2025 LSD.Law School Rankings

136K+ cross-admit decisions across 135 schools. Compare head-to-head → LSAT/GPA stats →

135

Schools

LSD LSD USN US News ATL Above The Law Peer Peer Assessment

Year:

How these rankings work

Methodology

The LSD.Law School Rankings are built on a simple premise: law school applicants are generally rational people who do their research. When someone is admitted to two schools and chooses one over the other, that decision reflects real information about career outcomes, campus culture, financial aid, location, and everything else that matters to them. Aggregate 136,000+ of these decisions and you get a ranking that reflects what applicants actually value, not what a for-profit magazine thinks they should. U.S. News produces rankings where Texas A&M went from #50 to the doorstep of the T14 in three years with no obvious change that helps students. No practicing lawyer, law professor, or applicant takes that seriously. These rankings let the applicants speak for themselves.

Model

The statistical model behind the rankings is Bradley-Terry, the standard framework for deriving a global ordering from pairwise comparisons (used in chess ratings, sports rankings, and similar systems). When an applicant admitted to School A and School B enrolls at School A, that counts as a win for A. Each school's strength score reflects its position in the overall preference hierarchy across all such matchups.

Weighting and Data Threshold

Recent cycles are weighted more heavily through exponential decay, so the rankings reflect current preferences while still drawing on the full historical dataset. Schools need a minimum amount of cross-admit data to be ranked - those without enough head-to-head decisions appear as unranked at the bottom of the list.

Ties

Schools are tied when their strength scores are too close to meaningfully distinguish. Specifically, if the implied head-to-head win probability between two adjacent schools is near 50/50 (within a 10% margin), they share the same rank.

School

LSD Score

LSAT

GPA

BigLaw

Yale University New Haven, Connecticut

New Haven, Connecticut

136.315 LSD score · 174 LSAT · 3.96 GPA · 31% BigLaw

Stanford University Stanford, California

#2 Stanford University

Stanford, California

21.236 LSD score · 173 LSAT · 3.96 GPA · 40% BigLaw

Harvard University Cambridge, Massachusetts

#2 Harvard University

Cambridge, Massachusetts

19.371 LSD score · 174 LSAT · 3.96 GPA · 51% BigLaw

HYS

Harvard, Yale, Stanford - the consensus top tier regardless of annual rank

HYS is the one tier that matters most in practice. Hiring partners at top firms and federal judges still treat these three schools as a class apart — no amount of US News reshuffling changes that. Yale held the #1 spot every single year until US News changed its methodology in 2023, and it remains the consensus top law school. Harvard and Stanford rotate behind it, but the prestige gap between HYS and everyone else remains the most durable line in legal hiring. Admission typically requires a 174+ LSAT and 3.9+ GPA.

HYS Harvard, Yale, Stanford - the consensus top tier regardless of annual rank

University of Chicago Chicago, Illinois

#4 University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois

2.640 LSD score · 174 LSAT · 3.97 GPA · 49% BigLaw

↓1 5

Columbia University New York City, New York

#5 ↓1 Columbia University

New York City, New York

2.257 LSD score · 173 LSAT · 3.92 GPA · 65% BigLaw

↑1 5

University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

#5 ↑1 University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

2.135 LSD score · 173 LSAT · 3.95 GPA · 64% BigLaw

Top 6 - near-universal BigLaw and clerkship access regardless of class rank

HYS plus Chicago, Columbia, and NYU. The T6 has been remarkably stable for decades. The distinction between HYS and the rest of the T6 is real but narrow, mostly relevant for academia and Supreme Court clerkships.

T6 Top 6 - near-universal BigLaw and clerkship access regardless of class rank

University of Virginia Charlottesville, Virginia

#7 University of Virginia

Charlottesville, Virginia

1.546 LSD score · 173 LSAT · 3.99 GPA · 60% BigLaw

↓1 8

New York University New York City, New York

#8 ↓1 New York University

New York City, New York

1.380 LSD score · 172 LSAT · 3.92 GPA · 54% BigLaw

University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Michigan

#9 University of Michigan

Ann Arbor, Michigan

1.102 LSD score · 171 LSAT · 3.88 GPA · 50% BigLaw

University of California—Berkeley Berkeley, California

#10 University of California—Berkeley

Berkeley, California

0.865 LSD score · 170 LSAT · 3.92 GPA · 52% BigLaw

Duke University Durham, North Carolina

Durham, North Carolina

0.651 LSD score · 171 LSAT · 3.91 GPA · 68% BigLaw

Northwestern University Evanston, Illinois

#12 Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois

0.428 LSD score · 173 LSAT · 3.96 GPA · 64% BigLaw

University of California—Los Angeles Los Angeles, California

#13 University of California—Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California

0.234 LSD score · 171 LSAT · 3.95 GPA · 51% BigLaw

↓1 14

Cornell University Ithaca, New York

#14 ↓1 Cornell University

Ithaca, New York

0.200 LSD score · 173 LSAT · 3.92 GPA · 72% BigLaw

T14

Top 14 - the historic prestige boundary for national BigLaw placement

For decades, the same 14 schools held the top 14 spots — hence the name. That streak broke recently as Georgetown dropped out and Texas and UCLA moved in. The term persists because it marks a meaningful employment boundary: T14 graduates can find BigLaw or federal clerkships in any US market. Below the T14, placement becomes increasingly regional.

T14 Top 14 - the historic prestige boundary for national BigLaw placement

↓2 15

Georgetown University Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C.

#15 ↓2 Georgetown University

Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C.

0.177 LSD score · 171 LSAT · 3.93 GPA · 55% BigLaw

↑1 15

University of Texas at Austin Austin, Texas

#15 ↑1 University of Texas at Austin

Austin, Texas

0.163 LSD score · 172 LSAT · 3.89 GPA · 42% BigLaw

Brigham Young University Provo, Utah

#17 Brigham Young University

Provo, Utah

0.106 LSD score · 170 LSAT · 3.95 GPA · 23% BigLaw

University of Notre Dame South Bend, Indiana

#17 University of Notre Dame

South Bend, Indiana

0.099 LSD score · 170 LSAT · 3.89 GPA · 40% BigLaw

University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, North Carolina

#19 University of North Carolina

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

0.080 LSD score · 168 LSAT · 3.89 GPA · 25% BigLaw

↑2 19

Vanderbilt University Nashville, Tennessee

#19 ↑2 Vanderbilt University

Nashville, Tennessee

0.077 LSD score · 170 LSAT · 3.91 GPA · 48% BigLaw

↓1 19

Washington University in St. Louis St. Louis, Missouri

#19 ↓1 Washington University in St. Louis

St. Louis, Missouri

0.072 LSD score · 175 LSAT · 3.96 GPA · 39% BigLaw

University of Southern California Los Angeles, California

#19 University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California

0.070 LSD score · 169 LSAT · 3.91 GPA · 57% BigLaw

↓1 23

Boston University Boston, Massachusetts

#23 ↓1 Boston University

Boston, Massachusetts

0.036 LSD score · 170 LSAT · 3.88 GPA · 36% BigLaw

↓2 24

University of Georgia Athens, Georgia

#24 ↓2 University of Georgia

Athens, Georgia

0.030 LSD score · 169 LSAT · 3.92 GPA · 17% BigLaw

↓2 24

University of Minnesota Minneapolis, Minnesota

#24 ↓2 University of Minnesota

Minneapolis, Minnesota

0.029 LSD score · 171 LSAT · 3.88 GPA · 16% BigLaw

↑2 24

University of Florida (Levin) Gainesville, Florida

#24 ↑2 University of Florida (Levin)

Gainesville, Florida

0.029 LSD score · 169 LSAT · 3.91 GPA · 25% BigLaw

↓2 24

Fordham University Bronx, New York

#24 ↓2 Fordham University

Bronx, New York

0.027 LSD score · 168 LSAT · 3.79 GPA · 42% BigLaw

T25

Top 25 - strong national programs, often best ROI with scholarships

Schools in the 15–25 range often offer the best return on investment when scholarships are factored in — similar career outcomes to lower T14 schools at significantly lower cost. Market strength tends to be concentrated in 1–2 geographic regions.

T25 Top 25 - strong national programs, often best ROI with scholarships

↓1 28

University of California—Irvine Irvine, California

#28 ↓1 University of California—Irvine

Irvine, California

0.025 LSD score · 169 LSAT · 3.80 GPA · 29% BigLaw

↑2 29

University of Wisconsin Madison, Wisconsin

#29 ↑2 University of Wisconsin

Madison, Wisconsin

0.022 LSD score · 167 LSAT · 3.81 GPA · 13% BigLaw

Boston College Newton, Massachusetts

Newton, Massachusetts

0.022 LSD score · 168 LSAT · 3.83 GPA · 44% BigLaw

↓4 31

Wake Forest University Winston-Salem, North Carolina

#31 ↓4 Wake Forest University

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

0.019 LSD score · 166 LSAT · 3.79 GPA · 25% BigLaw

↓1 32

Ohio State University Columbus , Ohio

#32 ↓1 Ohio State University

Columbus , Ohio

0.015 LSD score · 168 LSAT · 3.91 GPA · 13% BigLaw

↓1 32

Emory University Atlanta, Georgia

#32 ↓1 Emory University

Atlanta, Georgia

0.015 LSD score · 166 LSAT · 3.82 GPA · 34% BigLaw

↓2 32

University of Illinois—Urbana Champaign Champaign, Illinois

#32 ↓2 University of Illinois—Urbana Champaign

Champaign, Illinois

0.015 LSD score · 166 LSAT · 3.81 GPA · 34% BigLaw

↑6 32

William & Mary Law School Williamsburg, Virginia

#32 ↑6 William & Mary Law School

Williamsburg, Virginia

0.014 LSD score · 166 LSAT · 3.82 GPA · 18% BigLaw

↓1 32

University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, Alabama

#32 ↓1 University of Alabama

Tuscaloosa, Alabama

0.013 LSD score · 167 LSAT · 3.97 GPA · 20% BigLaw

↓1 32

George Washington University Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C.

#32 ↓1 George Washington University

Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C.

0.013 LSD score · 168 LSAT · 3.86 GPA · 30% BigLaw

↓7 38

Villanova University Villanova, Pennsylvania

#38 ↓7 Villanova University

Villanova, Pennsylvania

0.013 LSD score · 164 LSAT · 3.80 GPA · 20% BigLaw

↑7 38

Texas A&M University Fort Worth, Texas

#38 ↑7 Texas A&M University

Fort Worth, Texas

0.012 LSD score · 169 LSAT · 4.00 GPA · 19% BigLaw

Southern Methodist University Dallas, Texas

#38 Southern Methodist University

Dallas, Texas

0.011 LSD score · 167 LSAT · 3.81 GPA · 28% BigLaw

University of Iowa Iowa City, Iowa

#38 University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa

0.011 LSD score · 164 LSAT · 3.78 GPA · 16% BigLaw

Indiana University - Bloomington Bloomington, Indiana

#38 Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana

0.011 LSD score · 164 LSAT · 3.91 GPA · 17% BigLaw

George Mason University Fairfax, Virginia

#38 George Mason University

Fairfax, Virginia

0.011 LSD score · 169 LSAT · 3.93 GPA · 11% BigLaw

↓6 44

Florida State University Tallahassee, Florida

#44 ↓6 Florida State University

Tallahassee, Florida

0.010 LSD score · 166 LSAT · 3.93 GPA · 16% BigLaw

↓13 44

University of Utah Salt Lake City, Utah

0.010

166

3.87

#44 ↓13 University of Utah

Salt Lake City, Utah

0.010 LSD score · 166 LSAT · 3.87 GPA · 8% BigLaw

↑22 44

University of Missouri Columbia, Missouri

#44 ↑22 University of Missouri

Columbia, Missouri

0.010 LSD score · 161 LSAT · 3.72 GPA · 11% BigLaw

↑6 44

Temple University Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

#44 ↑6 Temple University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

0.010 LSD score · 165 LSAT · 3.76 GPA · 18% BigLaw

↓6 44

Howard University Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C.

#44 ↓6 Howard University

Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C.

0.010 LSD score · 156 LSAT · 3.63 GPA · 39% BigLaw

↑1 44

Wayne State University Detroit, Michigan

0.010

164

3.89

#44 ↑1 Wayne State University

Detroit, Michigan

0.010 LSD score · 164 LSAT · 3.89 GPA · 5% BigLaw

↑1 44

University of California—Davis Davis, California

#44 ↑1 University of California—Davis

Davis, California

0.009 LSD score · 165 LSAT · 3.70 GPA · 26% BigLaw

↑1 44

Washington and Lee University Lexington, Virginia

#44 ↑1 Washington and Lee University

Lexington, Virginia

0.009 LSD score · 167 LSAT · 3.75 GPA · 21% BigLaw

T50

Top 50 - solid regional placement, class rank matters more

BigLaw placement rates vary widely (from ~10% to ~40%) and class rank matters significantly more than at higher-ranked schools. Many T50 schools are the dominant pipeline for their state's legal market.

T50 Top 50 - solid regional placement, class rank matters more

↓7 52

University of Washington Seattle, Washington

#52 ↓7 University of Washington

Seattle, Washington

0.008 LSD score · 165 LSAT · 3.76 GPA · 16% BigLaw

↓3 53

Arizona State University Tempe, Arizona

#53 ↓3 Arizona State University

Tempe, Arizona

0.006 LSD score · 165 LSAT · 3.91 GPA · 11% BigLaw

↑3 53

University of Colorado—Boulder Boulder, Colorado

#53 ↑3 University of Colorado—Boulder

Boulder, Colorado

0.006 LSD score · 164 LSAT · 3.81 GPA · 18% BigLaw

↓3 53

University of Connecticut Hartford, Connecticut

#53 ↓3 University of Connecticut

Hartford, Connecticut

0.006 LSD score · 162 LSAT · 3.78 GPA · 11% BigLaw

↓3 53

University of Tennessee Knoxville, Tennessee

#53 ↓3 University of Tennessee

Knoxville, Tennessee

0.006 LSD score · 164 LSAT · 3.89 GPA · 10% BigLaw

↑20 53

Tulane University New Orleans, Louisiana

#53 ↑20 Tulane University

New Orleans, Louisiana

0.006 LSD score · 161 LSAT · 3.67 GPA · 19% BigLaw

↑3 53

Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, Ohio

#53 ↑3 Case Western Reserve University

Cleveland, Ohio

0.005 LSD score · 162 LSAT · 3.76 GPA · 13% BigLaw

↑3 53

Yeshiva University (Cardozo) New York City, New York

#53 ↑3 Yeshiva University (Cardozo)

New York City, New York

0.005 LSD score · 165 LSAT · 3.78 GPA · 19% BigLaw

↑3 53

University of Richmond Richmond, Virginia

#53 ↑3 University of Richmond

Richmond, Virginia

0.005 LSD score · 164 LSAT · 3.81 GPA · 12% BigLaw

↑3 53

University of California (Hastings) San Francisco, California

0.005

—

#53 ↑3 University of California (Hastings)

San Francisco, California

0.005 LSD score

↓6 62

Northeastern University Boston, Massachusetts

#62 ↓6 Northeastern University

Boston, Massachusetts

0.005 LSD score · 164 LSAT · 3.77 GPA · 20% BigLaw

↓6 62

Michigan State University East Lansing, Michigan

0.005

162

3.73

#62 ↓6 Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan

0.005 LSD score · 162 LSAT · 3.73 GPA · 4% BigLaw

↓6 62

University of Kansas Lawrence, Kansas

#62 ↓6 University of Kansas

Lawrence, Kansas

0.005 LSD score · 162 LSAT · 3.85 GPA · 10% BigLaw

↓6 62

Loyola Marymount University—Los Angeles Los Angeles, California

#62 ↓6 Loyola Marymount University—Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California

0.005 LSD score · 163 LSAT · 3.74 GPA · 17% BigLaw

↑4 62

University of Cincinnati Cincinnati, Ohio

0.005

159

3.80

#62 ↑4 University of Cincinnati

Cincinnati, Ohio

0.005 LSD score · 159 LSAT · 3.80 GPA · 6% BigLaw

↓12 62

University of Nevada—Las Vegas Las Vegas, Nevada

0.005

160

3.76

#62 ↓12 University of Nevada—Las Vegas

Las Vegas, Nevada

0.005 LSD score · 160 LSAT · 3.76 GPA · 8% BigLaw

↓6 62

Marquette University Milwaukee, Wisconsin

0.005

158

3.70

#62 ↓6 Marquette University

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

0.005 LSD score · 158 LSAT · 3.70 GPA · 6% BigLaw

↓12 62

University of Maryland Baltimore, Maryland

#62 ↓12 University of Maryland

Baltimore, Maryland

0.004 LSD score · 164 LSAT · 3.72 GPA · 10% BigLaw

↓4 70

University of Arizona Tucson, Arizona

0.004

163

3.78

#70 ↓4 University of Arizona

Tucson, Arizona

0.004 LSD score · 163 LSAT · 3.78 GPA · 8% BigLaw

↑3 70

University of San Diego San Diego, California

#70 ↑3 University of San Diego

San Diego, California

0.004 LSD score · 163 LSAT · 3.84 GPA · 13% BigLaw

↑3 70

University of Oklahoma Norman, Oklahoma

0.004

162

3.73

#70 ↑3 University of Oklahoma

Norman, Oklahoma

0.004 LSD score · 162 LSAT · 3.73 GPA · 6% BigLaw

↓4 70

Pennsylvania State - Dickinson Law Carlisle, Pennsylvania

0.004

159

3.71

#70 ↓4 Pennsylvania State - Dickinson Law

Carlisle, Pennsylvania

0.004 LSD score · 159 LSAT · 3.71 GPA · 8% BigLaw

↑3 70

University of Miami Coral Gables, Florida

#70 ↑3 University of Miami

Coral Gables, Florida

0.004 LSD score · 164 LSAT · 3.79 GPA · 20% BigLaw

↑3 70

University of South Carolina Columbia, South Carolina

0.004

162

3.67

#70 ↑3 University of South Carolina

Columbia, South Carolina

0.004 LSD score · 162 LSAT · 3.67 GPA · 8% BigLaw

↑17 70

University of Mississippi Oxford, Mississippi

0.004

157

3.68

#70 ↑17 University of Mississippi

Oxford, Mississippi

0.004 LSD score · 157 LSAT · 3.68 GPA · 6% BigLaw

↓4 70

University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

#70 ↓4 University of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

0.004 LSD score · 160 LSAT · 3.54 GPA · 14% BigLaw

75+

Below Top 50 - fewer cross-admit matchups, rankings are directional

Below around rank 50, cross-admit data becomes sparser. Rankings here are directionally useful but shouldn't be read as precise ordering. Focus on bar passage rates, regional employment strength, and scholarship offers alongside rank.

75+ Below Top 50 - fewer cross-admit matchups, rankings are directional

↓5 78