by our College Data Analytics Team
[Law](/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/law/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
College Factual analyzed 26 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.
University Of Chicago tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying law schools in the Great Lakes Region. University Of Chicago is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Law graduates of University Of Chicago earn a median of about $308,354 a year early in their careers.
Northwestern University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in law, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a private not-for-profit institution. Law graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of about $256,851 a year early in their careers.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying law schools. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public institution. Students who complete the law program here go on to a median salary of roughly $197,273.
University Of Notre Dame came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying law schools. Located in the suburb of Notre Dame, University Of Notre Dame is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the law program here go on to a median salary of roughly $153,320.
Students chasing top earnings in law will find them at Loyola University Chicago, which ranked #5. Loyola University Chicago is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Students who complete the law program here go on to a median salary of roughly $125,944.
Purdue University Global landed the #6 spot for law salaries this year. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Global is a public institution. Early-career law graduates from Purdue University Global make a median of around $93,162 per year.
Ohio State University Main Campus landed the #7 spot for law salaries this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a public institution. Law graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of about $103,227 a year early in their careers.
Illinois Institute Of Technology placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for law. Located in the city of Chicago, Illinois Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. Law graduates of Illinois Institute Of Technology earn a median of about $109,015 a year early in their careers.
Indiana University Bloomington earned the #9 position for law graduate earnings this year. Indiana University Bloomington is a public school located in the city of Bloomington. Law graduates of Indiana University Bloomington earn a median of about $101,126 a year early in their careers.
University Of Wisconsin Madison landed the #10 spot for law salaries this year. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a public school located in the city of Madison. Early-career law graduates from University Of Wisconsin Madison make a median of around $104,344 per year.
Wayne State University earned the #11 position for law graduate earnings this year. Wayne State University is a public school located in the city of Detroit. Students who complete the law program here go on to a median salary of roughly $102,400.
Case Western Reserve University placed #12 among the highest-paying schools for law. Set in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, law degree recipients from Case Western Reserve University typically earn about $100,147 annually.
Depaul University landed the #13 spot for law salaries this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, law degree recipients from Depaul University typically earn about $98,094 annually.
Michigan State University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying law schools. Michigan State University is a public school located in the city of East Lansing. Law graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of about $91,995 a year early in their careers.
Marquette University landed the #15 spot for law salaries this year. Located in the city of Milwaukee, Marquette University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career law graduates from Marquette University make a median of around $95,359 per year.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying law schools. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a public institution. After graduating, law degree recipients from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis typically earn about $92,415 annually.
University Of Detroit Mercy earned the #17 position for law graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Detroit, University Of Detroit Mercy is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the law program here go on to a median salary of roughly $89,281.
Cleveland State University placed #18 among the highest-paying schools for law. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland State University is a public institution. After graduating, law degree recipients from Cleveland State University typically earn about $85,742 annually.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus landed the #19 spot for law salaries this year. Set in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a public institution. Law graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of about $85,863 a year early in their careers.
Capital University placed #20 among the highest-paying schools for law. Set in the suburb of Columbus, Capital University is a private not-for-profit institution. Law graduates of Capital University earn a median of about $79,762 a year early in their careers.
University Of Akron Main Campus landed the #21 spot for law salaries this year. Set in the city of Akron, University Of Akron Main Campus is a public institution. Law graduates of University Of Akron Main Campus earn a median of about $77,421 a year early in their careers.
Northern Illinois University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying law schools. Northern Illinois University is a public school located in the suburb of Dekalb. Early-career law graduates from Northern Illinois University make a median of around $74,619 per year.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale earned the #23 position for law graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a public institution. Early-career law graduates from Southern Illinois University Carbondale make a median of around $75,561 per year.
University Of Toledo earned the #24 position for law graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Toledo, University Of Toledo is a public institution. Law graduates of University Of Toledo earn a median of about $70,003 a year early in their careers.
Thomas M Cooley Law School placed #25 among the highest-paying schools for law. Thomas M Cooley Law School is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lansing. Law graduates of Thomas M Cooley Law School earn a median of about $71,846 a year early in their careers.
These schools also send law graduates into strong-paying careers this year:
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries law graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 26 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.