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.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 29 schools to find where law graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send law graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Columbia University In The City Of New York tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying law schools in the Middle Atlantic Region. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, law degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York typically earn about $332,787 annually.
New York University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in law, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the law program here go on to a median salary of roughly $246,348.
University Of Pennsylvania came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying law schools. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career law graduates from University Of Pennsylvania make a median of around $290,543 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in law will find them at Fordham University, which ranked #4. Fordham University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bronx. Law graduates of Fordham University earn a median of about $204,090 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at Georgetown University earned it the #5 place for law. Georgetown University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Law graduates of Georgetown University earn a median of about $163,738 a year early in their careers.
George Washington University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying law schools. George Washington University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Early-career law graduates from George Washington University make a median of around $142,941 per year.
St Johns University New York placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for law. Located in the city of Queens, St Johns University New York is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the law program here go on to a median salary of roughly $118,711.
Yeshiva University placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for law. Set in the city of New York, Yeshiva University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, law degree recipients from Yeshiva University typically earn about $124,451 annually.
Brooklyn Law School earned the #9 position for law graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Brooklyn Law School is a private not-for-profit institution. Law graduates of Brooklyn Law School earn a median of about $116,272 a year early in their careers.
Catholic University Of America ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying law schools. Catholic University Of America is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Law graduates of Catholic University Of America earn a median of about $118,594 a year early in their careers.
Howard University placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for law. Set in the city of Washington, Howard University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the law program here go on to a median salary of roughly $105,202.
Seton Hall University placed #12 among the highest-paying schools for law. Set in the suburb of South Orange, Seton Hall University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the law program here go on to a median salary of roughly $120,552.
Villanova University came in at #13 for law graduate earnings this year. Villanova University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Villanova. Law graduates of Villanova University earn a median of about $113,412 a year early in their careers.
American University landed the #14 spot for law salaries this year. Set in the city of Washington, American University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, law degree recipients from American University typically earn about $112,063 annually.
University Of Maryland Baltimore landed the #15 spot for law salaries this year. Set in the city of Baltimore, University Of Maryland Baltimore is a public institution. After graduating, law degree recipients from University Of Maryland Baltimore typically earn about $109,328 annually.
New York Law School earned the #16 position for law graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of New York, New York Law School is a private not-for-profit institution. Law graduates of New York Law School earn a median of about $103,657 a year early in their careers.
Temple University placed #17 among the highest-paying schools for law. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a public institution. Law graduates of Temple University earn a median of about $107,536 a year early in their careers.
Hofstra University landed the #18 spot for law salaries this year. Hofstra University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Hempstead. Early-career law graduates from Hofstra University make a median of around $108,159 per year.
Cuny School Of Law At Queens College placed #19 among the highest-paying schools for law. Cuny School Of Law At Queens College is a public school located in the city of Long Island City. Early-career law graduates from Cuny School Of Law At Queens College make a median of around $91,698 per year.
Pace University New York ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying law schools. Pace University New York is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Students who complete the law program here go on to a median salary of roughly $98,708.
Syracuse University came in at #21 for law graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a private not-for-profit institution. Law graduates of Syracuse University earn a median of about $97,544 a year early in their careers.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earned the #22 position for law graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a public institution. Early-career law graduates from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus make a median of around $96,860 per year.
Touro College came in at #23 for law graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of New York, Touro College is a private not-for-profit institution. Law graduates of Touro College earn a median of about $98,108 a year early in their careers.
University Of Baltimore earned the #24 position for law graduate earnings this year. University Of Baltimore is a public school located in the city of Baltimore. After graduating, law degree recipients from University Of Baltimore typically earn about $95,944 annually.
Drexel University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying law schools. Drexel University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. Students who complete the law program here go on to a median salary of roughly $97,024.
These schools also send law graduates into strong-paying careers this year:
The ranking above is published 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 · 29 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.