Law Schools
These law schools have the best return on investment, analysis says
The University of Georgia School of Law has the best return on investments for law students, according to an analysis by legal jobs aggregator LawCrossing. (Image from Shutterstock)
The University of Georgia School of Law has the best return on investments for law students, according to an analysis by legal jobs aggregator LawCrossing.
The Georgia law school had a 91% employment rate, $85,000 in median debt, a median starting salary of $120,000 and a 94% bar pass rate, according to the 2026 Law School ROI Rankings.
The median starting salary for all law graduates is $95,000, but the distribution is bimodal. Fifty percent of grads earn $60,000 to $85,000, while 23% earn $215,000 to $225,000.
The top 10 law schools for return on investment are:
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The University of Georgia School of Law
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The Brigham Young University J. Reuben Clark Law School
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The University of Iowa College of Law
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Cornell Law School
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The University of Alabama School of Law
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The University of Florida Levin College of Law
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The Texas A&M University School of Law
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The University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law
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The University of Houston Law Center
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The Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law
The rankings are based on:
• Cost (55%): Tuition, fees, living expenses and debt burden
• Employment outcomes (30%): Job placement rates and employment quality
• Bar passage (15%): First-time and ultimate bar passage rates
Law schools ranking in the top 14 by U.S. News & World Report had the best group employment rate at 94%, the best first-time and ultimate bar passage rates (91% and 98%, respectively), and the highest median starting salary ($190,000). But they also had the highest median debt at $155,000.
The employment rate was 89% at top 50 schools and 78% at regional schools. First-time and ultimate bar passage rates were 84% and 94%, respectively, at top 50 schools and 76% and 89%, respectively, at regional schools.
The median starting salary was $140,000 at top 50 schools and $85,000 at regional schools. The median debt was $125,000 at top 50 schools and $95,000 at regional schools.
LawCrossing obtained the data and standards from the ABA; the National Association for Law Placement; the U.S. Department of Education; and Law School Transparency, a nonprofit consumer advocacy and education organization. The analysis is based on class of 2024 law grads.
Hat tip to the JDJournal, which had a summary of the findings.
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