We’re all familiar with law school rankings, but these days many law school applicants are seeking the school with the best value as well. Fortunately, the National Jurist and preLaw magazine have compiled a list of the 60 Best Value law schools.
In order to make the ranking, schools have to meet three criteria: Their average indebtedness post-grad is below $100,000; their bar pass rate is higher than the state average; and 85 percent or more of their class is employed nine months after graduation. The schools are then ranked using these factors and in-state tuition costs. Not surprisingly, most of the schools listed are publicly funded, but 11 out of 60 are private.
Top schools such as Yale will not be found on the list, since the study “is not designed to identify the schools where students can get their greatest return on investment.” These rankings are geared to those students working in public service or for small, regional firms.
It seems that going to a public school and paying in-state tuition can be a smart move, and many schools even allow students to change to in-state status after the first year. Many of the schools in the Top 20 here boast smaller class sizes and their strong commitment to helping students land jobs. Their career services programs include strong alumni relationships, internship and externship programs, and even mock interviews. Most students end up finding jobs in the region where they attended law school, something to keep in mind when applying to schools in various parts of the country.
For a more critical and realistic take on these rankings, check out Above the Law.
Meanwhile, here are the top 5 Best Value law schools:
- Georgia State University
- Brigham Young University, UT
- University of Louisville
- University of Nebraska—Lincoln
- University of Kansas
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Read the full article: Ranking Law Schools…by Best Value
