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In this article, we will explore the best-value law schools in the United States and their key features to help you make informed decisions regarding your academic pursuits and examine how long it will take to pay off law school debt.
71% of law students graduate with debt, with the average student owing around $130,000 in student loans!
While you can apply for several law school scholarships to subsidize your tuition fees, you can also consider attending affordable law schools.
Having these options will still provide you with a high-quality education while avoiding extensive debt. So, if you’re thinking about attending a law school without breaking the bank, read on to learn about the best-value law schools in the United States.
Below are the top 10 best-value schools in the US:
Here's a closer look at each school and what sets them apart as the best-value programs in the nation.
Penn State Dickinson Law School is one of the oldest law schools in the United States. After several decades of offering exceptional legal education, it is known as one of the most affordable public law schools. The individualized attention coupled with high-quality training from professors is likely responsible for its bar exam pass rate—averaging almost 90%.
Interestingly, Penn State has two separately accredited law school programs that contain resources and programs necessary for your growth as a lawyer. Penn State Dickinson Law School offers the following degrees:
In addition to a reputable legal education, students of Penn State also benefit from the following:
Interestingly, some students seek admission into this school because of the benefits it offers apart from its affordability. This characteristic further validates the school as one of the best-value law schools.
The University of Houston Law Center was founded in 1947 in Houston, Texas. It was accredited by the American Bar Association, making it one of the Association of American Law Schools members.
Students graduating from UH Law receive an average starting salary of $147,975.
Compared to other schools, one thing that distinguishes this law center is its modest resident tuition fee of about $31,327, which makes it a great example of a best-value law school in the US.
The law center offers a high level of professionalism coupled with various opportunities to enhance your career growth. The program is also flexible, giving students time to complete their degree and develop other valuable skills.
Below are some of the specializations the University of Houston Law Center offers:
In addition to its flexibility and various specialties, the University of Houston Law Center offers a dual degree option where students can complete two LLM degrees. Interested students should apply to be admitted to both programs so they can start the degrees simultaneously.
The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law was founded in 1891 and has been a top-ranked law school in the United States. It is considered one of the most respected law schools in the world.
The tuition fee for law students at Ohio State University Moritz College of Law is quite affordable compared to other law schools at approximately $34,777 for residents. The cost to attend Moritz Law is also lower than most high-ranked law schools.
The law school is known for being the best in legislative law. Also, it has many areas of specialization, which are listed below:
With over 100 years of providing legal education, the Moritz College of Law is known for its excellence, brought about by its rigorous academic programs and well-renowned lecturers. As a top-ranked law school, Moritz Law is deeply committed to delivering an exemplary legal education while maintaining its financial accessibility.
The University of Alabama Law School has been in existence for more than 150 years, and over these years, it has produced national and global leaders. It is located in the city of Tuscaloosa.
Despite providing high-quality education, legal studies in the school are quite affordable, at $24,480 for residents. The recent grads also had a high employment rate—over 94% were employed full-time within a few months of graduation.
The University of Alabama Law School, the only public law school in Alabama, is student-centered. With many teachers being practicing researchers and scholars, students can learn from educators with extensive experience in the field.
The legal curriculum in the school is traditional, thereby equipping the students with cultural and academic skills to prepare them for opportunities. In addition, the school also offers dual programs for interested students.
The school of law is notably known for its vast knowledge of public interest law in areas such as:
Alabama offers various degrees, such as a Juris Doctor degree and an International LLM in taxation and business transactions. In addition, the school offers a four-year joint JD/MBA degree, which are dual degrees that can be run alongside each other.
Finding the right law school is a balance between quality and cost. With the help of law school applications, you can identify best-value schools that match your goals, craft a standout application, and navigate the admissions process confidently. Whether you’re focused on affordability, specializations, or career outcomes, expert guidance can make all the difference.
The Wake Forest School of Law is one of the best-value schools for students hoping to pursue a legal education. Located in Winston Salem, North California, it offers an affordable and high-quality legal education.
Many aspiring law students try to get into Wake Forest School of Law due to its affordability and commitment to minimizing student debt. Various initiatives have been put in place to ensure that graduating students have manageable student debt.
Also, the law school offers scholarship programs for their students to reduce the tuition fee load on them. This feature helps students benefit from these programs and focus on their education rather than worrying about student loans and repayment.
The school does this by granting over 100 unique scholarships to students each year!
Apart from its affordability, Wake Forest School of Law also has high-quality employment opportunities for its graduates. They have strong and notable connections with the legal industry, and their students are guaranteed to get a job within ten months of their graduation. The median salary for their recent graduates was about $127,798.
Furthermore, the school of law pays above the average salary figure for most law schools. The competitive salary figure shows that their students are well-equipped with good academic skills and prowess.
To sum it all up, Wake Forest School of Law is one of the best-value schools with strong employment outcomes and good salaries. This attribute makes the school a perfect fit for students seeking admission to an affordable school with excellent career prospects.
Next on the list is the University of Minnesota Law School. It is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and offers its students various options for an affordable legal education.
This highly esteemed establishment minimizes debt by offering the following to students:
The tuition fee is about $48,528 for residents, which is remarkably low compared to other law schools. Despite its affordability, the Minnesota Law offers excellent value for the quality of education it provides.
The school equips its students with a variety of employment opportunities in the legal field. They do this by exposing the students to many recruiting programs, practical interviews, workshops, panels, and counseling sessions on how they can achieve their career goals.
This feature results in impressive employment outcomes for their graduate students. It is also important to note that the school is well-connected to local law industries, which gives students easier access to internships and externships while in school.
In addition to being an affordable and high-quality school, graduates are reported to receive an above-average starting salary. The median salary of Minnesota Law grads is over $165,000 a year.
All in all, the University of Minnesota Law School is an affordable and reputable establishment. The school is committed to student success, making it one of the best-value law schools in the US.
The University of Cincinnati College of Law, located in Cincinnati, Ohio, is another reputable, best-value law school. This institution has a unique blend of affordability, impressive employment outcomes, and attractive post-graduate salaries.
A major feature of the school is its commitment to lowering student debt, giving the graduate less financial burden. A lower debt enables the student to explore more opportunities in a legal career.
The cost to attend the University of Cincinnati College of Law is about $24,010 for residents.
Cincinnati Law tuition fees are lower than most high-ranked law institutions in the United States. The affordability makes the school a common option for intending law students.
In addition to the school’s already affordable fees, it offers scholarships of more than 3 million dollars to its students each year, giving those with financial limitations access to high-quality education. The in-house scholarship spans three years.
Furthermore, the school has impressive employment outcomes and a high salary for its graduates. One of the school’s strongholds is its vast alum network, which provides students with strong networking opportunities.
In conclusion, the University of Cincinnati College of Law offers good and affordable legal education to students willing to embark on a fulfilling legal career. With the exceptional value it also offers, the College of Law is a high-quality school that offers top-notch education.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
As one of the best-value schools in the United States, Washington and Lee University School of Law offers high-quality education while making it affordable for its students.
The fee to attend this school is a modest $54,715, but W&L Law offers extensive merit scholarships.
Washington and Lee Law School provides their students with great employment opportunities. Recent graduates reported an average starting salary of $127,604 a year.
This high starting salary may be attributed to W&L Law’s comprehensive curriculum. With a focus on educating well-rounded legal professionals, they offer specialties and courses including, but not limited to:
Overall, Washington and Lee Law boasts a high standard of legal education with the bonus of affordability and a vast array of post-graduate opportunities within the legal field.
The University of Georgia School of Law, is one of the best schools in the United States. It has all the encompassing features that make up a high-quality school.
Students not only benefit from low tuition costs of $18,044 (resident), but also have excellent employment outcomes. In a recent class, almost 95% of students secured a full-time position soon after graduation.
The school has a robust curriculum that equips students with the knowledge and skills needed in their chosen careers. Some of their courses include constitutional law, contracts, and criminal law.
Finally, the school offers a lot of experiential learning opportunities for the students, allowing them to choose advanced courses and specialized electives that interest them.
The last on the list of the best-value law schools is the University of Mississippi’s School of Law. It is one of the best low-cost schools, with a tuition fee of $19,220 for residents.
The school of law focuses on research and offers auxiliary programs such as the ones listed below:
The school also offers clinical programs, giving students opportunities to participate in clinics in child advocacy, elder law, criminal appeals, housing, mediation practicum, and others.
It usually takes around 10 years to pay off law school debt, but for some it can take up to 25 years! The repayment time depends on the loan type and the debt repayment plan.
The best-value law school in the US is Penn State Law School.
The University of the District of Columbia is the least expensive law school in the US, with an in-state tuition fee of $12,438.
JD stands for Doctor of Jurisprudence, which is a standard professional degree in law.
Yes, most law schools offer scholarships.
Generally, law school programs take about three years to complete.
While finding the perfect law school for you and your budget can be challenging, this list of best-value law schools can be a great place to start.
Keep in mind that there are plenty of options when it comes to covering your law school tuition costs and managing debt. Do your research to determine which schools have the best financial aid options and your eligibility for full-ride scholarships.
You can also consider other affordable options, such as part-time law school. Additionally, you can think about getting a job before law school that can help you earn some cash while developing essential skills to set you up for success in the legal field.
Best of Luck!
David Merson was the original author of this article. Snippets of his work may remain.
Reviewed by:
Senior Law School Admissions Advisor & Litigation Attorney, USC Gould School of Law
