#1 for Lowest Average Graduate Debt-Load Among Top 25 Public Institutions
March 29, 2022 — The University of Alabama School of Law ranked 25th among the nation’s top law schools—ninth among publicly supported institutions—according to U.S. News & World Report’s annual “Best Law School Rankings” for 2023. The rankings, which measured 192 law schools fully accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA), evaluated each institution on successful placement of graduates, faculty resources, academic achievement of entering students, and the opinions of academic peers, lawyers and judges on overall program quality.
According to the report, Alabama Law J.D. grads, who incurred law school debt, graduated with the lowest average debt-load among 2021 graduates from any public institution in the Top 25. Overall, Alabama Law’s average student debt-load ranked second-best among all Law Schools in the Top 50.
“The combination of academic prestige and affordability makes Alabama Law a premier school for students interested in studying law,” said Dean Mark E. Brandon. “We offer a top-tier education while limiting the financial burden our graduates carry. This ensures that, as our students enter the profession, they can pursue the types of employment they desire to engage in without being limited by heavy financial obligations.”
Additionally, the Alabama Law Class of 2020 ranked fifth—among the Top 25—based on the percentage of recent graduates meaningfully employed 10 months after graduation. This datum pulled from the report represents the percentage of all graduates, at any given institution, who had a full-time job* lasting at least a year for which bar passage was required or a J.D. degree was an advantage.
“Each year, I’m amazed by the students who come through our office,” said Megan Walsh, Assistant Dean for Career Services & Director of the D.C. Externship Program. “They are ambitious and doing the hard work necessary to ensure they are prepared to excel in the workforce. We collaborate with each student on a one-on-one basis to make sure they have the skills, resources, and connections needed to work in whatever field they desire to enter post-graduation.”
To learn more about the data and see the full U.S. News “Best Law School Rankings” visit: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-law-schools/the-university-of-alabama-03001
About The University of Alabama School of Law
For 150 years, the University of Alabama School of Law has produced attorneys who become leaders locally, nationally and globally. Alabama Law provides a top-rate education that produces enviable bar passage and employment rates, all within a supportive and diverse environment. Our low student-to-faculty ratio, paired with robust curricular offerings, draws students to study under faculty who are skilled teachers as well as leading scholars.
* Excluding jobs funded by the associated school or university
