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Law School Rankings for 2024

Top law school rankings for 2024.

One way to compare schools is the USNews law school rankings of top law schools (but not the only way).

Below you will find the law school rankings for 2021 as well as the GPA and LSAT scores of accepted students. Click on a school name for in-depth information on that school. If you scroll to the bottom you can find Top-5s on different metrics. We hope with these other rankings you will start to look beyond USNews to determine the top law schools for you.

Rankings for other years: 2021 (published 2020), 2022 (published 2021), 2023 (published 2022), 2024 (published 2023), 2024 (published 2024).

LSAT GPA
Rank Name 25th 50th 75th 25th 50th 75th Acceptance
1 Yale University 173 3.94 7.0%
16 University of Texas at Austin 168 3.76 18.0%
29 Boston College 164 3.69 32.0%
50 University of California (Hastings) 158 3.42 39.0%
70 University of Kansas 157 3.66 60.0%
91 Rutgers University 156 3.31 44.0%
111 Indiana University - Indianapolis 154 3.45 56.0%
129 University of Baltimore 153 3.32 55.0%
147-193 Ave Maria School Of Law 151 3.37 52.0%
147-193 Florida A&M University 147 3.3 34.0%
147-193 Northern Illinois University 149 3.2 59.0%
147-193 Widener University—Delaware 149 3.22 63.0%
2 Stanford University 171 3.89 10.0%
16 Washington University in St. Louis 169 3.88 20.0%
29 University of Illinois—Urbana Champaign 162 3.64 43.0%
52 Southern Methodist University 162 3.73 41.0%
72 Loyola Marymount University—Los Angeles 160 3.59 36.0%
91 Illinois Institute of Technology (Kent) 158 3.48 47.0%
111 Stetson University 155 3.44 52.0%
129 Suffolk University 154 3.44 69.0%
147-193 Barry University 148 3.02 59.0%
147-193 Florida Coastal School Of Law 149 3.12 46.0%
147-193 Northern Kentucky University 152 3.19 65.0%
3 Harvard University 173 3.88 13.0%
16 Vanderbilt University 167 3.82 23.0%
29 Brigham Young University 166 3.82 37.0%
53 Yeshiva University (Cardozo) 162 3.65 38.0%
72 University of Miami 159 3.53 51.0%
91 Saint Louis University 155 3.45 62.0%
111 University of Tulsa 155 3.38 60.0%
129 University of Toledo 152 3.43 66.0%
147-193 California Western School Of Law 152 3.24 53.0%
147-193 Golden Gate University 150 3.02 55.0%
147-193 Nova Southeastern University 152 3.19 47.0%
4 University of Chicago 171 3.89 18.0%
19 University of Southern California 167 3.83 17.0%
29 University of Wisconsin 163 3.61 42.0%
53 University of Richmond 161 3.62 44.0%
72 St. John's University 160 3.62 41.0%
91 Michigan State University 156 3.56 59.0%
111 DePaul University 155 3.41 50.0%
134 Chapman University 159 3.52 33.0%
147-193 Campbell University 152 3.37 63.0%
147-193 Liberty University 151 3.4 55.0%
147-193 Ohio Northern University 150 3.26 50.0%
4 Columbia University 172 3.82 17.0%
20 Boston University 167 3.8 25.0%
35 University of California—Irvine 166 3.61 20.0%
53 Temple University 161 3.57 36.0%
72 Case Western Reserve University 159 3.5 47.0%
91 Howard University 153 3.41 34.0%
111 University of Missouri—Kansas City 153 3.43 55.0%
134 University of Montana 156 3.44 60.0%
147-193 Capital University 150 3.21 76.0%
147-193 Oklahoma City University 147 3.32 63.0%
6 New York University 170 3.82 22.0%
21 University of Florida (Levin) 165 3.84 20.0%
35 Fordham University 164 3.64 27.0%
41 George Mason University 164 3.77 23.0%
53 Texas A&M University 160 3.76 22.0%
60 University of Houston 160 3.57 34.0%
72 Wayne State University 159 3.65 37.0%
81 University of Kentucky 155 3.54 61.0%
96 University of Arkansas, Fayetteville 155 3.61 54.0%
98 University of Buffalo—SUNY 155 3.52 45.0%
116 Cleveland State University 153 3.35 47.0%
119 New York Law School 153 3.47 52.0%
134 Belmont University 156 3.6 39.0%
141 Creighton University 152 3.25 63.0%
147-193 Charleston School Of Law 150 3.2 55.0%
147-193 Regent University 155 3.45 51.0%
6 University of Pennsylvania 170 3.89 14.0%
22 University of Minnesota 165 3.77 36.0%
35 Washington and Lee University 163 3.63 37.0%
41 Wake Forest University 163 3.73 18.0%
53 Villanova University 160 3.63 30.0%
60 Pennsylvania State - Penn State Law 160 3.72 38.0%
72 University of Oregon 157 3.48 60.0%
81 American University 160 3.51 36.0%
96 University of South Carolina 156 3.5 47.0%
102 University of New Mexico 155 3.5 46.0%
116 West Virginia University 154 3.45 63.0%
119 University of Wyoming 153 3.4 57.0%
134 University of Akron 153 3.34 53.0%
141 University of Arkansas, Little Rock 151 3.41 50.0%
147-193 University of Detroit Mercy 152 3.24 54.0%
147-193 Roger Williams University 149 3.21 65.0%
8 University of Virginia 170 3.9 14.0%
22 University of Notre Dame 167 3.75 20.0%
35 William & Mary Law School 163 3.6 42.0%
43 Indiana University - Bloomington 162 3.78 43.0%
58 Baylor University 160 3.63 34.0%
60 University of Nevada—Las Vegas 159 3.67 31.0%
78 Loyola University—Chicago 159 3.41 44.0%
81 Brooklyn Law School 158 3.44 49.0%
98 University of Hawaii 154 3.42 40.0%
102 Marquette University 154 3.5 51.0%
116 Albany Law School Of Union University 154 3.4 51.0%
119 University of Dayton 152 3.48 36.0%
134 University of South Dakota 149 3.56 64.0%
141 University of the Pacific (Mcgeorge) 154 3.4 56.0%
147-193 University of the District of Columbia 150 3.09 33.0%
147-193 University of San Francisco 153 3.32 49.0%
9 University of California—Berkeley 168 3.81 22.0%
24 University of North Carolina 163 3.68 22.0%
35 University of California—Davis 163 3.72 33.0%
43 University of Utah 161 3.77 33.0%
58 University of Connecticut 158 3.53 45.0%
60 Pennsylvania State - Dickinson Law 160 3.39 39.0%
78 University of Denver 159 3.55 51.0%
81 University of Cincinnati 158 3.65 51.0%
98 University of Louisville 155 3.63 49.0%
102 Drake University 155 3.46 69.0%
119 Hofstra University 154 3.37 46.0%
124 University of Maine 156 3.51 46.0%
139 University of Idaho 153 3.24 67.0%
144 Loyola University—New Orleans 151 3.32 64.0%
147-193 Elon University 150 3.3 46.0%
147-193 South Texas College Of Law—Houston 152 3.17 46.0%
10 University of Michigan 169 3.76 16.0%
25 Arizona State University 165 3.83 26.0%
40 Ohio State University 161 3.79 35.0%
45 University of Washington 162 3.68 35.0%
60 Tulane University 159 3.54 53.0%
60 University of Missouri 158 3.66 55.0%
78 Georgia State University 158 3.52 29.0%
81 Drexel University 156 3.56 43.0%
98 University of Mississippi 156 3.51 42.0%
102 CUNY 154 3.45 35.0%
119 Duquesne University 154 3.41 57.0%
124 Mercer University 153 3.41 45.0%
139 Pace University 151 3.33 51.0%
144 University of Memphis 153 3.33 47.0%
147-193 Southern Illinois University—Carbondale 150 3.29 50.0%
10 Duke University 169 3.8 22.0%
25 University of Alabama 164 3.94 36.0%
46 University of Arizona 163 3.56 28.0%
60 University of Tennessee 159 3.63 33.0%
86 University of San Diego 159 3.65 39.0%
102 Catholic University Of America 156 3.4 42.0%
126 Santa Clara University 156 3.34 55.0%
144 Samford University 152 3.49 68.0%
147-193 Mississippi College 148 3.22 70.0%
147-193 Southern University 144 2.98 62.0%
147-193 Touro College 149 3.07 50.0%
12 Northwestern University 169 3.85 19.0%
27 George Washington University 166 3.76 34.0%
46 Pepperdine University 162 3.68 28.0%
67 Northeastern University 162 3.65 36.0%
87 University of Nebraska 156 3.63 66.0%
102 Syracuse University 155 3.53 39.0%
126 University of St. Thomas (Minnesota) 154 3.51 69.0%
147-193 University of Illinois—Chicago 151 3.27 57.0%
147-193 Mitchell Hamline 152 3.24 58.0%
147-193 Southwestern Law School 153 3.25 47.0%
147-193 University of Massachusetts Dartmouth 149 3.27 56.0%
13 Cornell University 168 3.86 19.0%
27 University of Georgia 165 3.78 19.0%
48 University of Colorado—Boulder 163 3.65 37.0%
67 University of Oklahoma 157 3.63 54.0%
88 University of New Hampshire 156 3.46 57.0%
102 Texas Tech University 156 3.56 37.0%
126 Seattle University 155 3.39 60.0%
147-193 Vermont Law School 152 3.19 65.0%
147-193 New England Law | Boston 152 3.27 71.0%
147-193 St. Mary's University 151 3.2 58.0%
147-193 Western Michigan University (Cooley) 147 2.94 44.0%
14 University of California—Los Angeles 169 3.79 23.0%
29 Emory University 166 3.8 32.0%
48 Florida State University 161 3.72 30.0%
67 University of Pittsburgh 159 3.51 42.0%
88 Florida International University 158 3.65 27.0%
109 Louisiana State University 155 3.45 52.0%
129 Gonzaga University 153 3.43 59.0%
147-193 Willamette University 152 3.07 64.0%
147-193 North Carolina Central University 145 3.24 44.0%
147-193 St. Thomas University (Florida) 150 3.23 52.0%
147-193 Western New England University 148 3.27 60.0%
15 Georgetown University 168 3.78 20.0%
29 University of Iowa 161 3.64 60.0%
50 University of Maryland 160 3.66 36.0%
70 Seton Hall University 158 3.55 46.0%
88 Lewis And Clark College 158 3.49 61.0%
109 Washburn University 155 3.39 51.0%
129 Quinnipiac University 152 3.46 60.0%
147-193 Appalachian School of Law 147 3.17 45.0%
147-193 University of North Dakota 148 3.34 66.0%
147-193 Texas Southern University 148 3.17 30.0%
147-193 Western State College Of Law 150 3.14 43.0%
A rank of 147-193 means that the school is in the bottom tier as ranked by U.S. News & World Report.
* The data in this table is user-reported and may be inaccurate.
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Summary

The U.S. News & World Report (USNWR) law school rankings for 2024 showcase a highly competitive landscape among top-tier institutions. Stanford University and Yale University share the first spot, followed by the University of Chicago. Tied in fourth place are Duke University, Harvard University, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Virginia. The USNews rankings consider a multitude of factors including (but not limited to) the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile LSAT scores and GPAs of first year enrolled students, as well as the acceptance rate, in an effort to paint a comprehensive picture of each school's selectivity and the quality of its students.

Stanford and Yale Law Schools both have 25th percentile LSAT scores of 171 or above and 75th percentile scores reaching 175 and 177 respectively, indicating a highly accomplished student body. Yale, however, has a slightly lower acceptance rate at 5.6%, reflecting a higher level of competitiveness for admission. Both schools also boast strong GPA percentiles, with 75th percentile GPAs hitting 3.99 for Stanford and 4.0 for Yale, illustrating the high academic achievements of their students.

In the fourth spot, UPenn, Duke, Harvard, and UVA exhibit a diverse range of LSAT and GPA percentiles, which for many feel much more achievable (especially the 75th percentile, Harvard excluded) than Stanford or Yale. Duke, UChicago, and UVA stand out due to their acceptance rates above 10%. Interestingly, in the past high acceptance rates have led to increased applicants which drive down acceptance rates leading to much of the T-6 floating around a 5-10% acceptance rate, and the rest of T-14 around 10-15%.

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jb2028
18:36
By comparison, Tennessee has 2% of the class fail out (https://law.utk.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2023-ABA-Standard-509-Information-Report.pdf), 16% fail the bar even in a bad year (https://law.utk.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/UTK-College-of-Law-Bar-Passage-20241.pdf), and just 1 in 10 did not find legal or JD advantage jobs (https://law.utk.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/EQ-Summary-Report-Class-of-2023.pdf)
jb2028
18:38
Depending on your stats the answer could also be option C, reapply next year for >50% at Tennessee/substantial $ at other good schools (most spend their scholarship budget by June 30th), but that depends on your situation and goals
jb2028
18:39
Standardized info on curves is harder to find, but this says Elon curves to a 2.67 which is downright predatory https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_law_school_GPA_curves
DisillusionedHomelessWalnut
18:41
appreciate it. i am well removed from undergrad and am pushing through for this year. have significant business experience and want to do corporate law and/or property. not educated on the curve and how that works, will look into that
DisillusionedHomelessWalnut
18:42
questioning whether i go to school for free at a lesser school or pay some out of pocket at a better name for the same degree at end of the day, the numbers don't lie
jb2028
18:54
@DisillusionedHomelessWalnut: The way the curve works is a below-median student at Tennessee (curves to a 3.1, so B/B+) can end up with a better GPA than an above-average student at Elon (curves to a 2.67/B-minus), so the student from Tennessee will have a better transcript *and* get better jobs on average than someone with the same class rank at Elon
jb2028
18:56
Your real alarm bell is Elon's curve (linked here, p. 70 https://eloncdn.blob.core.windows.net/eu3/sites/996/2019/07/2017-2018_Academic_Catalog-and-Student_Handbook.pdf) *requires* profs to give 20% of first-year students a C-minus or worse, when the school's bar for "satisfactory academic progress" is a C+ average
DisillusionedHomelessWalnut
18:59
ooooffff. thanks. i mean, full ride is cool and all, but damn
jb2028
18:59
The only scenario where a school does something like that (curve to a 2.67, dismiss students below 2.25) is when they're admitting a lot of students who may not pass the bar, then flunking people out mercilessly so the school can keep its accreditation (ABA requires 75% of grads to pass the bar within two years, can't fail the bar if the school doesn't let you graduate)
DisillusionedHomelessWalnut
18:59
the dean told me "no students had their scholarships reduced in the past three years, and to my recollection only one scholarship in 19 years has been reduced when a student was in good standing"
DisillusionedHomelessWalnut
19:01
yeah, i get that and appreciate you validating that point. i like to think it really wouldn't apply to me and assume it happens due to the lower standards of admissions they utilize, but is it (full ride) worth the risk? that's the fly in the ointment
DisillusionedHomelessWalnut
19:02
just trying to weigh all angles, seems like just biting the bullet and paying the modest amount to UTK is a smarter decision
DisillusionedHomelessWalnut
19:04
end of cycle is for the birds, but i'm playing the hand i was dealt :)
jb2028
19:06
In general you are going to be better off at a school that wants its students to succeed. UTK seems to fit the description - they are not in any danger of losing their accreditation, don't need to force people out. Elon very much does not, if their bar passage drops 2% they'll be in violation of ABA requirements so they won't give students any leway
jb2028
19:06
*leeway
DisillusionedHomelessWalnut
19:08
i appreciate your insight, friend
manifestmoreadmissions
19:11
im too lazy to provide the same level of detail as JB but I agree UTK seems like a better bet to actually achieve your career goals and set yourself up for success. I would understand being conflicted if it were like UTK vs Belmont or a lower ranked school that isn't considered predatory but because it's Elon that makes it more clear to me
DisillusionedHomelessWalnut
19:15
thank you
DisillusionedHomelessWalnut
19:17
the counterpoint bouncing around my head is basically "if i'm worth a damn, as i think i am, i'll be just fine no matter what the curve is" but you folks are nudging me in the direction of logic and common sense
manifestmoreadmissions
19:18
plenty of the people who fall behind are worth a damn it's just that some schools are basically set up to screw people over
DisillusionedHomelessWalnut
19:19
yeah. fall behind as in....miss homework? can't keep up with readings? something else?
DisillusionedHomelessWalnut
19:20
kinda nervous coming in as an untraditional guy around KJD's, billy madison vibes over here
jb2028
19:21
Re: costs, it's worth looking at costs all around, both schools cost (net tuition, $0 at Elon/$30K over 3 years if you're in-state at UTK) PLUS three years not earning money or advancing in your career, which is worth 6 figures if you make decent money now. $30K in tuition is a small share of total costs in this comparison
jb2028
19:24
"Fall behind" in this context means law school curves are rigid, no matter how hard everyone studies half the class will be below-median, 25% in the bottom quarter, etc. It's not super predictable either, so a student above GPA or LSAT median could still end up bottom half or 1/4 of the class
DisillusionedHomelessWalnut
19:27
gotcha. predatory in that instance is certainly appropriate
manifestmoreadmissions
19:32
i am not kjd but im glad jb cleared that up for you lmao
jb2028
19:32
And assuming similar class rank, UTK grads tend to do better in public data. Top students at UTK have a shot at biglaw (pays $225K), top students at Elon end up at small/medium firms (worse pay). Average students at UTK can get jobs at small/medium firms, average students at Elon are on the bubble for any firm job at all. Below-average students at UTK have a shot at firm jobs or other work, below-average students at Elon might not get jobs (or pass the bar, or avoid academic dismissal). That's the major advantage of well-regarded schools - more upside, less downside
manifestmoreadmissions
19:32
but yeah just reiterating that you could be worth so many damns and still not do well because its set up for that
jb2028
19:37
(This is ignoring public service/government jobs, because the stats there don't tell us much about the type of job - "super competitive Department of Justice job in DC making $90K" and "local government job earning $50K" both get lumped together under the "public service" label, but say v. different things about a school's job placement
DisillusionedHomelessWalnut
19:38
really appreciate all the insight
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