The newest U.S. News Law School Rankings were just released, and multiple schools made big waves. Some moved up considerably—The Catholic University of America jumped 28 spots. Others were less fortunate—UC Law, San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings) dropped 22 spots.
Students often decide which law schools to attend based on these rankings. They shouldn’t dictate your school choice. The factors:
Employment: 33% (average of last two graduating years)
First-Time Bar Passage: 18% (average of last two graduating years)
Ultimate Bar Passage: 7% (average of last two graduating years)
Peer Assessment: 12.5%
Lawyer/Judge Assessment: 12.5%
LSAT/GRE: 5%
UGPA: 4%
Acceptance Rate: 1%
Student-Faculty Ratio: 5%
Library Resources: 2%
Visit U.S. News for the complete methodology.
The T14 saw little movement overall. The biggest winner was University of Virginia, which jumped into the number 4 spot, tied with Duke, Harvard, and University of Pennsylvania.
The biggest winner in the next tier of schools (T15-T50) was William & Mary Law School, which jumped 9 spots (45th to 36th). Right behind them, University of Colorado, Boulder and Florida State University both moved up 8 spots (56th to 48th).
Some of the largest gains occurred within the T51-T100 schools. The Catholic University of America rose 28 spots to number 94. Also moving up the rankings was University of Connecticut, with a 16-spot improvement to 55, and Pennsylvania State University, Dickinson Law, with a 14-spot jump to 75.
In the T14 group, New York University tumbled from number 5 to number 9.
In the T15-T50 group, Emory University and University of California, Irvine both dropped 7 spots, from 35th to 42nd.
Among the biggest losses in rankings was UC Law, San Francisco, plummeting 22 spots to 82nd. Stetson University dropped 14 spots to 98th. Right behind them, University of Miami and Texas Tech University both dropped 11 spots to 82nd.
Here’s the list of T100 law schools as ranked by U.S. News:
School |
Rank |
+/- |
1 |
- |
|
1 |
- |
|
3 |
- |
|
4 |
1 |
|
4 |
1 |
|
4 |
- |
|
4 |
4 |
|
8 |
- |
|
9 |
-4 |
|
9 |
1 |
|
9 |
1 |
|
12 |
-2 |
|
13 |
1 |
|
14 |
-1 |
|
14 |
1 |
|
16 |
- |
|
16 |
- |
|
16 |
4 |
|
19 |
-3 |
|
20 |
- |
|
20 |
2 |
|
20 |
7 |
|
20 |
-4 |
|
24 |
3 |
|
25 |
-3 |
|
26 |
-4 |
|
26 |
3 |
|
28 |
1 |
|
28 |
-6 |
|
28 |
4 |
|
28 |
-6 |
|
28 |
4 |
|
33 |
-4 |
|
33 |
2 |
|
33 |
7 |
|
36 |
-4 |
|
36 |
7 |
|
36 |
-1 |
|
36 |
4 |
|
36 |
9 |
|
41 |
-6 |
|
42 |
-7 |
|
42 |
3 |
|
42 |
3 |
|
42 |
-7 |
|
46 |
3 |
|
46 |
-6 |
|
48 |
8 |
|
48 |
8 |
|
48 |
1 |
|
48 |
-5 |
|
52 |
-7 |
|
52 |
-1 |
|
54 |
- |
|
55 |
-1 |
|
55 |
5 |
|
55 |
16 |
|
55 |
-4 |
|
55 |
-4 |
|
55 |
1 |
|
61 |
-1 |
|
61 |
-5 |
|
61 |
-1 |
|
61 |
10 |
|
61 |
8 |
|
66 |
-6 |
|
66 |
-6 |
|
68 |
-8 |
|
68 |
3 |
|
68 |
3 |
|
68 |
12 |
|
68 |
-8 |
|
68 |
-8 |
|
68 |
10 |
|
75 |
5 |
|
75 |
-6 |
|
75 |
14 |
|
78 |
6 |
|
78 |
-7 |
|
78 |
6 |
|
78 |
11 |
|
82 |
6 |
|
82 |
2 |
|
82 |
-11 |
|
82 |
-22 |
|
82 |
-11 |
|
82 |
7 |
|
82 |
-4 |
|
89 |
-9 |
|
89 |
-9 |
|
91 |
14 |
|
91 |
8 |
|
91 |
-2 |
|
94 |
-5 |
|
94 |
-5 |
|
94 |
28 |
|
94 |
2 |
|
98 |
-9 |
|
98 |
1 |
|
98 |
-14 |
|
98 |
7 |
|
98 |
-2 |
The largest shifts in rank occurred outside the T100. Samford University climbed 28 spots to number 103. University of Maine School of Law moved up 26 spots to 120. Gonzaga University dropped 21 spots, landing at number 120. University of Louisville plummeted to number 136, a 37-point drop.
For more: U.S. News Rankings