There are numerous methods to rank legislation faculties, however the way in which that the Nationwide Jurist’s preLaw Journal does it’s fairly fascinating. Moderately than concentrating on the status elements that often dominate legislation faculty rating methods, this rating focuses solely on elements that present the “greatest worth” for college students. That mentioned, it is a listing that’s sometimes dominated by public faculties, with a smattering of personal faculties combined in. Curiously, for the previous few years, a personal faculty had come out on high of the Nationwide Jurist rating — however that has stopped, and a brand new worth victor reigns supreme in 2025.
Earlier than we get to the High 20 rating, let’s talk about the methodology used to suss out which legislation faculties are offering the most effective worth for college students. The Nationwide Jurist’s rating takes into consideration a legislation faculty’s tuition, college students’ value of dwelling bills, college students’ common indebtedness upon commencement (collectively weighted 55%), the proportion of graduates who received a job after commencement (30%), and bar passage charges (two-year distinction between first-time go price and common state go price; two-year final go price; and two-year first-time uncooked go price) (15%).
As famous beforehand, primarily based on these inputs, the rating tends to skew closely in the direction of public faculties, however non-public faculties made a displaying on this yr’s rating. One non-public faculty cracked the High 20, whereas 10 others adopted behind later. For what it’s value, the 2025 Greatest Worth rating reminds us a little bit of U.S. Information legislation faculty rankings, in that we’ve received an 18-way tie for twenty first place and a 20-way tie for twenty second place.
With out additional ado, listed here are the Nationwide Jurist’s Top 20 Best Value Law Schools:
- Florida State College
- Brigham Younger College
- College of Georgia
- College of Florida
- College of Kansas
- College of Alabama
- College of North Carolina
- College of Missouri
- Texas A&M Regulation
- College of Illinois
- College of Nebraska
- College of Oklahoma
- College of Tennessee
- Georgia State College
- College of Iowa
- College of Montana
- College of Kentucky
- College of Buffalo College of Regulation
- College of Texas
- Texas Tech College
Erin O’Hara O’Connor, dean of FSU Regulation, attributes the varsity’s success within the 2025 Greatest Worth rating to the varsity’s total philosophy, that affordability plus alternative equals freedom — the liberty to construct their desired careers. “Per greenback invested of their authorized schooling, our college students can’t and won’t obtain a greater schooling and higher alternatives,” O’Connor mentioned.
The lesson to be discovered right here is straightforward: if you wish to maintain your debt low, think about enrolling at a public legislation faculty. When you don’t thoughts as much as a six-figure debt load, enroll in the most effective legislation faculty you will get into (let’s say the top 50), as a result of these are the colleges the place you’ll be capable of get jobs that can help you service your loans.
Congrats to the legislation faculties that provide their college students the “greatest worth.”
Best value law schools [preLaw Magazine / National Jurist]
FSU Law, BYU Law and UGA School of Law take top spots for best value law schools [preLaw Magazine / National Jurist]
Staci Zaretsky is the managing editor of Above the Regulation, the place she’s labored since 2011. She’d love to listen to from you, so please be happy to email her with any ideas, questions, feedback, or critiques. You may comply with her on Bluesky, X/Twitter, and Threads, or join along with her on LinkedIn.
