When it comes to ranking law schools there are a variety of factors to consider. However, if one were to look at elements that provide the “best value” for students, the focus is often on factors such as tuition, cost of living expenses, students average debt upon graduation, the percentage of graduates who secure jobs post-graduation, and bar passage rates. Indeed, this is the methodology employed by The National Jurist’s preLaw Magazine in formulating its unique rankings.
Typically, public schools dominate this list due to their favorable tuition and cost of living rates, but private institutions are not entirely absent. The rankings tend to weigh heavily in favor of public schools due to the above-mentioned factors. Astonishingly, for the past two years, it was a private school that topped this value ranking but no longer; The 2023 list sees a return of public dominance. Above The Law
Under this particular evaluation, this years’ top 20 “best value” law schools according to National Jurist are:
- University of Georgia
- Brigham Young University
- University of Alabama
- University of Kansas
- University of Florida
- University of Montana
- University of Kentucky
- Florida State University
- University of Tennessee
- University of Utah
- University of Missouri
- University of Iowa
- University of Oklahoma
- Texas Tech University
- University of Nebraska
- Texas A&M Law
- University of Wisconsin
- Ohio State University
- University of Illinois
- University of North Carolina
Reflections on this list reveal a powerful message for prospective law students: If you want to keep your debt low, consider a public law school. However, it is also worthwhile to note that for those potential students unfazed by the prospects of a six-figure debt load, the best course of action is to secure a place in the highest-ranking law school they can gain entry to. Why? Because typically these schools are in the top 50 law schools, where job prospects are significantly higher and thus an excellent means of servicing loans upon graduation.
In conclusion, it is a significant achievement for the institutes that hold places in the list of “best value” law schools as it shows they offer an educational value both in quantitative and qualitative terms that benefits their students.
Further details can be found on the preLaw Magazine / National Jurist page