by our College Data Analytics Team
[Law](/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/law/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. The highest-paying schools turn a law degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
College Factual analyzed 24 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying law schools.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send law graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Stanford University tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying law schools in California. Set in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, law degree recipients from Stanford University typically earn about $289,230 annually.
A rank of #2 makes University Of California Berkeley one of the highest-paying schools for law. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a public institution. Law graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of about $188,806 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of Southern California earned it the #3 place for law. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the law program here go on to a median salary of roughly $199,180.
Students chasing top earnings in law will find them at University Of California Los Angeles, which ranked #4. University Of California Los Angeles is a public school located in the city of Los Angeles. After graduating, law degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles typically earn about $172,729 annually.
University Of California Hastings College Of Law came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying law schools. University Of California Hastings College Of Law is a public school located in the city of San Francisco. Law graduates of University Of California Hastings College Of Law earn a median of about $147,936 a year early in their careers.
University Of California Irvine came in at #6 for law graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a public institution. Early-career law graduates from University Of California Irvine make a median of around $136,056 per year.
University Of San Diego ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying law schools. Located in the city of San Diego, University Of San Diego is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, law degree recipients from University Of San Diego typically earn about $130,132 annually.
Santa Clara University landed the #8 spot for law salaries this year. Santa Clara University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Santa Clara. Students who complete the law program here go on to a median salary of roughly $135,208.
University Of California Davis placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for law. University Of California Davis is a public school located in the suburb of Davis. Law graduates of University Of California Davis earn a median of about $120,830 a year early in their careers.
Loyola Marymount University placed #10 among the highest-paying schools for law. Located in the city of Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career law graduates from Loyola Marymount University make a median of around $122,746 per year.
Chapman University landed the #11 spot for law salaries this year. Set in the city of Orange, Chapman University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career law graduates from Chapman University make a median of around $115,598 per year.
University Of La Verne landed the #12 spot for law salaries this year. Set in the suburb of La Verne, University Of La Verne is a private not-for-profit institution. Law graduates of University Of La Verne earn a median of about $90,063 a year early in their careers.
University Of The Pacific came in at #13 for law graduate earnings this year. University Of The Pacific is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Stockton. After graduating, law degree recipients from University Of The Pacific typically earn about $103,883 annually.
Southwestern Law School placed #14 among the highest-paying schools for law. Set in the city of Los Angeles, Southwestern Law School is a private not-for-profit institution. Law graduates of Southwestern Law School earn a median of about $114,121 a year early in their careers.
Humphreys College Stockton And Modesto Campuses earned the #15 position for law graduate earnings this year. Humphreys College Stockton And Modesto Campuses is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Stockton. After graduating, law degree recipients from Humphreys College Stockton And Modesto Campuses typically earn about $83,296 annually.
California Western School Of Law earned the #16 position for law graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of San Diego, California Western School Of Law is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the law program here go on to a median salary of roughly $104,380.
University Of San Francisco earned the #17 position for law graduate earnings this year. University Of San Francisco is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Francisco. Students who complete the law program here go on to a median salary of roughly $75,635.
Golden Gate University San Francisco earned the #18 position for law graduate earnings this year. Golden Gate University San Francisco is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Francisco. Law graduates of Golden Gate University San Francisco earn a median of about $100,773 a year early in their careers.
Thomas Jefferson School Of Law ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying law schools. Thomas Jefferson School Of Law is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. After graduating, law degree recipients from Thomas Jefferson School Of Law typically earn about $93,379 annually.
Trinity Law School earned the #20 position for law graduate earnings this year. Trinity Law School is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Santa Ana. Early-career law graduates from Trinity Law School make a median of around $91,935 per year.
San Joaquin College Of Law landed the #21 spot for law salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Clovis, San Joaquin College Of Law is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the law program here go on to a median salary of roughly $59,595.
Westcliff University came in at #22 for law graduate earnings this year. Westcliff University is a private for-profit school located in the city of Irvine. After graduating, law degree recipients from Westcliff University typically earn about $58,618 annually.
The Santa Barbara And Ventura Colleges Of Law At Santa Barbara ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying law schools. The Santa Barbara And Ventura Colleges Of Law At Santa Barbara is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Santa Barbara. Law graduates of The Santa Barbara And Ventura Colleges Of Law At Santa Barbara earn a median of about $52,348 a year early in their careers.
The Santa Barbara And Ventura Colleges Of Law At Ventura came in at #24 for law graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Ventura, The Santa Barbara And Ventura Colleges Of Law At Ventura is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, law degree recipients from The Santa Barbara And Ventura Colleges Of Law At Ventura typically earn about $52,348 annually.
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their law graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 24 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.