate for the bar exam, with 90% of graduates passing on the first try.
44. Florida State University
Location: Tallahassee, Florida
Percent of graduates with highly coveted positions: 7%
Bar passage rate: 82%
Median LSAT score: 158
Programs in business, environmental, and international law are Florida State University’s specialties. About 70% of graduates of the FSU College of Law secure jobs in the state after earning their degree, and 73% enter jobs requiring bar passage.
43. College of William & Mary
Location: Williamsburg, Virginia
Percent of graduates with highly coveted positions: 24%
Bar passage rate: 88%
Median LSAT score: 163
Founded in 1779, William & Mary Law School stands as the oldest law school in the US — and it’s still going strong. Fifteen percent of the class of 2015 secured jobs at big law firms with over 500 employees, and 88% passed the bar the first time around.
42. University of California at Davis
Location: Davis, California
Percent of graduates with highly coveted positions: 14%
Bar passage rate: 86%
Median LSAT score: 163
King Hall at UC Davis’ school of law is named for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as a testament to the school’s commitment to social justice. Outside of the eight different concentrations that students have to choose from, there are over 50 student-run organizations and nine different externship programs.
41. Arizona State University
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Percent of graduates with highly coveted positions: 7%
Bar passage rate: 89%
Median LSAT score: 161
Named after the first female US Supreme Court justice, the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law offers over 250 unique law courses for students, with a faculty-to-student ratio of 10-to-1. According to the university, ASU law students performed more than 152,000 hours of public service last year. Around 72% of ASU law graduates land positions in the state after graduating.
40. Wake Forest University
Location: Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Percent of graduates with highly coveted positions: 10%
Bar passage rate: 82%
Median LSAT score: 161
The law school at Wake Forest University offers students legal instruction in business, criminal justice, and health and policy. A solid 66% of graduates from the class of 2015 secured full-time, long-term jobs requiring bar passage.
39. University of Notre Dame
Location: South Bend, Indiana
Percent of graduates with highly coveted positions: 33%
Bar passage rate: 84%
Median LSAT score: 164
The University of Notre Dame law school encourages students to extend their education outside of the US and offers several opportunities to study abroad, including stays at Notre Dame’s programs in London, Chile, or Italy. Grads join the ranks of successful alumni, such as Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan and Fox News senior judicial analyst Andrew Napolitano.
38. Georgia State University
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Percent of graduates with highly coveted positions: 10%
Bar passage rate: 92%
Median LSAT score: 158
The law college at Georgia State has a top-ranking healthcare-law program whose Health Law Partnership Legal Services Clinic works in collaboration with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Tuition for the public school is affordable at $36,466, and about 80% of graduates take jobs in Georgia after earning their degree.
37. University of Wisconsin
Location: Madison, Wisconsin
Percent of graduates with highly coveted positions: 11%
Bar passage rate: 100%
Median LSAT score: 161
A full 100% of University of Wisconsin Law School graduates pass the bar on their first try — the highest pass rate of any school on the list. The school also stands out for its approach to teaching, using “law in action” as its guiding principle. Students learn not only what laws mean, but also how they change, adapt, and evolve over time.
36. George Washington University
Location: Washington, D.C.
Percent of graduates with highly coveted positions: 32%
Bar passage rate: 86%
Median LSAT score: 165
The oldest law school in the nation’s capital, GW Law has the fourth-highest number of graduates — 465 — on our list. Students can choose from over 275 elective courses and 20 different specialized areas of study. The school’s intellectual-property law program is among the best in the country.
35. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Location: Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Percent of graduates with highly coveted positions: 24%
Bar passage rate: 88%
Median LSAT score: 161
University of North Carolina, the nation’s first state-supported university, maintains its reputation for high in-state attendance at its law school, with North Carolina residents comprising 61% of law students and paying the more affordable in-state tuition of $23,041. As part of its Pro Bono Program, more than 70% of students participate in projects offering free legal services to North Carolina residents in need.
34. University of Georgia
Location: Athens, Georgia
Percent of graduates with highly coveted positions: 16%
Bar passage rate: 91%
Median LSAT score: 162
University of Georgia Law has excelled in international-law instruction for decades. Dean Rusk, the US secretary of state during the Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson presidential administrations, served as a professor for more than a decade and is the namesake of the school’s international law center. The law school has one of the lowest annual tuition costs on our list at $37,524.
33. University of Florida
Location: Gainesville, Florida
Percent of graduates with highly coveted positions: 10%
Bar passage rate: 89%
Median LSAT score: 157
Post-graduation, 77% of the 2015 class at the University of Florida’s Levin College of Law landed full-time, long-term jobs that require passing the bar. And for UF Law alumni deeper into their careers, there’s a good chance of securing a spot as a judge: More than 250 graduates serve as state appellate and trial judges across the US.
32. Southern Methodist University
Location: Dallas, Texas
Percent of graduates with highly coveted positions: 20%
Bar passage rate: 84%
Median LSAT score: 161
SMU’s Dedman School of Law offers comprehensive full- and part-time law-degree programs. Eighty-five percent of graduates take jobs in Texas after graduation.
31. University of Arizona
Location: Tucson, Arizona
Percent of graduates with highly coveted positions: 11%
Bar passage rate: 88%
Median LSAT score: 160
Financially speaking, earning a degree from the James E. Rogers College of Law at the University of Arizona proves a wise choice for students. At $29,000 per year for out-of-state students — make that $24,500 for Arizona residents — Arizona is the least expensive school on our list. More than half of Arizona Law students take a job in the state after graduation.
30. University of Colorado at Boulder
Location: Boulder, Colorado
Percent of graduates with highly coveted positions: 11%
Bar passage rate: 82%
Median LSAT score: 161
Colorado Law is dedicated to making sure that its students get the most out of their academic experience. The school offers seven dual-degree programs and a number of experiential-learning programs. Students interested in public service can sign the Colorado Law Public Service Pledge, in which they commit to 50 hours of law-related volunteer work while at the school.
29. University of Minnesota
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Percent of graduates with highly coveted positions: 19%
Bar passage rate: 85%
Median LSAT score: 164
The University of Minnesota Law School‘s library holds one of the largest collections in the nation, with over 1 million volumes. The curriculum promotes experiential learning and offers 24 diverse clinical programs that more than 50% of students use to gain real-world experience with clients.
28. Washington and Lee University
Location: Lexington, Virginia
Percent of graduates with highly coveted positions: 17%
Bar passage rate: 91%
Median LSAT score: 160
The only graduate school of Washington and Lee, the law school offers intimate instruction and several options for experiential learning, including a residential program in Washington, D.C. Seventy-five percent of graduates land full-time, long-term jobs requiring bar-exam passage.
27. Georgetown University
Location: Washington, D.C.
Percent of graduates with highly coveted positions: 41%
Bar passage rate: 88%
Median LSAT score: 167
Georgetown Law prepares students well: 88% of graduates pass the bar on the first try. These newly minted lawyers join the ranks of notable Georgetown alumni, including the “Today” show anchor Savannah Guthrie, former FCC Chairman Michael Powell, and former US President Lyndon B. Johnson, although he never graduated.
26. University of Texas at Austin
Location: Austin, Texas
Percent of graduates with highly coveted positions: 39%
Bar passage rate: 88%
Median LSAT score: 167
Texas Law had one of the largest graduating classes on our list, with more than 350 students earning degrees last year. The public school’s renowned trial-advocacy program was founded nearly 40 years ago and has won 17 national-advocacy championships in the past 11 years.
25. University of California at Los Angeles
Location: Los Angeles, California
Percent of graduates with highly coveted positions: 41%
Bar passage rate: 82%
Median LSAT score: 166
At UCLA Law, students are taught a spirit of community service and immersed in one through the school’s emphasis on mentorship. Students can take advantage of advice from hands-on professors as well as networking opportunities with UCLA’s alumni base. These connections in part help students land jobs, and a respectable 30% of the class of 2015 procured positions at large law firms with over 500 employees upon graduation.
24. Baylor University
Location: Waco, Texas
Percent of graduates with highly coveted positions: 11%
Bar passage rate: 91%
Median LSAT score: 160
Baylor Law School prides itself on being one of the smallest law schools in the nation: It has the least number of graduates — 108 — on our list. Students can pick from areas of concentration that include business litigation, healthcare law, and estate planning. It’s also the fourth-best school for trial advocacy, according to US News & World Report.
23. University of Southern California
Location: Los Angeles, California
Percent of graduates with highly coveted positions: 34%
Bar passage rate: 87%
Median LSAT score: 166
The USC Gould School of Law features tailored programs, such as its Media, Entertainment, and Technology certificate program, that cater to its Los Angeles-based campus and students. Seventy-three percent of graduates land full-time jobs that require passing the bar.
22. University of Iowa
Location: Iowa City, Iowa
Percent of graduates with highly coveted positions: 18%
Bar passage rate: 87%
Median LSAT score: 161
The University of Iowa College of Law is one of the most affordable choices in the top 25 of our list, with an annual tuition for nonresidents of $42,021 and estimated living costs of $16,892 per year. The school’s Citizen Lawyer program encourages students to promote public access to justice and law through pro bono work and community service.
21. University of Kentucky
Location: Lexington, Kentucky
Percent of graduates with highly coveted positions: 16%
Bar passage rate: 90%
Median LSAT score: 155
For Kentucky residents, tuition at the University of Kentucky College of Law costs only $21,618 per year — that number rises to $40,836 for out-of-state students — comparatively much cheaper than other top-25 schools on the list. And there’s plenty to entice students to attend: The college offers four dual-degree programs, operates two law journals, and sponsors more than 20 student-run organizations.
20. Boston College
Location: Newton, Massachusetts
Percent of graduates with highly coveted positions: 34%
Bar passage rate: 91%
Median LSAT score: 162
The private law school has a dynamic environmental-law program that offers a dual-degree with Tufts University to earn an MA in urban planning and environment. In 2015, 77% of Boston College Law graduates secured jobs requiring bar passage.
19. Boston University
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Percent of graduates with highly coveted positions: 27%
Bar passage rate: 93%
Median LSAT score: 163
Boston University boasts one of the highest percentages of women on the list, with female students making up 55% of the class of 2015. BU Law features diversity in its classes as well, offering more than 200 courses that cover almost every type of law, from construction and patents to food, drugs, and cosmetics.
18. Ohio State University
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Percent of graduates with highly coveted positions: 16%
Bar passage rate: 93%
Median LSAT score: 159
Ohio State’s Moritz College of Law is one of the top public law schools on our list. It offers over 175 courses and seminars, and students studying for their JD have the opportunity to choose from over 20 different specialties. Ohio State was also ranked by US News & World Report as the No. 1 school for dispute-resolution training.
17. Northwestern University
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Percent of graduates with highly coveted positions: 67%
Bar passage rate: 87%
Median LSAT score: 168
Out of 4,095 applications, the Pritzker School of Law enrolled just 213 students — 5.2% — for the 2015-16 academic year. The private institution was founded in 1859 and is renowned for its competitive admissions, with 70% of entering students possessing at least two years of full-time work experience.
16. Emory University
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Percent of graduates with highly coveted positions: 26%
Bar passage rate: 89%
Median LSAT score: 165
Seventy-five percent of Emory Law‘s more than 300 graduates secured long-term, full-time jobs requiring bar passage. The private school, known for its public-service law program, costs $51,510 per year.
15. Washington University in St. Louis
Location: St. Louis, Missouri
Percent of graduates with highly coveted positions: 32%
Bar passage rate: 86%
Median LSAT score: 167
Post-graduation, a full 100% of Wash U Law graduates who were seeking a job secured one last year, with 76% of those positions requiring a law degree. This can be chalked up in part to Wash U’s myriad of opportunities for students to gain real-world experience, including a selection of nine externship opportunities, 18 clinical courses, and six trial teams and moot courts where students can put their skills to the test.
14. University of California at Berkeley
Location: Berkeley, California
Percent of graduates with highly coveted positions: 54%
Bar passage rate: 88%
Median LSAT score: 166
Berkeley Law is the only top-20 law school on the West Coast aside from Stanford, and it’s revered for its robust intellectual-property program and pioneering environmental- and energy-law programs. Berkeley Law has the highest percentage of women enrolled — 56% of students — on our list.
13. University of Alabama
Location: Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Percent of graduates with highly coveted positions: 17%
Bar passage rate: 95%
Median LSAT score: 163
The only public law school in the state of Alabama, the University of Alabama School of Law counts Habitat for Humanity founder Millard Fuller among its distinguished alumni. An impressive 95% of Bama graduates pass the bar on the first try, and with annual tuition of $37,664, the school is the least expensive in our top 15.
12. Vanderbilt University
Location: Nashville, Tennessee
Percent of graduates with highly coveted positions: 39%
Bar passage rate: 93%
Median LSAT score: 166
Vanderbilt Law School opened in 1847 as one of the university’s first two departments. It offers nine different programs — including social justice, international, and intellectual property — to JD candidates to focus on a specialized area of law once they complete the first-year core curriculum.
11. University of Michigan
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
Percent of graduates with highly coveted positions: 56%
Bar passage rate: 93%
Median LSAT score: 168
Michigan Law possesses a rich historical background. Three US Supreme Court justices have attended the school, and one of its graduates became the first woman with a law degree to be admitted to the state’s bar in 1871. Michigan Law is the second-highest-ranked public school on our list.
10. Yale University
Location: New Haven, Connecticut
Percent of graduates with highly coveted positions: 66%
Bar passage rate: 92%
Median LSAT score: 173
Students admitted to Yale Law were among the best-performers on the LSAT, with a median score of 173 — tied for the top spot with Harvard. Thirty-four percent of graduates of the Ivy League school landed federal clerkships, the most of any school on our list. Its 81% of graduates who landed full-time, long-term jobs requiring bar passage was the lowest in the top 10.
9. University of Virginia
Location: Charlottesville, Virginia
Percent of graduates with highly coveted positions: 68%
Bar passage rate: 94%
Median LSAT score: 168
Founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson, the University of Virginia School of Law is one of the oldest such schools in the nation, and it aims to train lawyers who are committed to the ideals of leadership, integrity, and community service. The top public school on our list, it has one of the best records of sending graduates into federal clerkships in the country, with 16% of the class of 2015 accepting such positions.
8. Cornell University
Location: Ithaca, New York
Percent of graduates with highly coveted positions: 62%
Bar passage rate: 92%
Median LSAT score: 167
Annual tuition for Cornell Law School is just shy of $60,000, among the highest on our list. But it pays off: 90% of graduates secured full-time, long-term jobs that required passing the bar. The school is recognized for its opportunities for pro bono work through programs like the Cornell Law School Public Service Challenge. Last year, students completed 1,165 hours of pro bono work.
7. Columbia University
Location: New York, New York
Percent of graduates with highly coveted positions: 77%
Bar passage rate: 92%
Median LSAT score: 171
Columbia Law School may be the most expensive school on our list — annual tuition runs $62,700 — but the price tag goes a long way toward securing a great job: 77% of graduates secure full-time, highly coveted jobs at big law firms or in federal clerkships. The school also welcomes diversity: 47% of students are women and 33% are minorities.
6. Duke University
Location: Durham, North Carolina
Percent of graduates with highly coveted positions: 68%
Bar passage rate: 94%
Duke Law‘s curriculum focuses on areas of law where the demand for jobs will increase in the near future, such as international, environmental, and public law. The alma mater of Richard Nixon and Charlie Rose has the fifth-highest percentage on our list of graduates securing highly coveted jobs. It also has the highest percentage on our list of graduates securing full-time jobs at law firms with 251 to 500 employees.
5. New York University
Location: New York, New York
Percent of graduates with highly coveted positions: 65%
Bar passage rate: 96%
Median LSAT score: 169
Located in New York City’s Greenwich Village, the NYU School of Law was founded in 1835 and has gained a stellar reputation for its curriculum, especially its international and tax law programs. The school has 10 student-run publications, and 87% of graduates secured full-time jobs requiring bar passage.
4. Stanford University
Location: Stanford, California
Percent of graduates with highly coveted positions: 73%
Bar passage rate: 90%
Median LSAT score: 171
Students of Stanford Law are paying an estimated $31,005 per year to live in California’s pricey Bay Area, on top of a $56,274 annual-tuition price tag. But the return on investment is worth it: 73% of graduates at the West Coast’s top law school secure highly coveted jobs, with 26% of graduates landing federal clerkships.
3. Harvard University
Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts
Percent of graduates with highly coveted positions: 68%
Bar passage rate: 95%
Median LSAT score: 173
With 68% of students accepting highly coveted jobs right out of school, a law degree from Harvard proves well worth the investment. But it’s not easy to come by: The median LSAT score of accepted students is 173, tied with Yale as the highest on our list. Harvard Law also boasts several prominent alumni, including US President Barack Obama, former US Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, and Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein.
2. University of Chicago
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Percent of graduates with highly coveted positions: 80%
Bar passage rate: 92%
Median LSAT score: 170
Graduates of the law school cofounded by John D. Rockefeller are destined for success. The University of Chicago’s law school boasts the highest percentage of graduates securing highly coveted jobs — 80% — of any school on our list. And more than half of employed grads — 54% — find jobs at law firms with over 500 employees.
1. University of Pennsylvania
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Percent of graduates with highly coveted positions: 75%
Bar passage rate: 98%
Median LSAT score: 169
Graduates of the University of Pennsylvania’s law school, the No. 1 school for 2016, have no trouble landing top jobs: 75% of grads secure federal clerkships or positions at big law firms, and a full 90% end up in full-time jobs that require passing the bar. These graduates follow in the footsteps of several notable Penn Law alumni, including Oracle co-CEO Safra Catz and former US Supreme Court Justice Owen Roberts.
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