by our College Data Analytics Team
[Law](/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/law/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. The highest-paying schools turn a law degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 15 schools on the early-career earnings of their law graduates.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose law graduates go on to earn the most.
Washington University In St Louis tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying law schools in the The Plains States Region. Located in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the law program here go on to a median salary of roughly $153,068.
University Of Iowa produces some of the highest-paid graduates in law, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a public institution. Early-career law graduates from University Of Iowa make a median of around $110,931 per year.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities produces some of the highest-paid graduates in law, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a public institution. Students who complete the law program here go on to a median salary of roughly $108,654.
William Mitchell College Of Law produces some of the highest-paid graduates in law, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Saint Paul, William Mitchell College Of Law is a private not-for-profit institution. Law graduates of William Mitchell College Of Law earn a median of about $91,705 a year early in their careers.
University Of South Dakota produces some of the highest-paid graduates in law, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the town of Vermillion, University Of South Dakota is a public institution. Early-career law graduates from University Of South Dakota make a median of around $76,365 per year.
Drake University placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for law. Drake University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Des Moines. After graduating, law degree recipients from Drake University typically earn about $81,991 annually.
University Of Kansas placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for law. Located in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a public institution. After graduating, law degree recipients from University Of Kansas typically earn about $83,060 annually.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying law schools. Set in the city of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a public institution. Law graduates of University Of Nebraska Lincoln earn a median of about $86,484 a year early in their careers.
University Of St Thomas Minnesota landed the #9 spot for law salaries this year. University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. Law graduates of University Of St Thomas Minnesota earn a median of about $83,800 a year early in their careers.
Creighton University earned the #10 position for law graduate earnings this year. Creighton University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Omaha. Law graduates of Creighton University earn a median of about $80,958 a year early in their careers.
Saint Louis University Main Campus landed the #11 spot for law salaries this year. Located in the city of Saint Louis, Saint Louis University Main Campus is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, law degree recipients from Saint Louis University Main Campus typically earn about $71,391 annually.
University Of Missouri Kansas City earned the #12 position for law graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a public institution. Law graduates of University Of Missouri Kansas City earn a median of about $85,547 a year early in their careers.
University Of Missouri Columbia earned the #13 position for law graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a public institution. Law graduates of University Of Missouri Columbia earn a median of about $84,543 a year early in their careers.
University Of North Dakota ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying law schools. Located in the city of Grand Forks, University Of North Dakota is a public institution. Early-career law graduates from University Of North Dakota make a median of around $77,818 per year.
Washburn University placed #15 among the highest-paying schools for law. Set in the city of Topeka, Washburn University is a public institution. After graduating, law degree recipients from Washburn University typically earn about $75,098 annually.
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 · 15 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.