Law programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 212 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best law schools.
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Choosing a Great Law School
The law program you select can have a big impact on your future. That is why we developed our collection of Best Schools for Law 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.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best Law Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
No school ranked higher than New York University this year for law. New York University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. New York University awarded about 523 law degrees in the most recent data year. Law graduates of New York University earn a median of $64,516 early in their careers. 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 came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best law schools. Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. About 96% of students finish within six years. Columbia University In The City Of New York awarded about 523 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.
Read more about the law program at Columbia University In The City Of New York
A rank of #3 makes Georgetown University one of the top schools for law. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. About 664 law degrees were awarded at Georgetown University in the most recent year. Graduates of the law program make about $168,995 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,483 to complete this degree.
Get the full law details for Georgetown University
Harvard University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in law, ranking #4. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cambridge. Harvard University graduates 98% of students within six years. Harvard University awarded about 622 law degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their law degree from Harvard University earn around $175,880 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete this degree.
Get the full law details for Harvard University
University Of Pennsylvania came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best law schools. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 305 law students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, law degree recipients from University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $157,243. Typical student debt for the program is $16,155.
See the full law program report for University Of Pennsylvania
University Of California Berkeley placed #6 among the best law schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Berkeley. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. There were roughly 408 law students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, law degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley generally make around $196,724. Students borrow a median of $14,238 to complete this degree.
See the full law program report for University Of California Berkeley
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor landed the #7 spot for law this year. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor awarded about 323 law degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, law degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $170,537. Typical student debt for the program is $19,137.
More information about a degree in law from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
University Of California Los Angeles placed #8 among the best law schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. University Of California Los Angeles awarded about 372 law degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their law degree from University Of California Los Angeles earn around $155,825 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,097 to complete this degree.
Read more about the law program at University Of California Los Angeles
Northwestern University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best law schools. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 293 law degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, law degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $210,979. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616.
Read more about the law program at Northwestern University
Washington University In St Louis ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best law schools. Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of St. Louis. Washington University In St Louis graduates 94% of students within six years. About 285 law degrees were awarded at Washington University In St Louis in the most recent 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.
More information about a degree in law from Washington University In St Louis
University Of Chicago placed #11 among the best law schools. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit university. University Of Chicago graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 199 law students who graduated with this degree at University Of Chicago in the most recent data year. Law graduates of University Of Chicago earn a median of $199,603 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,854.
More information about a degree in law from University Of Chicago
University Of Virginia Main Campus came in at #12 for law this year. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 298 law degrees were awarded at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent year. Law graduates of University Of Virginia Main Campus earn a median of $204,216 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,627 to complete this degree.
Read more about the law program at University Of Virginia Main Campus
University Of Southern California ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best law schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. University Of Southern California awarded about 220 law degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their law degree from University Of Southern California earn around $183,063 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,625.
More information about a degree in law from University Of Southern California
Stanford University placed #14 among the best law schools. Set in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. Stanford University awarded about 199 law degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the law program make about $162,001 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in law from Stanford University
George Washington University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best law schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 551 law degrees were awarded at George Washington University in the most recent 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.
Get the full law details for George Washington University
Fordham University placed #16 among the best law schools. Located in the city of Bronx, Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. Fordham University awarded about 455 law degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their law degree from Fordham University earn around $170,942 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,643.
Get the full law details for Fordham University
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best law schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Champaign. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates 85% of students within six years. About 203 law degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent 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.
Read more about the law program at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Boston University came in at #18 for law this year. Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. There were roughly 296 law students who graduated with this degree at Boston University in the most recent data year. Law graduates of Boston University earn a median of $139,986 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,232.
Read more about the law program at Boston University
Loyola University Chicago landed the #19 spot for law this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. About 351 law degrees were awarded at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, law degree recipients from Loyola University Chicago generally make around $83,184. Students borrow a median of $23,521 to complete this degree.
See the full law program report for Loyola University Chicago
Cornell University placed #20 among the best law schools. Set in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. Cornell University awarded about 195 law degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the law program make about $213,356 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,005 to complete this degree.
Get the full law details for Cornell University
University Of California Davis ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best law schools. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. University Of California Davis awarded about 242 law degrees in the most recent data year. Law graduates of University Of California Davis earn a median of $85,816 early in their careers. University Of California Davis graduates carry a median of $14,404 in student loans.
Read more about the law program at University Of California Davis
Pepperdine University placed #22 among the best law schools. Pepperdine University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Malibu. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 197 law degrees were awarded at Pepperdine University in the most recent year. Law graduates of Pepperdine University earn a median of $79,243 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,645.
Get the full law details for Pepperdine University
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus landed the #23 spot for law this year. This very large public university is located in the city of University Park. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 230 law degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent year.
Get the full law details for Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
The University Of Texas At Austin came in at #24 for law this year. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. The University Of Texas At Austin awarded about 411 law degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their law degree from The University Of Texas At Austin earn around $103,039 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,275.
See the full law program report for The University Of Texas At Austin
Duke University earned the #25 position for law this year. Set in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 97% of students finish within six years. About 277 law degrees were awarded at Duke University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, law degree recipients from Duke University generally make around $205,891. Students borrow a median of $13,296 to complete this degree.
See the full law program report for Duke University
Rest of the Top 50 Law Schools
These schools also placed among the best for law this year:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 212 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).
