Schools of Law

LAW Schools of Law

THE TOP 100 SCHOOLS

’09 School’s Peer Assessment undergrad ’09 LSAT ’09 ’08 grads Employed bar Jurisdiction’s assessment score by GPA score ’09 student/ employed 9 months passage overall bar Overall score lawyers/judges 25th-75th 25th-75th acceptance faculty at after rate in passage Rank/School score (5.0=highest) (5.0=highest) percentile percentile rate ratio graduation graduation jurisdiction rate* 1. Yale University (CT) 100 4.8 4.8 3.82-3.96 170-176 8% 7.3 93.5% 98.1% 96.5%/NY 81% 2. Harvard University (MA) 97 4.8 4.8 3.76-3.96 171-176 11% 11.0 97.1% 99.3% 98.2%/NY 81% 3. Stanford University (CA) 93 4.7 4.8 3.77-3.97 167-172 9% 8.0 98.3% 98.4% 96.2%/CA 71% 4. Columbia University (NY) 91 4.7 4.6 3.6-3.81 170-175 15% 10.1 98.8% 99.5% 96.7%/NY 81% 5. University of Chicago 88 4.7 4.6 3.63-3.84 169-173 18% 9.5 97.1% 99.0% 95.1%/IL 91% 6. New York University 87 4.5 4.4 3.57-3.86 169-173 23% 9.4 99.0% 99.2% 97.2%/NY 81% 7. University of California–Berkeley 85 4.5 4.4 3.68-3.95 165-170 10% 11.4 96.6% 98.6% 87.7%/CA 71% 7. University of Pennsylvania 85 4.4 4.5 3.57-3.9 166-171 14% 10.7 97.6% 99.6% 98.4%/NY 81% 9. University of Michigan–Ann Arbor 84 4.6 4.4 3.55-3.84 167-170 22% 11.3 97.9% 99.8% 91.2%/NY 81% 10. University of Virginia 83 4.4 4.6 3.54-3.92 165-171 15% 12.6 96.0% 99.5% 97.5%/NY 81% 11. Duke University (NC) 82 4.2 4.3 3.6-3.84 167-171 18% 9.7 100.0% 100.0% 96.0%/NY 81% 11. Northwestern University (IL) 82 4.1 4.3 3.4-3.81 166-172 18% 8.8 98.2% 100.0% 98.3%/IL 91% 13. Cornell University (NY) 78 4.2 4.3 3.5-3.8 165-168 21% 10.0 96.8% 98.4% 99.2%/NY 81% 14. Georgetown University (DC) 77 4.2 4.3 3.42-3.79 167-171 23% 12.4 93.5% 97.0% 96.8%/NY 81% 15. University of California–Los Angeles 76 4.0 3.8 3.57-3.88 164-169 17% 11.3 96.9% 99.1% 88.5%/CA 71% 15. University of Texas–Austin 76 4.1 4.2 3.54-3.87 164-168 23% 11.3 96.7% 98.1% 88.9%/TX 84% 17. Vanderbilt University (TN) 75 3.9 4.0 3.5-3.86 164-169 24% 14.4 96.8% 98.4% 95.7%/TN 83% 18. University of Southern California (Gould) 71 3.7 3.5 3.47-3.71 165-167 22% 12.4 91.9% 97.1% 89.6%/CA 71% 19. Washington University in St. Louis 70 3.7 3.8 3.3-3.8 161-168 27% 10.7 89.4% 95.0% 100.0%/MO 91% 20. George Washington University (DC) 69 3.5 3.8 3.41-3.86 163-168 22% 14.2 93.4% 98.9% 95.1%/NY 81% 21. University of Illinois–Urbana-Champaign 68 3.5 3.6 3.2-3.9 160-167 29% 13.1 85.4% 96.8% 91.2%/IL 91% 22. Boston University 67 3.4 3.6 3.5-3.83 164-167 24% 12.1 90.6% 99.1% 97.7%/MA 89% 22. Emory University (GA) 67 3.6 3.8 3.37-3.68 165-167 25% 10.5 96.7% 95.3% 93.5%/GA 89% 22. University of Minnesota–Twin Cities 67 3.6 3.8 3.3-3.85 160-168 25% 11.9 83.8% 96.5% 97.1%/MN 91% 22. University of Notre Dame (IN) 67 3.4 3.7 3.36-3.74 163-167 25% 10.9 89.8% 98.7% 100.0%/IL 91% 26. University of Iowa 66 3.5 3.9 3.43-3.81 158-164 44% 15.5 84.9% 100.0% 93.9%/IA 90% 27. Indiana University–Bloomington (Maurer) 65 3.3 3.4 3.26-3.83 156-165 32% 9.5 89.2% 96.2% 95.3%/IN 84% 28. Boston College 63 3.4 3.6 3.34-3.68 163-167 20% 13.2 86.0% 97.4% 94.3%/MA 89% 28. Col. of William and Mary (Marshall-Wythe) (VA) 63 3.3 3.7 3.42-3.77 161-166 22% 15.7 87.9% 96.7% 88.9%/VA 82% 28. University of California–Davis 63 3.4 3.5 3.23-3.72 160-165 32% 11.6 97.3% 98.1% 79.9%/CA 71% 28. University of Georgia 63 3.1 3.4 3.4-3.8 161-165 28% 12.2 90.3% 98.4% 98.8%/GA 89% 28. University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill 63 3.6 3.9 3.43-3.73 157-164 15% 15.4 74.8% 94.7% 89.8%/NC 83% 28. University of Wisconsin–Madison 63 3.5 3.7 3.31-3.76 156-163 24% 12.7 80.8% 98.3% 99.3%/WI 92% 34. Fordham University (NY) 62 3.3 3.3 3.37-3.74 162-167 22% 13.6 85.3% 95.1% 94.1%/NY 81% 34. Ohio State University (Moritz) 62 3.3 3.5 3.49-3.81 158-164 34% 13.3 88.2% 98.2% 90.3%/OH 88% 34. University of Washington 62 3.1 3.5 3.47-3.8 160-166 25% 10.0 90.5% 98.2% 84.7%/WA 74% 34. Washington and Lee University (VA) 62 3.3 3.8 3.28-3.78 160-167 26% 9.4 82.2% 89.2% 83.7%/VA 82% 38. Arizona State University (O’Connor) 60 3.0 3.0 3.34-3.78 158-163 28% 8.5 90.7% 99.7% 89.5%/AZ 84% 38. University of Alabama 60 3.0 3.1 3.32-3.9 159-165 33% 10.2 N/A 96.9% 96.9%/AL 79% 38. University of Colorado–Boulder 60 3.1 3.1 3.42-3.78 160-165 23% 11.5 79.9% 96.0% 93.3%/CO 83% 38. Wake Forest University (NC) 60 3.1 3.6 3.2-3.7 160-164 33% 9.8 74.5% 95.8% 96.3%/NC 83% 42. Brigham Young University (Clark) (UT) 59 2.9 3.2 3.52-3.85 160-165 30% 17.3 86.5% 99.0% 92.4%/UT 87% 42. George Mason University (VA) 59 2.8 3.3 3.21-3.83 158-165 25% 13.2 95.9% 99.2% 87.1%/VA 82% 42. University of Arizona (Rogers) 59 3.2 3.2 3.34-3.71 159-163 33% 10.6 77.4% 97.3% 92.2%/AZ 84% 42. University of California (Hastings) 59 3.3 3.7 3.39-3.71 161-165 24% 16.5 69.8% 92.7% 80.4%/CA 71% 42. University of Utah (Quinney) 59 2.9 3.1 3.41-3.76 156-163 29% 8.1 92.2% 100.0% 86.5%/UT 87% 47. University of Florida (Levin) 57 3.2 3.4 3.42-3.85 158-163 25% 15.4 76.2% 96.6% 88.9%/FL 81% 48. American University (Washington) (DC) 55 3.0 3.2 3.13-3.56 158-164 22% 13.4 86.6% 95.5% 92.0%/NY 81% 48. Southern Methodist University (Dedman) (TX) 55 2.7 3.1 3.24-3.84 155-165 27% 14.9 75.6% 98.6% 93.7%/TX 84% 48. Tulane University (LA) 55 3.1 3.4 3.34-3.75 160-164 30% 14.1 70.7% 91.1% 75.9%/LA 66% 48. University of Maryland 55 3.0 3.0 3.21-3.66 159-166 19% 11.7 89.2% 94.6% 90.1%/MD 85%

28 USN&WR • AMERICA’S BEST GRADUATE SCHOOLS ’09 School’s Peer Assessment undergrad ’09 LSAT ’09 ’08 grads Employed bar Jurisdiction’s assessment score by GPA score ’09 student/ employed 9 months passage overall bar Overall score lawyers/judges 25th-75th 25th-75th acceptance faculty at after rate in passage Rank/School score (5.0=highest) (5.0=highest) percentile percentile rate ratio graduation graduation jurisdiction rate* 52. Pepperdine University (CA) 53 2.5 3.1 3.43-3.79 160-163 27% 16.0 75.5% 96.5% 87.2%/CA 71% 52. Yeshiva University (Cardozo) (NY) 53 2.8 2.8 3.37-3.73 160-165 27% 15.6 74.5% 94.3% 92.0%/NY 81% 54. Florida State University 52 2.8 2.8 3.23-3.74 159-162 26% 14.2 76.4% 97.6% 86.9%/FL 81% 54. University of Connecticut 52 2.9 2.9 3.2-3.59 158-162 28% 11.4 71.5% 94.2% 92.3%/CT 87% 56. Case Western Reserve University (OH) 51 2.8 3.3 3.2-3.63 156-160 42% 12.2 79.4% 95.2% 88.0%/OH 88% 56. Loyola Marymount University (CA) 51 2.6 2.8 3.31-3.67 157-163 32% 14.8 N/A 97.4% 85.5%/CA 71% 56. University of Cincinnati 51 2.6 3.1 3.29-3.79 156-161 50% 9.9 73.9% 95.8% 82.3%/OH 88% 56. University of San Diego 51 2.9 2.9 3.22-3.59 158-162 34% 14.2 N/A 98.4% 78.9%/CA 71% 60. Georgia State University 50 2.4 2.6 3.2-3.78 159-162 17% 10.7 N/A 98.6% 94.2%/GA 89% 60. University of Houston (TX) 50 2.6 3.0 3.08-3.62 159-163 25% 11.8 76.1% 97.2% 91.3%/TX 84% 60. University of Miami (FL) 50 2.9 3.1 3.25-3.66 155-159 52% 16.5 77.7% 96.4% 90.5%/FL 81% 60. University of Tennessee–Knoxville 50 2.7 3.0 3.28-3.77 157-161 27% 13.9 72.3% 95.1% 89.7%/TN 83% 64. Baylor University (Umphrey) (TX) 49 2.3 3.1 3.4-3.8 156-162 30% 15.1 N/A 94.6% 93.0%/TX 84% 64. Lewis & Clark College (Northwestern) (OR) 49 2.4 3.1 3.2-3.71 157-164 35% 10.0 N/A 94.3% 80.5%/OR 79% 64. University of Kentucky 49 2.5 3.0 3.33-3.82 156-161 38% 16.8 75.8% 98.1% 93.7%/KY 83% 67. Brooklyn Law School (NY) 48 2.7 2.5 3.26-3.63 159-164 28% 18.4 79.7% 92.3% 89.1%/NY 81% 67. University of Kansas 48 2.7 3.2 3.25-3.71 155-160 35% 12.4 69.4% 93.6% 94.2%/KS 89% 67. University of New Mexico 48 2.5 2.8 3.12-3.67 152-158 24% 11.3 81.9% 96.2% 92.0%/NM 92% 67. University of Pittsburgh 48 2.8 3.1 3.18-3.63 157-161 37% 12.9 71.8% 94.2% 90.6%/PA 87% 67. Villanova University (PA) 48 2.6 3.3 3.17-3.63 160-163 43% 17.0 64.5% 94.2% 91.9%/PA 87% 72. Pennsylvania State University (Dickinson) 47 2.5 3.0 3.28-3.68 157-160 29% 9.4 N/A 90.8% 85.0%/PA 87% 72. Seton Hall University (NJ) 47 2.5 3.0 3.13-3.64 154-160 49% 15.4 80.7% 96.7% 88.9%/NJ 85% 72. St. John’s University (NY) 47 2.4 2.7 3.16-3.73 154-162 37% 14.6 77.9% 95.8% 90.6%/NY 81% 72. Temple University (Beasley) (PA) 47 2.7 3.0 3.11-3.61 159-163 40% 13.0 66.2% 91.4% 89.1%/PA 87% 72. University of Hawaii–Manoa (Richardson) 47 2.4 2.6 3.18-3.68 153-158 23% 7.8 70.7% 100.0% 86.5%/HI 88% 72. University of Oklahoma 47 2.5 3.0 3.29-3.72 155-161 31% 14.2 60.6% 95.6% 96.3%/OK 93% 78. Loyola University Chicago 46 2.5 2.9 3.24-3.6 156-161 30% 14.3 69.9% 93.7% 94.3%/IL 91% 78. University of Nevada–Las Vegas (Boyd) 46 2.3 2.6 3.18-3.66 155-160 22% 16.8 86.7% 97.8% 81.5%/NV 77% 80. Illinois Institute of Technology (Chicago-Kent) 45 2.7 2.5 3.11-3.67 156-163 43% 10.9 70.5% 89.5% 96.3%/IL 91% 80. Louisiana State Univ.–Baton Rouge (Hebert) 45 2.3 2.9 3.22-3.66 155-159 37% 17.5 67.6% 96.1% 81.0%/LA 66% 80. Rutgers, the State U. of New Jersey–Camden 45 2.5 2.9 3.18-3.7 158-162 31% 11.8 75.3% 90.0% 84.5%/NJ 85% 80. Rutgers, the State U. of New Jersey–Newark 45 2.6 2.8 3.09-3.6 155-161 27% 17.6 84.4% 95.6% 86.9%/NJ 85% 80. University of Denver (Sturm) 45 2.5 2.8 3.23-3.69 155-160 33% 15.5 71.2% 94.2% 80.4%/CO 83% 80. University of Oregon 45 2.8 3.3 3.12-3.56 157-161 42% 16.4 57.9% 90.4% 84.8%/OR 79% 86. Hofstra University (NY) 44 2.4 2.6 3.27-3.7 155-159 39% 15.4 N/A 96.3% 86.5%/NY 81% 86. Indiana University–Indianapolis 44 2.5 2.8 3.15-3.7 151-159 40% 17.7 72.2% 96.1% 83.8%/IN 84% 86. Northeastern University (MA) 44 2.4 2.6 3.2-3.63 155-163 34% 15.4 N/A 94.1% 93.7%/MA 89% 86. Seattle University 44 2.4 3.0 3.15-3.63 155-160 38% 12.3 59.1% 96.6% 79.0%/WA 74% 86. Syracuse University (NY) 44 2.4 2.8 3.13-3.51 153-157 38% 10.9 N/A 95.4% 84.1%/NY 81% 86. University of Arkansas–Fayetteville 44 2.3 2.8 3.16-3.74 153-158 34% 12.2 N/A 95.7% 82.0%/AR 83% 86. University of Richmond (Williams) (VA) 44 2.4 2.8 3.19-3.63 159-163 29% 13.8 60.6% 90.7% 90.6%/VA 82% 93. Chapman University (CA) 43 1.9 2.3 3.11-3.56 156-159 31% 8.9 91.1% 96.5% 75.4%/CA 71% 93. Santa Clara University (CA) 43 2.5 2.9 3.03-3.59 157-161 43% 17.8 79.4% 92.6% 78.5%/CA 71% 93. University of Missouri 43 2.7 3.1 3.24-3.7 156-161 44% 16.8 50.7% 89.6% 91.9%/MO 91% 93. University of Nebraska–Lincoln 43 2.5 2.9 3.29-3.82 154-158 52% 13.6 64.2% 93.8% 90.8%/NE 89% 93. West Virginia University 43 2.1 2.8 3.12-3.7 151-156 50% 12.9 70.4% 98.1% 76.1%/WV 79% 98. Catholic University of America (Columbus) (DC) 42 2.5 2.9 3.13-3.55 156-160 33% 12.8 68.3% 91.9% 88.0%/MD 85% 98. DePaul University (IL) 42 2.3 2.8 3.09-3.53 154-161 39% 13.3 81.4% 94.0% 89.1%/IL 91% 98. University of San Francisco 42 2.1 2.8 3.12-3.57 155-160 35% 15.2 N/A 93.0% 86.0%/CA 71% 98. University of the Pacific (McGeorge) (CA) 42 2.1 2.6 3.05-3.58 153-159 42% 14.0 N/A 95.5% 79.6%/CA 71% 98. William Mitchell College of Law (MN) 42 2.0 2.5 3.19-3.6 150-158 56% 20.4 N/A 96.8% 89.8%/MN 91%

Sources: U.S. News and the schools. Assessment data collected by Synovate. N/A means that the data were not provided by the school. University of La Verne in California, Charleston School of Law in South Carolina, Liberty University in Virginia, Phoenix School of Law in Arizona, Charlotte School of Law and Elon University in North Carolina, and Drexel University in Pennsylvania are not ranked because as of February 2010 they were only provisionally approved by the American Bar Association. Three law schools in Puerto Rico—Catholic University, Inter-America University, and the University of Puerto Rico—are not ranked. *The state bar examination pass rates for first-time test takers in summer 2008 and winter 2008 were provided by the National Conference of Bar Examiners.

More at www.usnews.com/grad USN&WR • AMERICA’S BEST GRADUATE SCHOOLS 29 LAW

SPECIALTIES

PROGRAMS RANKED BEST BY FACULTY WHO TEACH IN THE FIELD

DISPUTE RESOLUTION 3. University of California–Berkeley 7. University of Michigan– 9. Arizona State University 1. Pepperdine University (CA) 4. Pace University (NY) Ann Arbor (O’Connor) 2. Hamline University (MN) 5. Florida State University 8. University of Houston (TX) 9. Ohio State University (Moritz) 2. University of Missouri 6. Georgetown University (DC) 9. Duke University (NC) 4. Harvard University (MA) 6. University of Colorado–Boulder 9. Franklin Pierce Law Center TRIAL ADVOCACY 5. Ohio State University (Moritz) 8. Stanford University (CA) (NH) 1. Stetson University (FL) 6. Marquette University (WI) 8. University of Oregon 2. Temple University (Beasley) 7. University of Oregon 10. New York University INTERNATIONAL LAW (PA) 8. Fordham University (NY) 10. University of Maryland 1. New York University 3. South Texas College of Law 8. Yeshiva Univ. (Cardozo) (NY) 2. Columbia University (NY) 4. Baylor University (Umphrey) 10. University of Nevada– HEALTH LAW 3. Georgetown University (DC) (TX) Las Vegas (Boyd) 1. St. Louis University 4. Harvard University (MA) 5. Georgetown University (DC) 2. University of Maryland 5. Yale University (CT) 5. University of the Pacific CLINICAL TRAINING 3. Case Western Reserve 6. George Washington Univ. (DC) (McGeorge) (CA) 1. Georgetown University (DC) University (OH) 6. University of Michigan– 7. Illinois Institute of Technology 2. American University 4. Boston University Ann Arbor (Chicago-Kent) (Washington) (DC) 4. Georgia State University 8. American University 7. Northwestern University (IL) 3. CUNY–Queens College 4. University of Houston (TX) (Washington) (DC) 7. University of Akron (OH) 4. New York University 7. Georgetown University (DC) 9. University of Virginia 7. Washington Univ. in St. Louis 5. Washington Univ. in St. Louis 8. Seton Hall University (NJ) 10. Duke University (NC) 6. University of New Mexico 9. Loyola University Chicago TAX LAW 7. University of Michigan– 10. University of Minnesota– LEGAL WRITING 1. New York University Ann Arbor Twin Cities 1. Mercer University (George) (GA) 2. Georgetown University (DC) 8. Yale University (CT) 1. Seattle University 3. University of Florida (Levin) 9. University of Maryland INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW 3. Stetson University (FL) 4. Northwestern University (IL) 10. University of the District of 1. University of California–Berkeley 4. University of Nevada– 5. University of Miami (FL) Columbia (Clarke) 2. Stanford University (CA) Las Vegas (Boyd) 6. Boston University 3. George Washington University 5. Indiana University–Indianapolis 6. University of San Diego ENVIRONMENTAL LAW (DC) 6. John Marshall Law School (IL) 8. Harvard University (MA) 1. Vermont Law School 4. Boston University 7. University of Oregon 9. Loyola Marymount University 2. Lewis & Clark College 5. New York University 8. Temple University (Beasley) (CA) (Northwestern) (OR) 6. Columbia University (NY) (PA) 10. University of Virginia

Other Schools to Consider most of its students from the United States. Remember that The next two quartiles of schools are listed alphabetically in in considering a law school, you should look not only at its two groups, the Third Tier and Fourth Tier. Law schools within ranking or tier but also at other characteristics—its location, each of these tiers should be considered broadly similar in price, course offerings, and faculty expertise, to name a few. quality. To be listed, a law school must be accredited and fully More information on all the schools is available in the direc- approved by the American Bar Association and must draw tory, beginning on Page 144.

THIRD TIER (ranking begins at 103; schools are listed alphabetically)

Continued on Page 31

30 USN&WR • AMERICA’S BEST GRADUATE SCHOOLS More at www.usnews.com/grad ’09 School’s Peer Assessment undergrad ’09 LSAT ’09 ’08 grads Employed bar Jurisdiction’s assessment score by GPA score ’09 student/ employed 9 months passage overall bar score lawyers/judges 25th-75th 25th-75th acceptance faculty at after rate in passage Rank/School (5.0=highest) (5.0=highest) percentile percentile rate ratio graduation graduation jurisdiction rate* Marquette University (WI) 2.4 3.1 3.07-3.61 154-159 44% 19.1 61.0% 92.8% 100.0%/WI 92% Mercer University (George) (GA) 2.2 2.4 3.13-3.67 153-158 38% 13.0 N/A 92.1% 95.8%/GA 89% Michigan State University 2.2 2.8 3.07-3.61 153-159 46% 16.6 N/A 91.5% 83.7%/MI 82% New York Law School 2.3 2.3 2.96-3.48 152-157 54% 23.6 N/A 92.6% 91.3%/NY 81% Ohio Northern University (Pettit) 1.6 2.1 2.96-3.65 149-157 36% 12.7 N/A 93.4% 93.5%/OH 88% Pace University (NY) 2.0 2.2 3.15-3.6 152-157 39% 12.7 N/A 91.5% 83.3%/NY 81% Quinnipiac University (CT) 1.9 2.2 3.09-3.6 154-159 41% 11.2 N/A 96.4% 93.1%/CT 87% Samford University (Cumberland) (AL) 1.9 2.3 3.01-3.59 153-157 52% 18.0 N/A 93.7% 95.7%/AL 79% Southwestern Law School (CA) 2.0 1.8 3.06-3.51 152-156 32% 14.3 85.0% 95.5% 69.7%/CA 71% Stetson University (FL) 2.1 2.5 3.19-3.65 153-158 39% 15.8 N/A 95.1% 82.0%/FL 81% St. Louis University 2.5 3.1 3.16-3.61 153-159 50% 17.0 70.0% 92.9% 94.2%/MO 91% Suffolk University (MA) 2.1 2.3 3-3.5 153-158 52% 16.5 N/A 89.7% 92.8%/MA 89% Texas Tech University 2.0 2.5 3.13-3.62 153-158 37% 15.3 N/A 87.8% 86.6%/TX 84% University at Buffalo–SUNY 2.4 2.4 3.19-3.73 153-159 32% 15.3 75.6% 91.2% 81.2%/NY 81% University of Akron (OH) 1.9 2.6 3.12-3.67 150-157 40% 11.2 74.1% 87.6% 89.9%/OH 88% University of Arkansas–Little Rock (Bowen) 2.2 2.6 2.9-3.67 150-157 26% 16.2 37.5% 95.8% 81.3%/AR 83% University of Baltimore 2.0 2.4 2.97-3.59 151-157 41% 15.8 93.4% 96.3% 84.6%/MD 85% University of Idaho 2.1 2.5 2.85-3.58 152-157 48% 16.5 N/A 87.8% 81.1%/ID 80% University of Louisville (Brandeis) (KY) 2.3 2.6 3.14-3.73 153-159 37% 15.4 65.4% 95.1% 88.0%/KY 83% University of Maine 2.2 2.6 3.06-3.61 152-158 48% 14.2 N/A 91.9% 91.5%/ME 91% University of Memphis (Humphreys) 1.9 2.4 3.16-3.68 153-158 32% 17.7 41.1% 93.3% 93.1%/TN 83% University of Mississippi 2.3 2.9 3.27-3.71 151-157 41% 18.2 53.8% 89.6% 90.0%/MS 88% University of Missouri–Kansas City 2.3 2.5 2.99-3.58 152-157 47% 14.1 N/A 95.6% 97.6%/MO 91% University of Montana 2.1 2.4 3.26-3.69 151-157 50% 12.3 N/A 92.3% 88.1%/MT 93% University of South Carolina 2.3 2.7 3.14-3.7 156-160 37% 14.8 56.1% 91.2% 91.0%/SC 82% University of South Dakota 1.9 2.5 3.13-3.65 149-155 57% 12.3 54.1% 94.3% 94.9%/SD 95% University of St. Thomas (MN) 1.9 2.5 3.07-3.59 153-161 51% 17.7 N/A 90.9% 89.7%/MN 91% University of Toledo (OH) 1.9 2.4 2.92-3.54 150-156 60% 13.4 88.5% 96.3% 87.8%/OH 88% University of Tulsa (OK) 2.1 2.5 2.83-3.55 152-157 51% 11.9 N/A 92.3% 92.6%/OK 93% University of Wyoming 2.1 2.9 3.25-3.68 150-157 34% 12.3 58.6% 88.9% 76.3%/WY 67% Vermont Law School 2.3 2.8 3.05-3.57 152-158 67% 13.5 60.4% 95.2% 83.3%/NY 81% Washburn University (KS) 2.0 2.3 2.95-3.68 152-157 47% 12.9 N/A 93.5% 89.4%/KS 89% Wayne State University (MI) 2.2 2.7 3.17-3.69 153-159 38% 14.4 N/A 87.5% 95.9%/MI 82% Willamette University (Collins) (OR) 2.1 2.8 3.05-3.51 153-157 39% 15.0 N/A 91.1% 84.4%/OR 79%

FOURTH TIER (ranking begins at 145; schools are listed alphabetically)

Continued on Page 32

*The state bar examination pass rates for first-time test takers in summer 2008 and winter 2008 were provided by the National Conference of Bar Examiners. Note: Numbers with * are from the fall 2008 entering class or school year and 2007 graduating class as reported to the American Bar Association.

USN&WR • AMERICA’S BEST GRADUATE SCHOOLS 31 LAW

FOURTH TIER (ranking begins at 140; schools are listed alphabetically)

’09 School’s Peer Assessment undergrad ’09 LSAT ’09 ’08 grads Employed bar Jurisdiction’s assessment score by GPA score ’09 student/ employed 9 months passage overall bar score lawyers/judges 25th-75th 25th-75th acceptance faculty at after rate in passage Rank/School (5.0=highest) (5.0=highest) percentile percentile rate ratio graduation graduation jurisdiction rate* Florida International University 1.6 1.8 3.13-3.62 151-156 26% 16.2 N/A 88.7% 88.0%/FL 81% Golden Gate University (CA) 1.7 2.1 2.84-3.39 151-155 50% 15.2 N/A 90.3% 71.6%/CA 71% Hamline University (MN) 1.9 2.2 3.16-3.66 150-158 49% 14.8 N/A 90.3% 92.8%/MN 91% John Marshall Law School (IL) 1.9 2.4 2.98-3.51 150-155 46% 14.4 63.9% 89.0% 87.9%/IL 91% Mississippi College 1.5 2.1 3.01-3.53 148-153 57% 18.2 N/A 94.4% 93.9%/MS 88% New England School of Law (MA) 1.8 2.3 2.97-3.45 150-154 59% 23.1 N/A 81.2% 90.8%/MA 89% North Carolina Central University 1.6 2.2 3.02-3.49 143-150 20% 16.5 N/A 80.5% 80.5%/NC 83% Northern Illinois University 1.7 2.2 2.93-3.51 153-156 40% 18.7 N/A 89.1% 96.1%/IL 91% Northern Kentucky University (Chase) 1.6 2.1 3.19-3.56 151-157 43% 15.1 N/A 92.5% 85.5%/OH 88% Nova Southeastern University (Broad) (FL) 1.8 2.1 3.01-3.47 147-152 43% 16.7 N/A 85.5% 84.1%/FL 81% Oklahoma City University 1.6 2.1 2.88-3.47 148-152 54% 17.6 N/A 92.1% 90.3%/OK 93% Regent University (VA) 1.3 1.7 3-3.71 150-156 42% 16.2 67.5% 94.4% 73.1%/VA 82% Roger Williams University (RI) 1.8 2.1 3-3.5 150-157 58% 16.7 N/A 88.0% 85.6%/MA 89% Southern Illinois University–Carbondale 1.9 2.4 3.01-3.52 151-157 48% 11.7 N/A 84.9% 94.7%/IL 91% Southern University Law Center (LA) 1.4 1.7 2.5-3.2 * 142-149 * 34% * 11.5 * N/A N/A N/A N/A South Texas College of Law 1.7 2.2 2.99-3.51 151-156 47% 20.0 N/A 85.1% 89.2%/TX 84% St. Mary’s University (TX) 1.7 2.3 2.82-3.49 151-156 42% 20.9 86.0% 91.3% 87.2%/TX 84% St. Thomas University (FL) 1.5 1.9 2.63-3.25 * 148-151 * 45% * 20.9 * N/A 80.4% * N/A N/A Texas Southern University (Marshall) 1.5 1.8 2.66-3.21 144-148 34% 12.8 N/A 83.3% 59.6%/TX 84% Texas Wesleyan University 1.7 1.7 2.88-3.44 151-155 44% 21.0 56.6% 76.0% 77.8%/TX 84% Thomas Jefferson School of Law (CA) 1.6 1.9 2.7-3.19 148-153 51% 17.9 N/A 92.1% 70.3%/CA 71% Thomas M. Cooley Law School (MI) 1.4 1.8 2.62-3.33 * 144-149 * 61% * 21.1 * N/A 77.8% * N/A N/A Touro College (Fuchsberg) (NY) 1.7 1.7 2.86-3.39 149-153 46% 15.9 N/A 72.3% 79.0%/NY 81% University of Dayton (OH) 1.9 2.6 2.87-3.4 148-153 58% 16.7 N/A 92.1% 91.8%/OH 88% University of Detroit Mercy 1.5 1.8 2.93-3.38 146-153 45% 14.1 N/A 78.4% 71.4%/MI 82% University of North Dakota 1.9 2.3 3.3-3.73 149-155 35% 16.8 N/A 90.1% 91.5%/ND 86% University of the District of Columbia (Clarke) 1.4 1.4 2.8-3.26 149-153 22% 12.2 N/A 79.6% 92.3%/MD 85% Valparaiso University (IN) 2.0 2.7 3.08-3.59 148-152 59% 15.8 N/A 88.9% 82.7%/IN 84% Western New England College (MA) 1.6 1.8 2.99-3.51 150-155 53% 12.7 N/A 81.3% 76.6%/CT 87% Western State University (CA) 1.3 1.7 2.81-3.38 149-154 49% 22.6 N/A 70.8% 64.9%/CA 71% Whittier College (CA) 1.4 2.1 2.83-3.35 149-153 41% 17.6 51.3% 96.4% 82.6%/CA 71% Widener University (DE) 2.0 2.5 2.81-3.46 149-153 54% 19.0 55.2% 83.8% 88.0%/PA 87%

percent); and total number of METHODOLOGY Selectivity (.25): Combined not seeking jobs are excluded. fall 2009 data for all full-time All others are counted as un- volumes and titles in library (5 The rankings of 188 accred- and part-time entering students; employed. The bar passage percent). ited law schools are based on a this measure combines median rate indicator is the ratio of a Overall rank: Schools’ scores weighted average of the 12 fac- LSAT scores (50 percent), medi- school’s rate in the cited juris- on each indicator were standard- tors below. an undergrad GPA (40 percent), diction to the overall state rate, ized about their means. Then Quality assessment (weighted and the acceptance rate (10 computed for first-time test tak- scores were weighted, totaled, by .40): Quality was measured percent). ers in summer 2008 and winter and rescaled so that the top by two surveys conducted in fall Placement success (.20): Suc- 2008. The jurisdiction cited school received 100 and other 2009. The dean and three facul- cess is determined by employ- is the state where the largest schools received a percentage of ty members at each school were ment rates for 2008 graduates number of 2008 grads first took the top score. asked to rate schools from “mar- at graduation (20 percent) and the test. Specialty rankings: Rankings ginal” (1) to “outstanding” (5); nine months after (70 percent) Faculty resources (.15): Re- are based solely on votes by 65 percent voted. Their average as well as their bar passage rate sources are based on average law faculty who are listed in the rating for a school weights .25 in (10 percent). Employment rates fiscal year 2008 and 2009 AALS Directory of Law Teachers the ranking. Lawyers and judges include graduates reported as expenditures per student for 2007–2008 as teaching in the also rated schools; 21 percent working or pursuing graduate instruction, library, and sup- field or by directors of clinical responded. The two most recent degrees; for the nine-month porting services (65 percent) and legal writing programs. They years of surveys of lawyers and rate only, 25 percent of those and on all other items, includ- named up to 15 of the best in judges were averaged and are whose status is unknown are ing financial aid (10 percent); each field. Schools receiving the weighted by .15. also counted as working. Those 2009 student/teacher ratio (20 most votes are listed.

32 USN&WR • AMERICA’S BEST GRADUATE SCHOOLS More at www.usnews.com/grad LAW Part-Time Law Schools Part-time J.D. law programs play a vital role in legal may be offered either in the evening or the day. Part-time education. According to the American Bar Association, programs generally take four years to complete instead of in fall 2008 about 16 percent of all J.D. students were three years for full time programs. This year, U.S. News enrolled part time. For many working adults, attending presents its second annual ranking of the top among the part time is the only way they can afford to go to law 84 accredited law schools with part-time J.D. programs. school and meet their other commitments. Fewer than This year’s part-time J.D. program ranking is improved half of all law schools have part-time programs, which since it is now based on four factors of academic quality.

THE TOP SCHOOLS METHODOLOGY Peer ’09 part-time Overall assessment score LSAT score ’09 part-time ’09 part-time The rankings of 84 part-time law School score (5.0=highest) 25th-75th percentile acceptance rate enrollment school programs are based on a 1. Georgetown University (DC) 100 4.2 163-168 20.2% 354 weighted average of four measures 2. George Washington University (DC) 84 3.5 162-167 16.9% 304 of quality described below. For a 3. Fordham University (NY) 72 3.3 161-165 17.4% 309 school’s program to be considered 4. Yeshiva University (Cardozo) (NY) 68 2.8 158-161 26.6% 101 in the part-time rankings, it must 67 3.0 154-161 20.7% 230 5. University of Maryland have reported at least 20 part-time 6. George Mason University (VA) 64 2.8 157-163 8.7% 217 7. American University (Washington) (DC) 63 3.0 159-162 21.2% 290 students enrolled in fall 2009 and 7. Brooklyn Law School (NY) 63 2.7 157-160 18.6% 180 reported fall 2009 applications 9. Temple University (Beasley) (PA) 62 2.7 156-161 28.9% 192 and acceptances for its part-time 10. University of San Diego 61 2.9 156-160 22.3% 184 program. 10. Illinois Institute of Technology (Chicago-Kent) 61 2.7 155-160 38.2% 179 Quality assessment (weighted by 10. University of Houston (TX) 61 2.6 156-161 13.6% 183 .50): In fall 2009, deans and three 13. University of Connecticut 60 2.9 156-160 25.7% 191 faculty members at each school that 13. Southern Methodist University (Dedman) (TX) 60 2.7 153-160 20.5% 379 had reported at least 10 students 15. Rutgers, the State U.of New Jersey–Camden 57 2.5 157-161 22.7% 191 enrolled in part-time programs dur- 16. Loyola Marymount University (CA) 56 2.6 155-163 4.4% 285 ing the 2008–2009 academic year 16. Santa Clara University (CA) 56 2.5 156-159 26.8% 252 were asked to rate part-time pro- 18. University of Denver (Sturm) 55 2.5 154-158 29.3% 232 grams from “marginal” (1) to “out- 19. Rutgers, the State U. of New Jersey–Newark 53 2.6 154-159 18.1% 242 standing” (5); 58 percent voted. 20. Seattle University 51 2.4 153-159 40.9% 228 21. University of Nevada–Las Vegas (Boyd) 50 2.3 152-158 21.2% 118 Their average rating was weighted 21. Wayne State University (MI) 50 2.2 154-160 21.2% 112 by .50 in the ranking model. 21. Catholic University of America (Columbus) (DC) 50 2.5 154-158 29.8% 316 Selectivity (weighted by .275): 24. Marquette University (WI) 49 2.4 151-158 33.0% 180 For part-time students entering in 24. St. John’s University (NY) 49 2.4 147-155 27.2% 178 2009, this combines median LSAT 24. Hofstra University (NY) 49 2.4 152-158 11.6% 170 scores (.225) and undergraduate 24. Chapman University (CA) 49 1.9 151-160 19.4% 37 GPAs of entrants to the part-time 28. St. Louis University 48 2.5 152-155 35.6% 196 program (.05). 28. University of Hawaii–Manoa (Richardson) 48 2.4 147-154 14.2% 41 Part-time focus (weighted by .225): 28. Lewis & Clark College (Northwestern) (OR) 48 2.4 153-160 31.1% 194 An index was created from data 28. DePaul University (IL) 48 2.3 154-157 47.0% 255 reported by the schools about their 32. Loyola University Chicago 47 2.5 153-158 22.5% 188 2009 part-time programs. Factors 32. University of San Francisco 47 2.1 153-160 21.4% 132 34. University of Louisville (Brandeis) (KY) 46 2.3 151-155 35.5% 67 used in the creation of this index: 35. Seton Hall University (NJ) 45 2.5 150-156 38.4% 367 the size of part-time first-year sec- 36. Indiana University–Indianapolis 44 2.5 147-155 55.3% 319 tions; the size of part-time first-year 36. Stetson University (FL) 44 2.1 151-156 21.6% 208 small sections; and the number 38. University of Arkansas–Little Rock (Bowen) 43 2.2 148-156 34.3% 155 of positions filled by part-time 39. Cleveland State University (Cleveland-Marshall) 42 2.0 151-158 25.6% 157 students in seminars, simulation 39. New York Law School 42 2.3 149-155 39.5% 448 courses, faculty-supervised clinical 41. Quinnipiac University (CT) 39 1.9 151-154 12.5% 124 courses, field placements, law jour- 41. Georgia State University 39 2.4 158-161 25.2% 193 nals, interschool skills competitions, 43. Case Western Reserve University (OH) 38 2.8 150-157 13.8% 22 and independent study. Schools 43. Suffolk University (MA) 38 2.1 151-156 57.5% 603 received credit for reporting data 43. University of the Pacific (McGeorge) (CA) 38 2.1 151-157 39.4% 377 and additional credit for surpassing 46. Loyola University New Orleans 36 2.1 149-155 66.0% 156 47. California Western School of Law 35 1.8 148-154 30.1% 101 a threshold value in the factors. 47. Pace University (NY) 35 2.0 149-155 28.2% 185 Overall rank: Schools’ scores on 47. University of Akron (OH) 35 1.9 148-153 48.4% 238 each indicator were standardized, 50. University of Toledo (OH) 34 1.9 149-152 67.2% 147 weighted, totaled, and rescaled so 50. Southwestern Law School (CA) 34 2.0 151-155 35.8% 323 that the top school received 100 50. Golden Gate University (CA) 34 1.7 151-155 32.9% 108 and other schools received a percentage of the top score.

Sources: U.S. News and the schools. Assessment data collected by Synovate. The part-time J.D. law program data listed for fall 2009 acceptance rate and fall 2009 enrollment is for information purposes only and is not used in the computation of the part-time J.D. program ranking. Only schools ranked in the top 50 are published.

34 USN&WR • AMERICA’S BEST GRADUATE SCHOOLS More at www.usnews.com/grad Law School Diversity To identify law schools where students are most likely to non-Hispanic whites. Our formula produces a diversity encounter classmates from a different racial or ethnic index that ranges from 0.0 to 1.0. The closer a school’s group, U.S. News has created a diversity index based on number is to 1.0, the more diverse is the student popu the total proportion of minority students—not includ- lation. Law schools that enroll a large proportion of ing international students—and the mix of racial and students from one ethnic group, even if it is a minority ethnic groups on campus. The index is calculated using group, don’t score high in this index. To be included in demographic data reflecting each law school’s student the table, a law school must be accredited by the Ameri body during the 2009–2010 academic year, including can Bar Association. Because student-body ethnic diver- both full- and part-time students. The groups that form sity data are not consistently compiled and reported as the basis for our calculations are African-Americans, yet for other types of graduate schools, U.S. News has Asian-Americans, Hispanics, American Indians, and prepared a diversity table for law schools only.

THE MOST DIVERSE SCHOOLS

Diversity index Largest minority Diversity index Largest minority School (1.0=highest) and its proportion School (1.0=highest) and its proportion Florida A&M University 0.66 African-American, 41% Northern Illinois University 0.46 African-American, 13% Texas Southern University (Marshall) 0.64 African-American, 51% University of Pennsylvania 0.46 Asian-American, 14% University of the District of Columbia (Clarke) 0.64 African-American, 29% California Western School of Law 0.45 Asian-American, 14% Florida International University 0.60 Hispanic, 44% Hofstra University (NY) 0.45 Asian-American, 10% University of New Mexico 0.60 Hispanic, 28% Loyola University New Orleans 0.45 African-American, 15% Santa Clara University (CA) 0.58 Asian-American, 30% University of Arizona (Rogers) 0.45 Asian-American, 9% University of Southern California (Gould) 0.58 Asian-American, 21% University of the Pacific (McGeorge) (CA) 0.45 Asian-American, 15% Loyola Marymount University (CA) 0.57 Asian-American, 22% Whittier College (CA) 0.45 Asian-American, 14% Northwestern University (IL) 0.57 Asian-American, 19% Florida Coastal School of Law 0.44 Hispanic, 10% American University (Washington) (DC) 0.56 Hispanic, 14% University of San Diego 0.44 Asian-American, 17% North Carolina Central University 0.56 African-American, 50% Brooklyn Law School (NY) 0.43 Asian-American, 16% Rutgers, the State U. of New Jersey–Newark 0.56 African-American, 15% South Texas College of Law 0.43 Hispanic, 11% Stanford University (CA) 0.56 Asian-American, 13% Seattle University 0.42 Asian-American, 15% Southwestern Law School (CA) 0.54 Asian-American, 15% Washington University in St. Louis 0.42 Asian-American, 12% University of San Francisco 0.54 Asian-American, 17% Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School 0.41 African-American, 19% University of California–Berkeley 0.53 Asian-American, 17% DePaul University (IL) 0.41 Hispanic, 11% Western State University (CA) 0.53 Asian-American, 17% St. John’s University (NY) 0.41 Asian-American, 9% Cornell University (NY) 0.52 Asian-American, 15% Texas Tech University 0.41 Hispanic, 16% Thomas Jefferson School of Law (CA) 0.52 Hispanic, 14% Texas Wesleyan University 0.41 Hispanic, 10% University of California–Davis 0.52 Asian-American, 27% University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill 0.41 African-American, 8% University of Hawaii–Manoa (Richardson) 0.52 Asian-American, 58% University of Wisconsin–Madison 0.41 Asian-American, 8% Emory University (GA) 0.51 Hispanic, 11% Boston University 0.40 Asian-American, 12% University of California–Los Angeles 0.51 Asian-American, 18% New York University 0.40 Asian-American, 11% Northeastern University (MA) 0.50 Hispanic, 11% Southern Methodist University (Dedman) (TX) 0.40 Hispanic, 10% St. Mary’s University (TX) 0.50 Hispanic, 25% University of Florida (Levin) 0.40 Hispanic, 10% University of California (Hastings) 0.50 Asian-American, 21% University of Illinois–Urbana-Champaign 0.40 Asian-American, 9% University of Maryland 0.50 African-American, 13% University of Miami (FL) 0.40 Hispanic, 12% Columbia University (NY) 0.49 Asian-American, 17% University of Michigan–Ann Arbor 0.40 Asian-American, 13% CUNY–Queens College 0.49 Hispanic, 12% University of Notre Dame (IN) 0.40 Hispanic, 9% Golden Gate University (CA) 0.48 Asian-American, 21% Boston College 0.39 Asian-American, 12% Harvard University (MA) 0.48 African-American, 12% Duke University (NC) 0.39 African-American, 9% Nova Southeastern University (Broad) (FL) 0.48 Hispanic, 20% Georgetown University (DC) 0.39 Asian-American, 9% University of Chicago 0.47 Asian-American, 12% John Marshall Law School (IL) 0.39 Hispanic, 8% University of Houston (TX) 0.47 Asian-American, 10% Temple University (Beasley) (PA) 0.39 Asian-American, 10% University of Nevada–Las Vegas (Boyd) 0.47 Asian-American, 11% Fordham University (NY) 0.38 Hispanic, 9% University of Texas–Austin 0.47 Hispanic, 16% Touro College (Fuchsberg) (NY) 0.38 African-American, 9% Yale University (CT) 0.47 Asian-American, 12% University of Washington 0.38 Asian-American, 14%

Note: The diversity index is based on ethnicity data collected by U.S. News from each law school. The methodology used to compute the index was published in a 1992 article by Philip Meyer and Shawn McIntosh in the International Journal of Public Opinion Research. For this index, students classified as ethnicity unknown/unreported were counted as white. A more detailed explanation of the methodology is available at www.usnews.com/grad.

More at www.usnews.com/grad USN&WR • AMERICA’S BEST GRADUATE SCHOOLS 35