U.S. News has unveiled its annual rankings of the top law schools in America, with the prestigious “T14” schools dominating the list. The rankings, which use a complex formula based on data from the American Bar Association (ABA) and other public sources, continue to be a key reference for prospective law students, despite growing criticism from top schools.
The top four positions remained unchanged: Stanford and Yale tied for first place, followed by the University of Chicago and the University of Virginia in third and fourth. These rankings have long been a source of pride for institutions striving to join or maintain a place in the elite “T14,” a group that now extends to 17 schools due to a four-way tie for 14th place.
How U.S. News Ranks Law Schools
The methodology behind the rankings is designed to weigh several factors, but the most influential categories are employment success and bar passage rates. These two factors make up over half of the ranking score. The highest emphasis is placed on the success of graduates in securing employment within 10 months of graduation, while bar passage on the first attempt also significantly impacts rankings.
Another key element is quality assessment, which contributes about 25% to the overall ranking. Peer reviews, as well as feedback from legal professionals such as judges and attorneys, determine how schools are perceived in terms of their academic quality.
Selectivity, or the difficulty of gaining admission, also factors in. This includes median LSAT and GRE scores, along with undergraduate GPA. However, the weight given to acceptance rates is relatively low compared to other factors.
A smaller portion of the rankings (7%) is based on faculty resources, which includes the faculty-to-student ratio and library resources.
Controversy and Criticism
Despite the detailed methodology, the rankings have faced criticism, especially from top law schools in the T14. Many schools have chosen not to share internal data with U.S. News, citing concerns that the rankings prioritize factors like high LSAT scores and large law firm jobs over important aspects like public service or specialties in law. Critics argue that this approach could unfairly inflate tuition costs and direct scholarship funds toward students with higher test scores rather than those in greater financial need.
The Top 17 Law Schools of 2025
The latest rankings showed little movement at the top. In addition to Stanford and Yale tied for first, the University of Chicago and the University of Virginia held steady in third and fourth place, respectively. The rankings for other schools in the T14 (now T17) are as follows:
- 5th: University of Pennsylvania
- 6th: Duke University and Harvard University (tied)
- 8th: New York University and University of Michigan (tied)
- 10th: Columbia University and Northwestern University (tied)
- 12th: University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
- 13th: University of California, Berkeley
- 14th: Georgetown University, University of Texas, Vanderbilt University, and Washington University in St. Louis (tied)
A Balancing Act
While U.S. News insists that its rankings are not meant to be the sole factor in choosing a law school, they remain influential in the decision-making process. Despite the criticisms, the top schools continue to hold a prestigious position within legal education, and the rankings contribute to shaping their reputation. However, with the growing debate over methodology, prospective law students are encouraged to consider multiple factors when selecting their law school.
Related topics:
