The school you choose for law can shape your career. To help, we created our Best Law Schools rankings. For our Best Overall Law School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
New York University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in law. New York University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. New York University awarded about 417 law degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, law degree recipients from New York University generally make around $64,516. New York University graduates carry a median of $21,897 in student loans.
See the full law program report for New York University
Columbia University In The City Of New York is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in law, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Columbia University In The City Of New York graduates 96% of students within six years. Columbia University In The City Of New York awarded about 457 law degrees in the most recent data year. Law graduates of Columbia University In The City Of New York earn a median of $220,843 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,258 to complete this degree.
Get the full law details for Columbia University In The City Of New York
Students looking for a strong law program will find one at Georgetown University, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 95% of students finish within six years. About 703 law degrees were awarded at Georgetown University in the most recent year. Students who receive their law degree from Georgetown University earn around $168,995 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,483 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in law from Georgetown University
Students looking for a strong law program will find one at Harvard University, which ranked #4. Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. Harvard University graduates 98% of students within six years. There were roughly 603 law students who graduated with this degree at Harvard University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, law degree recipients from Harvard University generally make around $175,880. Harvard University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans.
Get the full law details for Harvard University
University Of Pennsylvania is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in law, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 254 law students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Students who receive their law degree from University Of Pennsylvania earn around $157,243 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Pennsylvania graduates carry a median of $16,155 in student loans.
See the full law program report for University Of Pennsylvania
Washington University In St Louis ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best law schools. Set in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit institution. Washington University In St Louis graduates 94% of students within six years. There were roughly 274 law students who graduated with this degree at Washington University In St Louis in the most recent data year. Students who receive their law degree from Washington University In St Louis earn around $87,690 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,553 to complete this degree.
Get the full law details for Washington University In St Louis
University Of Chicago ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best law schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 215 law degrees were awarded at University Of Chicago in the most recent year. Law graduates of University Of Chicago earn a median of $199,603 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,854 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in law from University Of Chicago
Northwestern University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best law schools. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. Northwestern University awarded about 292 law degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the law program make about $210,979 in their early career. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans.
Read more about the law program at Northwestern University
University Of California Berkeley placed #9 among the best law schools. University Of California Berkeley is a very large public school located in the city of Berkeley. About 93% of students finish within six years. University Of California Berkeley awarded about 283 law degrees in the most recent data year. Law graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $196,724 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,238 to complete this degree.
Read more about the law program at University Of California Berkeley
Duke University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best law schools. Located in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 97%. Duke University awarded about 230 law degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their law degree from Duke University earn around $205,891 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,296 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in law from Duke University
University Of Virginia Main Campus placed #11 among the best law schools. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 304 law students who graduated with this degree at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their law degree from University Of Virginia Main Campus earn around $204,216 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,627.
See the full law program report for University Of Virginia Main Campus
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned the #12 position for law this year. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor awarded about 343 law degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their law degree from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn around $170,537 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,137.
See the full law program report for University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
University Of Southern California came in at #13 for law this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 92% of students finish within six years. About 229 law degrees were awarded at University Of Southern California in the most recent year. Students who receive their law degree from University Of Southern California earn around $183,063 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,625 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in law from University Of Southern California
Fordham University landed the #14 spot for law this year. Set in the city of Bronx, Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 420 law students who graduated with this degree at Fordham University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the law program make about $170,942 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,643.
Get the full law details for Fordham University
Stanford University came in at #15 for law this year. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 188 law students who graduated with this degree at Stanford University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their law degree from Stanford University earn around $162,001 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete this degree.
Get the full law details for Stanford University
University Of California Los Angeles ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best law schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public institution. About 93% of students finish within six years. University Of California Los Angeles awarded about 330 law degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, law degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $155,825. Typical student debt for the program is $16,097.
Read more about the law program at University Of California Los Angeles
George Washington University earned the #17 position for law this year. George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. George Washington University graduates 84% of students within six years. George Washington University awarded about 569 law degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their law degree from George Washington University earn around $95,225 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,910 to complete this degree.
Read more about the law program at George Washington University
Cornell University landed the #18 spot for law this year. Set in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 95% of students finish within six years. About 197 law degrees were awarded at Cornell University in the most recent year. Law graduates of Cornell University earn a median of $213,356 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,005.
Read more about the law program at Cornell University
Boston University earned the #19 position for law this year. Set in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 89% of students finish within six years. About 215 law degrees were awarded at Boston University in the most recent year. Law graduates of Boston University earn a median of $139,986 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,232 to complete this degree.
Read more about the law program at Boston University
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best law schools. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates 85% of students within six years. There were roughly 153 law students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent data year. Students who receive their law degree from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn around $84,855 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates carry a median of $20,778 in student loans.
More information about a degree in law from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Pepperdine University landed the #21 spot for law this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Malibu. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. About 183 law degrees were awarded at Pepperdine University in the most recent year. Students who receive their law degree from Pepperdine University earn around $79,243 in the first couple years of their career. Pepperdine University graduates carry a median of $23,645 in student loans.
See the full law program report for Pepperdine University
Yale University landed the #22 spot for law this year. Located in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. Yale University awarded about 211 law degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their law degree from Yale University earn around $139,244 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,357.
More information about a degree in law from Yale University
Villanova University ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best law schools. Villanova University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Villanova. Villanova University graduates 92% of students within six years. Villanova University awarded about 184 law degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their law degree from Villanova University earn around $74,646 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,184.
Get the full law details for Villanova University
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill landed the #24 spot for law this year. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. About 91% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 184 law students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent data year. Students who receive their law degree from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn around $81,794 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,117.
More information about a degree in law from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
Vanderbilt University ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best law schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Nashville. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. About 168 law degrees were awarded at Vanderbilt University in the most recent year. Graduates of the law program make about $156,307 in their early career. Vanderbilt University graduates carry a median of $13,975 in student loans.
More information about a degree in law from Vanderbilt University
Rest of the Top 50 Law Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong law education:
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 201 schools evaluated.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
