LAW SCHOOL RANKING 
SECTION TEN 

 

2008 U.S. NEWS RANKING OF
LAW SCHOOLS BY CATEGORIES

 
FORMAT OF THE RANKING. Our table of the ranking of the 184 ABA-approved law schools gives, for each of these law schools, the USN RANK, the USN Score (this score determines the rank), and the ranking of these law schools in five important categories (e.g. PEER RANK, JUDGE/LAWYER RANK). GPA rank, LSAT rank, and  Bar Passage rank). For each of these criteria, a law school's ranking can range from 1 (best) to 184 (worst) with third-tier quality being 105 to 139 inclusive and fourth-tier quality being 140 to 184.
AVERAGE GPA AND LSAT. The average GPA and LSAT scores for the entering class of a law school do not seem to be available. For lack of a better name, we, like just about everyone else, will use, albeit incorrectly, Average GPA and Average LSAT to denote the average of the law schools's twenty-fifth percentile and the law school's seventy-fifth percentile in GPA and LSAT respectively. Note that what we call the "average" is, almost always, neither the average nor the median.
FOR THE TOP 104 LAW SCHOOLS, WE GIVE THE REASON FOR COLORING SOME OF THE COLUMNS AND CELLS
         

        

    
  For each of the last five columns, the two preceding colors indicate agreement, if any, with the USN RANK (first column). Thus, for example, from the color coding of the PEER RANK, we see that the USN RANK and PEER RANK agree on the top three law schools (albeit not their order) and the top eighteen law schools (albeit not their order). 
  For each of the last five columns, the color red indicates a very poor performance in this category with respect to the USN RANK (e.g. the Stanford University has a USN rank of 2.5 but by comparison an very unimpressive average LSAT rank of 6).  
  For each of the last five columns, the pink color indictes a poor performance in this category with respect to the USN RANK (e.g. the University of Southern California has a USN rank of 16.5 but by comparison an unimpressive judge/lawyer rank of 28.5).  
    For each of the last five columns, the light turquoise color indictes a good performance in this category with respect to the USN RANK (e.g. the University of San Diego has an USN rank of 87.5 but by comparison a more impressive Peer average rank of 51).  
    For each of the last five columns, the aqua color indictes a very good performance in this category with respect to the USN RANK (e.g. Boston University has an USN rank of 20.5 but by comparison a much more impressive GPA rank of 8).  
AN ATTEMPT TO RANK THE LAW SCHOOLS IN THE THIRD TIER AND THE LAW SCHOOLS IN THE FOURTH TIER
For what it's worth, using
the Peer Rank (30%), Judge/Lawyer Rank (20%), GPA (20%), and LSAT (30%), we suggest an ordering of the third-tier law schools and we suggest an ordering of the fourth tier law schools. Within each tier, our ranking is implied by the order in which the law schools appear and law schools with the same color are closely ranked.  One should not take our ranking oF the third tier law schools and the ranking of the fourth tier law schools too seriously because more information would be needed to do a decent ranking.

The determination of Bar Passage Rate is explained after this table.

USN

 

 

JUDGE/

Rank of

Rank of

Bar

RANK

LAW SCHOOL

PEER

LAWYER

Average

Average

Passage

 

 

RANK

RANK

GPA

LSAT

Rank

1

Yale U (CT)

1.0

2.0

1.0

1.0

8.0

2.5

Harvard U (MA)

2.0

2.0

3.0

2.0

6.0

2.5

Stanford U (CA)

3.0

2.0

2.0

6.0

21.0

4

New York U 

5.0

7.0

6.0

5.0

11.0

5

Columbia U (NY)

5.0

4.5

11.5

3.0

22.0

6.5

U Chicago 

5.0

4.5

17.0

4.0

17.0

6.5

U Pennsylvania 

10.0

9.5

11.5

8.5

5.0

8.5

U Michigan

7.0

7.0

11.5

11.0

3.0

8.5

UC Berkeley 

8.5

9.5

4.0

14.5

20.0

10.5

U Virginia 

8.5

7.0

11.5

8.5

2.0

10.5

Duke U (NC)

12.0

12.0

5.0

12.5

9.0

12

Northwestern U (IL)

15.0

12.0

25.5

8.5

19.0

13

Cornell U (NY)

12.0

12.0

14.0

12.5

7.0

14

Georgetown U (DC)

12.0

15.0

15.5

8.5

16.0

15

UCLA

15.0

17.5

20.5

17.0

18.0

16.5

Vanderbilt U (TN)

17.5

15.0

7.0

17.0

52.0

16.5

U Southern California

17.5

28.5

23.5

14.5

36.0

18

U Texas-Austin 

15.0

15.0

38.0

20.0

41.0

19

Washington U (MO) 

20.5

22.5

76.0

23.5

103.0

20.5

Boston U 

26.0

34.0

8.0

23.5

23.0

20.5

U Minnesota-TC 

20.5

22.5

62.5

20.0

1.0

22.5

George Washington U

26.0

22.5

18.0

23.5

33.0

22.5

Emory U (GA)

26.0

19.0

62.5

27.0

14.0

24

U Iowa 

26.0

28.5

22.0

56.5

49.5

26

Fordham U (NY)

34.5

34.0

35.5

20.0

37.5

26

Washington & Lee U

26.0

22.5

55.0

23.5

13.0

26

U Illinois (UIUC)

26.0

28.5

86.0

30.0

66.0

29

Boston College 

31.0

28.5

29.0

27.0

47.0

29

U Washington 

38.0

38.0

9.0

35.5

62.0

29

U Notre Dame (IN)

31.0

22.5

65.0

17.0

34.0

32

William and Mary  (VA)

34.5

28.5

29.0

27.0

32.0

32

Ohio State U

31.0

34.0

35.5

56.5

40.0

32

U Wisconsin-Madison 

20.5

28.5

67.5

66.5

65.0

34.5

UC Davis 

26.0

34.0

46.0

39.0

81.0

34.5

George Mason U (VA)

56.5

40.5

81.5

33.0

107.0

39.5

U North Carolina

20.5

17.5

32.5

49.0

48.0

39.5

UC (Hastings) 

34.5

22.5

35.5

43.0

27.0

39.5

U Maryland 

45.5

57.5

29.0

35.5

91.0

39.5

U Colorado-Boulder 

41.5

51.0

40.5

39.0

31.0

39.5

U Alabama 

51.0

45.5

40.5

39.0

4.0

39.5

Wake Forest U (NC)

41.5

34.0

76.0

33.0

12.0

39.5

U Georgia 

41.5

51.0

20.5

61.0

49.5

39.5

Indiana U-Bloomington 

34.5

38.0

52.5

56.5

74.0

44.5

Brigham Young U (UT)

51.0

45.5

25.5

30.0

69.0

44.5

U Arizona (Rogers) 

38.0

57.5

50.5

49.0

60.0

46

Southern Methodist U

63.0

45.5

32.5

49.0

58.0

48.5

Tulane U (LA)

41.5

40.5

49.0

49.0

63.0

48.5

U Florida

38.0

38.0

19.0

86.0

59.0

48.5

U Connecticut 

45.5

69.5

71.5

49.0

42.0

48.5

American U (DC)

45.5

45.5

104.5

56.5

86.5

51

Arizona State U

45.5

69.5

45.0

79.0

148.0

52

Yeshiva U (Cardozo)

56.5

81.0

67.5

30.0

53.0

54.5

Baylor U (TX)

81.0

45.5

15.5

61.0

10.0

54.5

Florida State U 

51.0

69.5

59.0

66.5

85.0

54.5

U Tennessee-Knoxville 

63.0

57.5

35.5

86.0

46.0

54.5

Case Western Reserve

56.5

45.5

125.0

73.5

83.0

58

U Utah 

56.5

81.0

29.0

66.5

128.5

58

U Cincinnati 

71.5

69.5

43.5

73.5

61.0

58

U Pittsburgh 

51.0

45.5

109.5

66.5

88.0

62.5

Villanova U (PA)

63.0

45.5

78.5

43.0

90.0

62.5

IIT (Chicago-Kent) 

63.0

93.5

47.0

49.0

113.0

62.5

Temple U (PA)

63.0

51.0

91.0

49.0

72.0

62.5

U Kentucky 

71.5

69.5

23.5

79.0

37.5

62.5

Brooklyn Law School

63.0

105.5

88.0

33.0

57.0

62.5

U Houston 

63.0

93.5

55.0

66.5

92.0

67.5

U Kansas 

63.0

57.5

59.0

86.0

116.0

67.5

U Missouri-Columbia 

63.0

57.5

66.0

86.0

118.0

67.5

Pepperdine U (CA)

92.5

81.0

48.0

66.5

73.0

67.5

Loyola (Los Angeles)

71.5

81.0

113.5

49.0

75.0

73

Loyola U Chicago 

81.0

69.5

84.5

39.0

84.0

73

U Miami (FL)

51.0

69.5

73.5

86.0

89.0

73

Seton Hall U (NJ)

71.5

69.5

91.0

56.5

79.0

73

Rutgers-Camden (NJ)

71.5

57.5

141.5

49.0

95.0

73

U Oklahoma 

81.0

69.5

40.5

101.0

15.0

73

St. John's U (NY)

92.5

93.5

59.0

66.5

29.0

73

U New Mexico 

71.5

105.5

104.5

123.5

35.0

79

U Nebraska-Lincoln 

81.0

69.5

43.5

101.0

80.0

79

Rutgers-Newark (NJ)

71.5

57.5

126.0

86.0

121.0

79

U Richmond (VA)

92.5

81.0

130.0

56.5

51.0

79

U at Buffalo-SUNY 

81.0

93.5

78.5

113.5

108.0

79

U Denver (Sturm) 

81.0

93.5

109.5

94.5

150.0

83

U Oregon 

51.0

57.5

118.5

73.5

96.0

83

Lewis and Clark (OR)

81.0

105.5

113.5

39.0

102.0

83

Georgia State U 

92.5

81.0

139.0

66.5

39.0

87.5

U San Diego 

51.0

115.5

135.5

43.0

44.0

87.5

St. Louis U 

92.5

57.5

50.5

101.0

143.0

87.5

Indiana U-Indianapolis 

71.5

93.5

59.0

106.0

156.0

87.5

Northeastern U (MA)

92.5

115.5

93.5

73.5

24.0

87.5

Seattle U 

103.5

93.5

88.0

94.5

109.0

87.5

U Toledo (OH)

125.0

132.5

88.0

94.5

134.0

93.5

Santa Clara U (CA)

81.0

93.5

124.0

61.0

114.0

93.5

U South Carolina 

103.5

81.0

81.5

79.0

70.0

93.5

Louisiana State U

92.5

69.5

69.5

106.0

43.0

93.5

U Hawaii

81.0

124.5

84.5

86.0

56.0

93.5

DePaul U (IL)

92.5

93.5

139.0

73.5

130.0

93.5

Pennsylvania State U

103.5

57.5

161.0

86.0

110.0

98

Marquette U (WI)

92.5

81.0

71.5

101.0

101.0

98

Catholic U (DC)

81.0

69.5

128.0

86.0

132.5

98

U Louisville (KY)

103.5

115.5

73.5

94.5

54.0

102

U Nevada-Las Vegas

103.5

132.5

52.5

79.0

111.0

102

U San Francisco

113.5

93.5

132.0

73.5

76.0

102

Stetson U (FL)

113.5

115.5

96.0

132.5

97.0

102

U Pacific

125.0

147.0

109.5

94.5

117.0

102

Mercer U (GA)

125.0

115.5

122.0

113.5

67.0

Tier 3

U Mississippi 

103.5

69.5

55.0

123.5

55.0

Tier 3

Michigan State U 

103.5

69.5

115.5

94.5

105.0

Tier 3

Hofstra U (NY)

92.5

93.5

81.5

113.5

142.0

Tier 3

Syracuse U (NY)

81.0

81.0

118.5

123.5

146.0

Tier 3

U Arkansas-Fayetteville 

92.5

93.5

98.0

123.5

125.0

Tier 3

Texas Tech U 

125.0

115.5

29.0

138.0

45.0

Tier 3

U Maine 

103.5

115.5

100.5

113.5

98.0

Tier 3

U Missouri-KC

113.5

124.5

59.0

138.0

155.0

Tier 3

Creighton U (NE)

125.0

105.5

93.5

123.5

178.0

Tier 3

Drake U (IA)

125.0

115.5

100.5

113.5

162.0

Tier 3

U Memphis

148.5

153.0

40.5

113.5

30.0

Tier 3

Gonzaga U (WA)

113.5

93.5

143.0

123.5

141.0

Tier 3

U Idaho 

125.0

115.5

96.0

138.0

122.0

Tier 3

Quinnipiac U (CT)

138.0

157.0

128.0

79.0

123.0

Tier 3

U Akron (OH)

138.0

124.5

122.0

106.0

127.0

Tier 3

U Montana 

125.0

124.5

69.5

154.5

112.0

Tier 3

West Virginia U 

113.5

115.5

81.5

165.5

106.0

Tier 3

Washburn U (KS)

125.0

132.5

104.5

132.5

144.5

Tier 3

Pace U (NY)

125.0

141.0

109.5

123.5

132.5

Tier 3

New York Law School 

113.5

115.5

150.0

132.5

126.0

Tier 3

William Mitchell (MN)

138.0

147.0

96.0

123.5

158.0

Tier 3

Loyola U New Orleans 

113.5

93.5

132.0

160.0

82.0

Tier 3

Vermont Law School 

103.5

93.5

155.5

154.5

160.0

Tier 3

Cleveland State U

138.0

115.5

132.0

123.5

166.0

Tier 3

Samford U (AL)

138.0

132.5

148.0

106.0

28.0

Tier 3

Suffolk U (MA)

138.0

132.5

150.0

106.0

144.5

Tier 3

U Wyoming 

125.0

105.5

109.5

165.5

154.0

Tier 3

U Arkansas-Little Rock

113.5

132.5

144.5

145.5

131.0

Tier 3

Albany LS-Union U (NY)

113.5

141.0

170.0

123.5

99.0

Tier 3

U St. Thomas (MN)

148.5

147.0

135.5

109.0

164.0

Tier 3

Howard U (DC)

103.5

105.5

158.5

173.0

149.0

Tier 3

Southern Illinois U

138.0

124.5

122.0

160.0

71.0

Tier 3

Southwestern LS (CA)

148.5

167.0

118.5

123.5

100.0

Tier 3

Franklin Pierce (NH)

125.0

132.5

141.5

165.5

135.0

Tier 3

Florida International U 

170.0

180.5

128.0

132.5

93.0

Tier 4

Wayne State U (MI)

92.5

124.5

64.0

101.0

86.5

Tier 4

Willamette U (OR)

113.5

132.5

152.5

94.5

137.0

Tier 4

Hamline U (MN)

148.5

153.0

76.0

113.5

177.0

Tier 4

Duquesne U (PA)

138.0

105.5

100.5

145.5

168.0

Tier 4

U South Dakota 

138.0

93.5

100.5

154.5

115.0

Tier 4

Valparaiso U (IN)

138.0

105.5

118.5

165.5

77.0

Tier 4

Northern Kentucky U

164.0

167.0

104.5

113.5

176.0

Tier 4

U North Dakota 

148.5

141.0

91.0

165.5

64.0

Tier 4

Northern Illinois U 

157.0

153.0

115.5

145.5

136.0

Tier 4

U Baltimore 

138.0

141.0

158.5

145.5

159.0

Tier 4

John Marshall LS (IL)

148.5

132.5

174.5

132.5

173.0

Tier 4

Chapman U (CA)

164.0

180.5

164.0

94.5

140.0

Tier 4

U Tulsa (OK)

125.0

141.0

155.5

165.5

119.0

Tier 4

Texas Wesleyan U 

157.0

180.5

135.5

123.5

104.0

Tier 4

Campbell U (NC)

170.0

141.0

144.5

132.5

25.0

Tier 4

U Dayton (OH)

138.0

132.5

168.0

160.0

120.0

Tier 4

CUNY-Queens College 

138.0

174.0

146.0

154.5

169.0

Tier 4

Ohio Northern U

164.0

172.0

109.5

154.5

94.0

Tier 4

Ave Maria SL (MI)

177.0

153.0

135.5

138.0

26.0

Tier 4

California Western SL 

157.0

167.0

147.0

145.5

124.0

Tier 4

St. Mary's U (TX)

157.0

141.0

177.0

145.5

157.0

Tier 4

Capital U (OH)

157.0

153.0

152.5

154.5

128.5

Tier 4

Widener U (DE)

148.5

153.0

171.0

154.5

171.0

Tier 4

South Texas CL

157.0

160.5

168.0

145.5

138.0

Tier 4

Roger Williams U (RI)

157.0

167.0

163.0

145.5

161.0

Tier 4

Regent U (VA)

177.0

172.0

139.0

145.5

151.0

Tier 4

New England SL (MA)

157.0

160.5

154.0

165.5

174.0

Tier 4

Golden Gate U (CA)

170.0

176.5

157.0

145.5

170.0

Tier 4

Western New England

164.0

176.5

180.0

138.0

181.0

Tier 4

Nova Southeastern U (FL)

148.5

167.0

165.0

173.0

152.0

Tier 4

Touro College (NY)

157.0

160.5

172.0

165.5

153.0

Tier 4

Whittier Law School (CA)

177.0

147.0

173.0

154.5

175.0

Tier 4

Mississippi College 

170.0

147.0

150.0

178.0

163.0

Tier 4

Oklahoma City U

170.0

160.5

161.0

175.0

180.0

Tier 4

U Detroit Mercy 

170.0

160.5

161.0

176.0

147.0

Tier 4

North Carolina Central U 

164.0

160.5

166.0

182.0

68.0

Tier 4

St. Thomas U (FL)

177.0

153.0

179.0

178.0

179.0

Tier 4

Thomas Jefferson SL (CA)

177.0

167.0

181.0

170.5

172.0

Tier 4

Florida Coastal SL 

182.0

176.5

168.0

170.5

78.0

Tier 4

Thomas M. Cooley LS

177.0

167.0

176.0

180.5

139.0

Tier 4

Texas Southern U

170.0

172.0

184.0

183.0

182.0

Tier 4

U District of Columbia

182.0

183.5

178.0

173.0

183.0

Tier 4

Southern U (LA)

177.0

176.5

182.0

184.0

184.0

Tier 4

Appalachian SL (VA)

182.0

180.5

183.0

178.0

167.0

Tier 4

Barry U (FL)

184.0

183.5

174.5

180.5

165.0

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Revised: September 19, 2010