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Alabama Law Ranks 10th Best in Study of Graduates’ Debt Load

September 15, 2015

Students, academics, and commentators are all paying more attention to the debt load with which law graduates enter the workforce. Many recent articles have detailed the negative impact that large law school debt has on career choices. According to one recent examination, Alabama Law graduates fare well in this metric.

The University of Alabama School of Law is ranked 10th among all law schools in graduates’ debt upon graduation, according to a new U.S. News & World Report study.

“The University of Alabama School of Law has always taken pride in its ability to produce attorneys who can practice law in a wide array of areas,” said Dean Mark E. Brandon. “We will always produce attorneys who practice in large firms and corporations in big cities.  But it is just as important to us that our graduates can choose to be prosecutors, public defenders, public interest attorneys, or attorneys who work in small firms in small towns.”

Alabama Law graduates borrowed almost 40 percent less than the average student borrower nationwide, according to data submitted to U.S. News by 182 ranked institutions.

“By keeping our tuition low, and by helping to ensure that our graduates leave with less debt than they might at comparable law schools, we know that our students have enormous opportunities to pursue their desired career, no matter what – or where – it may be,” Brandon said.

The Law School, which is currently tied for 22nd in the overall U.S. News rankings, is the only top 25 law school to be ranked in the top 10 of the lowest debt list.


The University of Alabama School of Law strives to remain neutral on issues of public policy. The Law School’s communications team may facilitate interviews or share opinions expressed by faculty, staff, students, or other individuals regarding policy matters. However, those opinions do not necessarily reflect the views of the Law School, the University, or affiliated leadership.