LAW Schools of Law - The Wall Street Journal
LAW
Schools of Law
THETOP100 SCHOOLS
'09
Peer
Assessment undergrad '09 LSAT
'09 '08 grads Employed
assessment score by
GPA
score
'09 student/ employed 9 months
Overall score lawyers/judges 25th-75th 25th-75th acceptance faculty
at
after
Rank/School
score (5.0=highest) (5.0=highest) percentile percentile rate
ratio graduation graduation
School's bar Jurisdiction's
passage overall bar rate in passage jurisdiction rate*
1. Yale University (CT)
100 4.8
4.8 3.82-3.96 170-176 8% 7.3 93.5% 98.1% 96.5%/NY 81%
2. Harvard University (MA)
97 4.8
4.8 3.76-3.96 171-176 11% 11.0 97.1% 99.3% 98.2%/NY 81%
3. Stanford University (CA)
93 4.7
4.8 3.77-3.97 167-172 9% 8.0 98.3% 98.4% 96.2%/CA 71%
4. Columbia University (NY)
91 4.7
4.6 3.6-3.81 170-175 15% 10.1 98.8% 99.5% 96.7%/NY 81%
5. University of Chicago
88 4.7
4.6 3.63-3.84 169-173 18% 9.5 97.1% 99.0% 95.1%/IL 91%
6. New York University
87 4.5
4.4 3.57-3.86 169-173 23% 9.4 99.0% 99.2% 97.2%/NY 81%
7. University of California?Berkeley
85 4.5
4.4 3.68-3.95 165-170 10% 11.4 96.6% 98.6% 87.7%/CA 71%
7. University of Pennsylvania
85 4.4
4.5 3.57-3.9 166-171 14% 10.7 97.6% 99.6% 98.4%/NY 81%
9. University of Michigan?Ann Arbor
84 4.6
4.4 3.55-3.84 167-170 22% 11.3 97.9% 99.8% 91.2%/NY 81%
10. University of Virginia
83 4.4
4.6 3.54-3.92 165-171 15% 12.6 96.0% 99.5% 97.5%/NY 81%
11. Duke University (NC)
82 4.2
4.3 3.6-3.84 167-171 18% 9.7100.0%100.0% 96.0%/NY 81%
11. Northwestern University (IL)
82 4.1
4.3 3.4-3.81 166-172 18% 8.8 98.2%100.0% 98.3%/IL 91%
13. Cornell University (NY)
78 4.2
4.3 3.5-3.8 165-168 21% 10.0 96.8% 98.4% 99.2%/NY 81%
14. Georgetown University (DC)
77 4.2
4.3 3.42-3.79 167-171 23% 12.4 93.5% 97.0% 96.8%/NY 81%
15. University of California?Los Angeles
76 4.0
3.8 3.57-3.88 164-169 17% 11.3 96.9% 99.1% 88.5%/CA 71%
15. University of Texas?Austin
76 4.1
4.2 3.54-3.87 164-168 23% 11.3 96.7% 98.1% 88.9%/TX 84%
17. Vanderbilt University (TN)
75 3.9
4.0 3.5-3.86 164-169 24% 14.4 96.8% 98.4% 95.7%/TN 83%
18. University of Southern California (Gould)
71 3.7
3.5 3.47-3.71 165-167 22% 12.4 91.9% 97.1% 89.6%/CA 71%
19. Washington University in St. Louis
70 3.7
3.8 3.3-3.8 161-168 27% 10.7 89.4% 95.0% 100.0%/MO 91%
20. George Washington University (DC)
69 3.5
3.8 3.41-3.86 163-168 22% 14.2 93.4% 98.9% 95.1%/NY 81%
21. University of Illinois?Urbana-Champaign 68 3.5
3.6 3.2-3.9 160-167 29% 13.1 85.4% 96.8% 91.2%/IL 91%
22. Boston University
67 3.4
3.6 3.5-3.83 164-167 24% 12.1 90.6% 99.1% 97.7%/MA 89%
22. Emory University (GA)
67 3.6
3.8 3.37-3.68 165-167 25% 10.5 96.7% 95.3% 93.5%/GA 89%
22. University of Minnesota?Twin Cities
67 3.6
3.8 3.3-3.85 160-168 25% 11.9 83.8% 96.5% 97.1%/MN 91%
22. University of Notre Dame (IN)
67 3.4
3.7 3.36-3.74 163-167 25% 10.9 89.8% 98.7% 100.0%/IL 91%
26. University of Iowa
66 3.5
3.9 3.43-3.81 158-164 44% 15.5 84.9%100.0% 93.9%/IA 90%
27. Indiana University?Bloomington (Maurer)
65 3.3
3.4 3.26-3.83 156-165 32% 9.5 89.2% 96.2% 95.3%/IN 84%
28. Boston College
63 3.4
3.6 3.34-3.68 163-167 20% 13.2 86.0% 97.4% 94.3%/MA 89%
28. Col. of William and Mary (Marshall-Wythe) (VA) 63 3.3
3.7 3.42-3.77 161-166 22% 15.7 87.9% 96.7% 88.9%/VA 82%
28. University of California?Davis
63 3.4
3.5 3.23-3.72 160-165 32% 11.6 97.3% 98.1% 79.9%/CA 71%
28. University of Georgia
63 3.1
3.4 3.4-3.8 161-165 28% 12.2 90.3% 98.4% 98.8%/GA 89%
28. University of North Carolina?Chapel Hill
63 3.6
3.9 3.43-3.73 157-164 15% 15.4 74.8% 94.7% 89.8%/NC 83%
28. University of Wisconsin?Madison
63 3.5
3.7 3.31-3.76 156-163 24% 12.7 80.8% 98.3% 99.3%/WI 92%
34. Fordham University (NY)
62 3.3
3.3 3.37-3.74 162-167 22% 13.6 85.3% 95.1% 94.1%/NY 81%
34. Ohio State University (Moritz)
62 3.3
3.5 3.49-3.81 158-164 34% 13.3 88.2% 98.2% 90.3%/OH 88%
34. University of Washington
62 3.1
3.5 3.47-3.8 160-166 25% 10.0 90.5% 98.2% 84.7%/WA 74%
34. Washington and Lee University (VA)
62 3.3
3.8 3.28-3.78 160-167 26% 9.4 82.2% 89.2% 83.7%/VA 82%
38. Arizona State University (O'Connor)
60 3.0
3.0 3.34-3.78 158-163 28% 8.5 90.7% 99.7% 89.5%/AZ 84%
38. University of Alabama
60 3.0
3.1 3.32-3.9 159-165 33% 10.2 N/A 96.9% 96.9%/AL 79%
38. University of Colorado?Boulder
60 3.1
3.1 3.42-3.78 160-165 23% 11.5 79.9% 96.0% 93.3%/CO 83%
38. Wake Forest University (NC)
60 3.1
3.6 3.2-3.7 160-164 33% 9.8 74.5% 95.8% 96.3%/NC 83%
42. Brigham Young University (Clark) (UT)
59 2.9
3.2 3.52-3.85 160-165 30% 17.3 86.5% 99.0% 92.4%/UT 87%
42. George Mason University (VA)
59 2.8
3.3 3.21-3.83 158-165 25% 13.2 95.9% 99.2% 87.1%/VA 82%
42. University of Arizona (Rogers)
59 3.2
3.2 3.34-3.71 159-163 33% 10.6 77.4% 97.3% 92.2%/AZ 84%
42. University of California (Hastings)
59 3.3
3.7 3.39-3.71 161-165 24% 16.5 69.8% 92.7% 80.4%/CA 71%
42. University of Utah (Quinney)
59 2.9
3.1 3.41-3.76 156-163 29% 8.1 92.2%100.0% 86.5%/UT 87%
47. University of Florida (Levin)
57 3.2
3.4 3.42-3.85 158-163 25% 15.4 76.2% 96.6% 88.9%/FL 81%
48. American University (Washington) (DC)
55 3.0
3.2 3.13-3.56 158-164 22% 13.4 86.6% 95.5% 92.0%/NY 81%
48. Southern Methodist University (Dedman) (TX) 55 2.7
3.1 3.24-3.84 155-165 27% 14.9 75.6% 98.6% 93.7%/TX 84%
48. Tulane University (LA)
55 3.1
3.4 3.34-3.75 160-164 30% 14.1 70.7% 91.1% 75.9%/LA 66%
48. University of Maryland
55 3.0
3.0 3.21-3.66 159-166 19% 11.7 89.2% 94.6% 90.1%/MD 85%
28 USN&WR ? AMERICA'S BEST GRADUATE SCHOOLS
'09
Peer
Assessment undergrad '09 LSAT
'09 '08 grads Employed
assessment score by
GPA
score
'09 student/ employed 9 months
Overall score lawyers/judges 25th-75th 25th-75th acceptance faculty
at
after
Rank/School
score (5.0=highest) (5.0=highest) percentile percentile rate
ratio graduation graduation
School's bar Jurisdiction's
passage overall bar rate in passage jurisdiction rate*
52. Pepperdine University (CA)
53 2.5
3.1 3.43-3.79 160-163 27% 16.0 75.5% 96.5% 87.2%/CA 71%
52. Yeshiva University (Cardozo) (NY)
53 2.8
2.8 3.37-3.73 160-165 27% 15.6 74.5% 94.3% 92.0%/NY 81%
54. Florida State University
52 2.8
2.8 3.23-3.74 159-162 26% 14.2 76.4% 97.6% 86.9%/FL 81%
54. University of Connecticut
52 2.9
2.9 3.2-3.59 158-162 28% 11.4 71.5% 94.2% 92.3%/CT 87%
56. Case Western Reserve University (OH)
51 2.8
3.3 3.2-3.63 156-160 42% 12.2 79.4% 95.2% 88.0%/OH 88%
56. Loyola Marymount University (CA)
51 2.6
2.8 3.31-3.67 157-163 32% 14.8 N/A 97.4% 85.5%/CA 71%
56. University of Cincinnati
51 2.6
3.1 3.29-3.79 156-161 50% 9.9 73.9% 95.8% 82.3%/OH 88%
56. University of San Diego
51 2.9
2.9 3.22-3.59 158-162 34% 14.2 N/A 98.4% 78.9%/CA 71%
60. Georgia State University
50 2.4
2.6 3.2-3.78 159-162 17% 10.7 N/A 98.6% 94.2%/GA 89%
60. University of Houston (TX)
50 2.6
3.0 3.08-3.62 159-163 25% 11.8 76.1% 97.2% 91.3%/TX 84%
60. University of Miami (FL)
50 2.9
3.1 3.25-3.66 155-159 52% 16.5 77.7% 96.4% 90.5%/FL 81%
60. University of Tennessee?Knoxville
50 2.7
3.0 3.28-3.77 157-161 27% 13.9 72.3% 95.1% 89.7%/TN 83%
64. Baylor University (Umphrey) (TX)
49 2.3
3.1 3.4-3.8 156-162 30% 15.1 N/A 94.6% 93.0%/TX 84%
64. Lewis & Clark College (Northwestern) (OR)
49 2.4
3.1 3.2-3.71 157-164 35% 10.0 N/A 94.3% 80.5%/OR 79%
64. University of Kentucky
49 2.5
3.0 3.33-3.82 156-161 38% 16.8 75.8% 98.1% 93.7%/KY 83%
67. Brooklyn Law School (NY)
48 2.7
2.5 3.26-3.63 159-164 28% 18.4 79.7% 92.3% 89.1%/NY 81%
67. University of Kansas
48 2.7
3.2 3.25-3.71 155-160 35% 12.4 69.4% 93.6% 94.2%/KS 89%
67. University of New Mexico
48 2.5
2.8 3.12-3.67 152-158 24% 11.3 81.9% 96.2% 92.0%/NM 92%
67. University of Pittsburgh
48 2.8
3.1 3.18-3.63 157-161 37% 12.9 71.8% 94.2% 90.6%/PA 87%
67. Villanova University (PA)
48 2.6
3.3 3.17-3.63 160-163 43% 17.0 64.5% 94.2% 91.9%/PA 87%
72. Pennsylvania State University (Dickinson)
47 2.5
3.0 3.28-3.68 157-160 29% 9.4 N/A 90.8% 85.0%/PA 87%
72. Seton Hall University (NJ)
47 2.5
3.0 3.13-3.64 154-160 49% 15.4 80.7% 96.7% 88.9%/NJ 85%
72. St. John's University (NY)
47 2.4
2.7 3.16-3.73 154-162 37% 14.6 77.9% 95.8% 90.6%/NY 81%
72. Temple University (Beasley) (PA)
47 2.7
3.0 3.11-3.61 159-163 40% 13.0 66.2% 91.4% 89.1%/PA 87%
72. University of Hawaii?Manoa (Richardson)
47 2.4
2.6 3.18-3.68 153-158 23% 7.8 70.7%100.0% 86.5%/HI 88%
72. University of Oklahoma
47 2.5
3.0 3.29-3.72 155-161 31% 14.2 60.6% 95.6% 96.3%/OK 93%
78. Loyola University Chicago
46 2.5
2.9 3.24-3.6 156-161 30% 14.3 69.9% 93.7% 94.3%/IL 91%
78. University of Nevada?Las Vegas (Boyd)
46 2.3
2.6 3.18-3.66 155-160 22% 16.8 86.7% 97.8% 81.5%/NV 77%
80. Illinois Institute of Technology (Chicago-Kent) 45 2.7
2.5 3.11-3.67 156-163 43% 10.9 70.5% 89.5% 96.3%/IL 91%
80. Louisiana State Univ.?Baton Rouge (Hebert) 45 2.3
2.9 3.22-3.66 155-159 37% 17.5 67.6% 96.1% 81.0%/LA 66%
80. Rutgers, the State U. of New Jersey?Camden 45 2.5
2.9 3.18-3.7 158-162 31% 11.8 75.3% 90.0% 84.5%/NJ 85%
80. Rutgers, the State U. of New Jersey?Newark 45 2.6
2.8 3.09-3.6 155-161 27% 17.6 84.4% 95.6% 86.9%/NJ 85%
80. University of Denver (Sturm)
45 2.5
2.8 3.23-3.69 155-160 33% 15.5 71.2% 94.2% 80.4%/CO 83%
80. University of Oregon
45 2.8
3.3 3.12-3.56 157-161 42% 16.4 57.9% 90.4% 84.8%/OR 79%
86. Hofstra University (NY)
44 2.4
2.6 3.27-3.7 155-159 39% 15.4 N/A 96.3% 86.5%/NY 81%
86. Indiana University?Indianapolis
44 2.5
2.8 3.15-3.7 151-159 40% 17.7 72.2% 96.1% 83.8%/IN 84%
86. Northeastern University (MA)
44 2.4
2.6 3.2-3.63 155-163 34% 15.4 N/A 94.1% 93.7%/MA 89%
86. Seattle University
44 2.4
3.0 3.15-3.63 155-160 38% 12.3 59.1% 96.6% 79.0%/WA 74%
86. Syracuse University (NY)
44 2.4
2.8 3.13-3.51 153-157 38% 10.9 N/A 95.4% 84.1%/NY 81%
86. University of Arkansas?Fayetteville
44 2.3
2.8 3.16-3.74 153-158 34% 12.2 N/A 95.7% 82.0%/AR 83%
86. University of Richmond (Williams) (VA)
44 2.4
2.8 3.19-3.63 159-163 29% 13.8 60.6% 90.7% 90.6%/VA 82%
93. Chapman University (CA)
43 1.9
2.3 3.11-3.56 156-159 31% 8.9 91.1% 96.5% 75.4%/CA 71%
93. Santa Clara University (CA)
43 2.5
2.9 3.03-3.59 157-161 43% 17.8 79.4% 92.6% 78.5%/CA 71%
93. University of Missouri
43 2.7
3.1 3.24-3.7 156-161 44% 16.8 50.7% 89.6% 91.9%/MO 91%
93. University of Nebraska?Lincoln
43 2.5
2.9 3.29-3.82 154-158 52% 13.6 64.2% 93.8% 90.8%/NE 89%
93. West Virginia University
43 2.1
2.8 3.12-3.7 151-156 50% 12.9 70.4% 98.1% 76.1%/WV 79%
98. Catholic University of America (Columbus) (DC) 42 2.5
2.9 3.13-3.55 156-160 33% 12.8 68.3% 91.9% 88.0%/MD 85%
98. DePaul University (IL)
42 2.3
2.8 3.09-3.53 154-161 39% 13.3 81.4% 94.0% 89.1%/IL 91%
98. University of San Francisco
42 2.1
2.8 3.12-3.57 155-160 35% 15.2 N/A 93.0% 86.0%/CA 71%
98. University of the Pacific (McGeorge) (CA)
42 2.1
2.6 3.05-3.58 153-159 42% 14.0 N/A 95.5% 79.6%/CA 71%
98. William Mitchell College of Law (MN)
42 2.0
2.5 3.19-3.6 150-158 56% 20.4 N/A 96.8% 89.8%/MN 91%
Sources: U.S. News and the schools. Assessment data collected by Synovate. N/A means that the data were not provided by the school. University of La Verne in California, Charleston School of Law in South Carolina, Liberty University in Virginia, Phoenix School of Law in Arizona, Charlotte School of Law and Elon University in North Carolina, and Drexel University in Pennsylvania are not ranked because as of February 2010 they were only provisionally approved by the American Bar Association. Three law schools in Puerto Rico--Catholic University, Inter-America University, and the University of Puerto Rico--are not ranked. *The state bar examination pass rates for first-time test takers in summer 2008 and winter 2008 were provided by the National Conference of Bar Examiners.
Moreat grad
USN&WR ? AMERICA'S BEST GRADUATE SCHOOLS 29
LAW
SPECIALTIES
PROGRAMSRANKEDBESTBYFACULTY WHOTEACHINTHEFIELD
DISPUTE RESOLUTION 1. Pepperdine University (CA) 2. Hamline University (MN) 2. University of Missouri 4. Harvard University (MA) 5. Ohio State University (Moritz) 6. Marquette University (WI) 7. University of Oregon 8. Fordham University (NY) 8. Yeshiva Univ. (Cardozo) (NY) 10. University of Nevada? Las Vegas (Boyd)
CLINICAL TRAINING 1. Georgetown University (DC) 2. American University (Washington) (DC) 3. CUNY?Queens College 4. New York University 5. Washington Univ. in St. Louis 6. University of New Mexico 7. University of Michigan? Ann Arbor 8. Yale University (CT) 9. University of Maryland 10. University of the District of Columbia (Clarke)
ENVIRONMENTAL LAW 1. Vermont Law School 2. Lewis & Clark College (Northwestern) (OR)
3. University of California?Berkeley 4. Pace University (NY) 5. Florida State University 6. Georgetown University (DC) 6. University of Colorado?Boulder 8. Stanford University (CA) 8. University of Oregon 10. New York University 10. University of Maryland
HEALTH LAW 1. St. Louis University 2. University of Maryland 3. Case Western Reserve University (OH) 4. Boston University 4. Georgia State University 4. University of Houston (TX) 7. Georgetown University (DC) 8. Seton Hall University (NJ) 9. Loyola University Chicago 10. University of Minnesota? Twin Cities
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW 1. University of California?Berkeley 2. Stanford University (CA) 3. George Washington University (DC) 4. Boston University 5. New York University 6. Columbia University (NY)
7. University of Michigan? Ann Arbor
8. University of Houston (TX) 9. Duke University (NC) 9. Franklin Pierce Law Center
(NH)
INTERNATIONAL LAW 1. New York University 2. Columbia University (NY) 3. Georgetown University (DC) 4. Harvard University (MA) 5. Yale University (CT) 6. George Washington Univ. (DC) 6. University of Michigan? Ann Arbor 8. American University (Washington) (DC) 9. University of Virginia 10. Duke University (NC)
LEGAL WRITING 1. Mercer University (George) (GA) 1. Seattle University 3. Stetson University (FL) 4. University of Nevada? Las Vegas (Boyd) 5. Indiana University?Indianapolis 6. John Marshall Law School (IL) 7. University of Oregon 8. Temple University (Beasley) (PA)
9. Arizona State University (O'Connor)
9. Ohio State University (Moritz)
TRIAL ADVOCACY 1. Stetson University (FL) 2. Temple University (Beasley) (PA) 3. South Texas College of Law 4. Baylor University (Umphrey) (TX) 5. Georgetown University (DC) 5. University of the Pacific (McGeorge) (CA) 7. Illinois Institute of Technology (Chicago-Kent) 7. Northwestern University (IL) 7. University of Akron (OH) 7. Washington Univ. in St. Louis
TAX LAW 1. New York University 2. Georgetown University (DC) 3. University of Florida (Levin) 4. Northwestern University (IL) 5. University of Miami (FL) 6. Boston University 6. University of San Diego 8. Harvard University (MA) 9. Loyola Marymount University (CA) 10. University of Virginia
Other Schools to Consider
The next two quartiles of schools are listed alphabetically in two groups, the Third Tier and Fourth Tier. Law schools within each of these tiers should be considered broadly similar in quality. To be listed, a law school must be accredited and fully approved by the American Bar Association and must draw
most of its students from the United States. Remember that in considering a law school, you should look not only at its ranking or tier but also at other characteristics--its location, price, course offerings, and faculty expertise, to name a few. More information on all the schools is available in the directory, beginning on Page 144.
THIRDTIER (ranking begins at 103; schools are listed alphabetically)
Peer
Assessment
assessment score by
score lawyers/judges
Rank/School
(5.0=highest) (5.0=highest)
'09
undergrad
'09 LSAT
GPA
score
'09
25th-75th
25th-75th acceptance
percentile
percentile
rate
'09
'08 grads Employed
student/ employed 9 months
faculty
at
after
ratio graduation graduation
School's
bar Jurisdiction's
passage overall bar
rate in
passage
jurisdiction rate*
Albany Law School (NY)
2.1
2.4 3.03-3.56 153-157 44% 13.1 N/A 93.9% 80.8%/NY 81%
Cleveland State University (Cleveland-Marshall) 2.0
2.6 3.19-3.64 153-158 34% 13.1 76.1% 91.1% 90.3%/OH 88%
Creighton University (NE)
2.1
2.8 3.13-3.64 151-156 56% 17.6 50.3% 92.4% 88.4%/NE 89%
Drake University (IA)
2.1
2.9 3.1-3.64 153-158 53% 14.5 N/A 96.8% 90.1%/IA 90%
Franklin Pierce Law Center (NH)
2.0
2.5 3.06-3.62 149-155 50% 14.2 N/A 94.1% 93.3%/NH 88%
Gonzaga University (WA)
2.2
2.9 3.05-3.51 153-157 43% 15.3 N/A 93.9% 81.7%/WA 74%
Howard University (DC)
2.3
2.7 2.92-3.51 150-156 21% 16.5 72.4% 85.5% 64.1%/MD 85%
Loyola University New Orleans
2.1
2.9 3.01-3.51 150-155 51% 17.1 60.0% 94.6% 67.4%/LA 66%
Continued on Page 31
30 USN&WR ? AMERICA'S BEST GRADUATE SCHOOLS
Moreat grad
Peer
Assessment
assessment score by
score lawyers/judges
Rank/School
(5.0=highest) (5.0=highest)
'09
undergrad
'09 LSAT
GPA
score
'09
25th-75th
25th-75th acceptance
percentile
percentile
rate
'09
'08 grads Employed
student/ employed 9 months
faculty
at
after
ratio graduation graduation
School's
bar Jurisdiction's
passage overall bar
rate in
passage
jurisdiction rate*
Marquette University (WI)
2.4
3.1 3.07-3.61 154-159 44% 19.1 61.0% 92.8% 100.0%/WI 92%
Mercer University (George) (GA)
2.2
2.4 3.13-3.67 153-158 38% 13.0 N/A 92.1% 95.8%/GA 89%
Michigan State University
2.2
2.8 3.07-3.61 153-159 46% 16.6 N/A 91.5% 83.7%/MI 82%
New York Law School
2.3
2.3 2.96-3.48 152-157 54% 23.6 N/A 92.6% 91.3%/NY 81%
Ohio Northern University (Pettit)
1.6
2.1 2.96-3.65 149-157 36% 12.7 N/A 93.4% 93.5%/OH 88%
Pace University (NY)
2.0
2.2 3.15-3.6 152-157 39% 12.7 N/A 91.5% 83.3%/NY 81%
Quinnipiac University (CT)
1.9
2.2 3.09-3.6 154-159 41% 11.2 N/A 96.4% 93.1%/CT 87%
Samford University (Cumberland) (AL)
1.9
2.3 3.01-3.59 153-157 52% 18.0 N/A 93.7% 95.7%/AL 79%
Southwestern Law School (CA)
2.0
1.8 3.06-3.51 152-156 32% 14.3 85.0% 95.5% 69.7%/CA 71%
Stetson University (FL)
2.1
2.5 3.19-3.65 153-158 39% 15.8 N/A 95.1% 82.0%/FL 81%
St. Louis University
2.5
3.1 3.16-3.61 153-159 50% 17.0 70.0% 92.9% 94.2%/MO 91%
Suffolk University (MA)
2.1
2.3
3-3.5 153-158 52% 16.5 N/A 89.7% 92.8%/MA 89%
Texas Tech University
2.0
2.5 3.13-3.62 153-158 37% 15.3 N/A 87.8% 86.6%/TX 84%
University at Buffalo?SUNY
2.4
2.4 3.19-3.73 153-159 32% 15.3 75.6% 91.2% 81.2%/NY 81%
University of Akron (OH)
1.9
2.6 3.12-3.67 150-157 40% 11.2 74.1% 87.6% 89.9%/OH 88%
University of Arkansas?Little Rock (Bowen)
2.2
2.6 2.9-3.67 150-157 26% 16.2 37.5% 95.8% 81.3%/AR 83%
University of Baltimore
2.0
2.4 2.97-3.59 151-157 41% 15.8 93.4% 96.3% 84.6%/MD 85%
University of Idaho
2.1
2.5 2.85-3.58 152-157 48% 16.5 N/A 87.8% 81.1%/ID 80%
University of Louisville (Brandeis) (KY)
2.3
2.6 3.14-3.73 153-159 37% 15.4 65.4% 95.1% 88.0%/KY 83%
University of Maine
2.2
2.6 3.06-3.61 152-158 48% 14.2 N/A 91.9% 91.5%/ME 91%
University of Memphis (Humphreys)
1.9
2.4 3.16-3.68 153-158 32% 17.7 41.1% 93.3% 93.1%/TN 83%
University of Mississippi
2.3
2.9 3.27-3.71 151-157 41% 18.2 53.8% 89.6% 90.0%/MS 88%
University of Missouri?Kansas City
2.3
2.5 2.99-3.58 152-157 47% 14.1 N/A 95.6% 97.6%/MO 91%
University of Montana
2.1
2.4 3.26-3.69 151-157 50% 12.3 N/A 92.3% 88.1%/MT 93%
University of South Carolina
2.3
2.7 3.14-3.7 156-160 37% 14.8 56.1% 91.2% 91.0%/SC 82%
University of South Dakota
1.9
2.5 3.13-3.65 149-155 57% 12.3 54.1% 94.3% 94.9%/SD 95%
University of St. Thomas (MN)
1.9
2.5 3.07-3.59 153-161 51% 17.7 N/A 90.9% 89.7%/MN 91%
University of Toledo (OH)
1.9
2.4 2.92-3.54 150-156 60% 13.4 88.5% 96.3% 87.8%/OH 88%
University of Tulsa (OK)
2.1
2.5 2.83-3.55 152-157 51% 11.9 N/A 92.3% 92.6%/OK 93%
University of Wyoming
2.1
2.9 3.25-3.68 150-157 34% 12.3 58.6% 88.9% 76.3%/WY 67%
Vermont Law School
2.3
2.8 3.05-3.57 152-158 67% 13.5 60.4% 95.2% 83.3%/NY 81%
Washburn University (KS)
2.0
2.3 2.95-3.68 152-157 47% 12.9 N/A 93.5% 89.4%/KS 89%
Wayne State University (MI)
2.2
2.7 3.17-3.69 153-159 38% 14.4 N/A 87.5% 95.9%/MI 82%
Willamette University (Collins) (OR)
2.1
2.8 3.05-3.51 153-157 39% 15.0 N/A 91.1% 84.4%/OR 79%
FOURTHTIER (ranking begins at 145; schools are listed alphabetically)
Peer
Assessment
assessment score by
score lawyers/judges
Rank/School
(5.0=highest) (5.0=highest)
'09
undergrad
'09 LSAT
GPA
score
'09
25th-75th
25th-75th acceptance
percentile
percentile
rate
'09
'08 grads Employed
student/ employed 9 months
faculty
at
after
ratio graduation graduation
School's
bar Jurisdiction's
passage overall bar
rate in
passage
jurisdiction rate*
Appalachian School of Law (VA)
1.4
1.6 2.61-3.31 147-152 48% 15.8
N/A 66.2% 83.3%/VA 82%
Atlanta's John Marshall Law School
1.4
1.8 2.67-3.28 149-153 40% 12.9 44.8% 96.2% 83.9%/GA 89%
Ave Maria School of Law (FL)
1.2
1.5 2.91-3.53 147-155 50% 17.5
N/A 81.5% 79.5%/MI 82%
Barry University (FL)
1.3
1.6 2.58-3.25 148-152 56% 26.7
N/A 70.7% 76.5%/FL 81%
California Western School of Law
1.8
2.1
3.04-3.5 150-155 46% 18.3
N/A 84.0% 84.2%/CA 71%
Campbell University (Wiggins) (NC)
1.5
2.1 3.12-3.59 154-159 30% 17.9
N/A 93.8% 95.3%/NC 83%
Capital University (OH)
1.8
2.2
2.96-3.5 150-156 57% 15.8
N/A 76.5% 94.8%/OH 88%
CUNY?Queens College
2.0
2.2
3.1-3.54 151-156 27% 10.0
N/A 81.7% 82.0%/NY 81%
Duquesne University (PA)
1.8
2.5 3.19-3.63 150-154 45% 19.4
N/A 85.2% 95.7%/PA 87%
Faulkner University (Jones) (AL)
1.3
1.6 2.76-3.33 147-152 54% 14.0
N/A 94.9% 93.1%/AL 79%
Florida A&M University
1.4
1.6 2.75-3.32 144-150 31% 18.5
N/A 87.4% 65.7%/FL 81%
Florida Coastal School of Law
1.4
1.6 2.94-3.42 147-153 66% 20.9
N/A 95.4% 83.0%/FL 81%
Continued on Page 32
*The state bar examination pass rates for first-time test takers in summer 2008 and winter 2008 were provided by the National Conference of Bar Examiners. Note: Numbers with * are from the fall 2008 entering class or school year and 2007 graduating class as reported to the American Bar Association.
USN&WR ? AMERICA'S BEST GRADUATE SCHOOLS 31
LAW
FOURTHTIER (ranking begins at 140; schools are listed alphabetically)
Peer
Assessment
assessment score by
score lawyers/judges
Rank/School
(5.0=highest) (5.0=highest)
'09
undergrad
'09 LSAT
GPA
score
'09
25th-75th
25th-75th acceptance
percentile
percentile
rate
'09
'08 grads Employed
student/ employed 9 months
faculty
at
after
ratio graduation graduation
School's
bar Jurisdiction's
passage overall bar
rate in
passage
jurisdiction rate*
Florida International University
1.6
1.8 3.13-3.62 151-156 26% 16.2
N/A 88.7% 88.0%/FL 81%
Golden Gate University (CA)
1.7
2.1 2.84-3.39 151-155 50% 15.2
N/A 90.3% 71.6%/CA 71%
Hamline University (MN)
1.9
2.2 3.16-3.66 150-158 49% 14.8
N/A 90.3% 92.8%/MN 91%
John Marshall Law School (IL)
1.9
2.4 2.98-3.51 150-155 46% 14.4 63.9% 89.0% 87.9%/IL 91%
Mississippi College
1.5
2.1 3.01-3.53 148-153 57% 18.2
N/A 94.4% 93.9%/MS 88%
New England School of Law (MA)
1.8
2.3 2.97-3.45 150-154 59% 23.1
N/A 81.2% 90.8%/MA 89%
North Carolina Central University
1.6
2.2 3.02-3.49 143-150 20% 16.5
N/A 80.5% 80.5%/NC 83%
Northern Illinois University
1.7
2.2 2.93-3.51 153-156 40% 18.7
N/A 89.1% 96.1%/IL 91%
Northern Kentucky University (Chase)
1.6
2.1 3.19-3.56 151-157 43% 15.1
N/A 92.5% 85.5%/OH 88%
Nova Southeastern University (Broad) (FL)
1.8
2.1 3.01-3.47 147-152 43% 16.7
N/A 85.5% 84.1%/FL 81%
Oklahoma City University
1.6
2.1 2.88-3.47 148-152 54% 17.6
N/A 92.1% 90.3%/OK 93%
Regent University (VA)
1.3
1.7
3-3.71 150-156 42% 16.2 67.5% 94.4% 73.1%/VA 82%
Roger Williams University (RI)
1.8
2.1
3-3.5 150-157 58% 16.7
N/A 88.0% 85.6%/MA 89%
Southern Illinois University?Carbondale
1.9
2.4 3.01-3.52 151-157 48% 11.7
N/A 84.9% 94.7%/IL 91%
Southern University Law Center (LA)
1.4
1.7
2.5-3.2 * 142-149 * 34% * 11.5 * N/A
N/A
N/A N/A
South Texas College of Law
1.7
2.2 2.99-3.51 151-156 47% 20.0
N/A 85.1% 89.2%/TX 84%
St. Mary's University (TX)
1.7
2.3 2.82-3.49 151-156 42% 20.9 86.0% 91.3% 87.2%/TX 84%
St. Thomas University (FL)
1.5
1.9 2.63-3.25 * 148-151 * 45% * 20.9 * N/A 80.4% *
N/A N/A
Texas Southern University (Marshall)
1.5
1.8 2.66-3.21 144-148 34% 12.8
N/A 83.3% 59.6%/TX 84%
Texas Wesleyan University
1.7
1.7 2.88-3.44 151-155 44% 21.0 56.6% 76.0% 77.8%/TX 84%
Thomas Jefferson School of Law (CA)
1.6
1.9
2.7-3.19 148-153 51% 17.9
N/A 92.1% 70.3%/CA 71%
Thomas M. Cooley Law School (MI)
1.4
1.8 2.62-3.33 * 144-149 * 61% * 21.1 * N/A 77.8% *
N/A N/A
Touro College (Fuchsberg) (NY)
1.7
1.7 2.86-3.39 149-153 46% 15.9
N/A 72.3% 79.0%/NY 81%
University of Dayton (OH)
1.9
2.6
2.87-3.4 148-153 58% 16.7
N/A 92.1% 91.8%/OH 88%
University of Detroit Mercy
1.5
1.8 2.93-3.38 146-153 45% 14.1
N/A 78.4% 71.4%/MI 82%
University of North Dakota
1.9
2.3
3.3-3.73 149-155 35% 16.8
N/A 90.1% 91.5%/ND 86%
University of the District of Columbia (Clarke) 1.4
1.4
2.8-3.26 149-153 22% 12.2
N/A 79.6% 92.3%/MD 85%
Valparaiso University (IN)
2.0
2.7 3.08-3.59 148-152 59% 15.8
N/A 88.9% 82.7%/IN 84%
Western New England College (MA)
1.6
1.8 2.99-3.51 150-155 53% 12.7
N/A 81.3% 76.6%/CT 87%
Western State University (CA)
1.3
1.7 2.81-3.38 149-154 49% 22.6
N/A 70.8% 64.9%/CA 71%
Whittier College (CA)
1.4
2.1 2.83-3.35 149-153 41% 17.6 51.3% 96.4% 82.6%/CA 71%
Widener University (DE)
2.0
2.5 2.81-3.46 149-153 54% 19.0 55.2% 83.8% 88.0%/PA 87%
METHODOLOGY
The rankings of 188 accredited law schools are based on a weighted average of the 12 factors below.
Quality assessment (weighted by .40): Quality was measured by two surveys conducted in fall 2009. The dean and three faculty members at each school were asked to rate schools from "marginal" (1) to "outstanding" (5); 65 percent voted. Their average rating for a school weights .25 in the ranking. Lawyers and judges also rated schools; 21 percent responded. The two most recent years of surveys of lawyers and judges were averaged and are weighted by .15.
Selectivity (.25): Combined fall 2009 data for all full-time and part-time entering students; this measure combines median LSAT scores (50 percent), median undergrad GPA (40 percent), and the acceptance rate (10 percent).
Placement success (.20): Success is determined by employment rates for 2008 graduates at graduation (20 percent) and nine months after (70 percent) as well as their bar passage rate (10 percent). Employment rates include graduates reported as working or pursuing graduate degrees; for the nine-month rate only, 25 percent of those whose status is unknown are also counted as working. Those
not seeking jobs are excluded. All others are counted as unemployed. The bar passage rate indicator is the ratio of a school's rate in the cited jurisdiction to the overall state rate, computed for first-time test takers in summer 2008 and winter 2008. The jurisdiction cited is the state where the largest number of 2008 grads first took the test.
Faculty resources (.15): Resources are based on average fiscal year 2008 and 2009 expenditures per student for instruction, library, and supporting services (65 percent) and on all other items, including financial aid (10 percent); 2009 student/teacher ratio (20
percent); and total number of volumes and titles in library (5 percent).
Overall rank: Schools' scores on each indicator were standardized about their means. Then scores were weighted, totaled, and rescaled so that the top school received 100 and other schools received a percentage of the top score.
Specialty rankings: Rankings are based solely on votes by law faculty who are listed in the AALS Directory of Law Teachers 2007?2008 as teaching in the field or by directors of clinical and legal writing programs. They named up to 15 of the best in each field. Schools receiving the most votes are listed.
32 USN&WR ? AMERICA'S BEST GRADUATE SCHOOLS
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