Top 10 Law Schools in the United States (2008/09)
By Zul • Jul 23rd, 2008 • Category: Editor's Pick •
Top 10 law schools in the US, as according to USNews.com.
184 law schools accredited by the American Bar Association, weighing 12 criteria as the measurement.
The data for the research was collected in between the fall of 2007 and in the early of year 2008.
Measurements used in the ranking include peer assessment score, median LSAT (Law School Admission Test) scores, average CGPA, acceptance rate, rate of employment, bar passage rate, resources and facilities, as well as overall university ranking.
1. Yale University
Location: New Haven, Connecticut
Tuition and fees (approx): $43,750
2007 law enrollment: 586
2006 % of graduation: 96.1%
General ranking (overall): 5th
2. Harvard University
Location: Boston
Tuition and fees (approx): $39,325
2007 law enrollment: 1,734
2006 % of graduation: 96.4%
General ranking (overall): 2nd
3. Stanford University
Location: Stanford, California
Tuition and fees (approx): $39,916
2007 law enrollment: 583
2006 % of graduation: 98.3%
General ranking (overall): 4th
4. Columbia University
Location: New York
Tuition and fees (approx): $43,470
2007 law enrollment: 538
2006 % of graduation: 98.3%
General ranking (overall): 9th
5. New York University
Location: New York
Tuition and fees (approx): $40,890
2007 law enrollment: 1,424
2006 % of graduation: 96.3%
General ranking (overall): 34th
6. University of California - Berkeley
Location: Berkeley, California
Tuition and fees (approx): $39,141
2007 law enrollment: 864
2006 % of graduation: 99%
General ranking (overall): 25th
7. University of Chicago
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Tuition and fees (approx): $39,198
2007 law enrollment: 607
2006 % of graduation: 96.4%
General ranking (overall): 10th
8. University of Pennsylvania
Location: Philadelphia
Tuition and fees (approx): $41,960
2007 law enrollment: 782
2006 % of graduation: 95.3%
General ranking (overall): 5th
8. Northwestern University
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Tuition and fees (approx): $42,942
2007 law enrollment: 771
2006 % of graduation: 96.2%
General ranking (overall): 14th
9. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
Tuition and fees (approx): $41,949
2007 law enrollment: 1,148
2006 % of graduation: 97.2%
General ranking (overall): 25th
10. University of Virginia
Location: Charlottesville, Virginia
Tuition and fees (approx): $38,500
2007 law enrollment: 1,175
2006 % of graduation: 96.8%
General ranking (overall): 23rd
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I find it interesting that tuition costs don’t go down much as you go down the list of schools. Even way beyond the top ten. In fact, some of the lowest ranked schools charge the most. With tuition, books, rent, loss of salary for three years, living costs, the average law student is going to spend at least $200,000 regardless of the quality of the school they spend it at. My conclusion: study for the LSAT as hard as you can and get into the best law school you can.