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2026 Law School Rankings
What law graduates actually earn 10 months after graduation. Self-reported salary data from 148 ABA-accredited law schools—see the full earnings spectrum from 25th to 75th percentile for private sector and median public sector salaries.
Private sector = law firms & business. Public = government, clerkships, public interest.
Understanding Salary Data: Law graduate salaries often follow a "bimodal" pattern—many earn $60k–$90k at small firms while others earn $215k+ at large national firms. The median may not reflect what most graduates earn. Check the 25th–75th range for a clearer picture of earnings distribution.
| No. | Law School | State | Private 25th | Private Median | Private 75th | Public Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wayne State U. | MI | $85,000 | $135,000 | $150,000 | $55,000 |
| 1 | U. of Kentucky | KY | $60,000 | $85,000 | $125,000 | $55,000 |
| 1 | U. of Louisville (Brandeis) | KY | $56,250 | $70,000 | $116,250 | $55,000 |
| 4 | Rutgers Law School (SUNJ) | NJ | $93,000 | $152,500 | $205,000 | $55,267 |
| 4 | Seton Hall University | NJ | $95,000 | $140,000 | $225,000 | $55,267 |
| 6 | Widener (Delaware) | DE | $75,000 | $85,000 | $120,000 | $55,811 |
| 7 | Drexel University (Kline) | PA | $90,000 | $125,000 | $185,000 | $55,906 |
| 8 | Faulkner University (Jones) | AL | $60,000 | $70,000 | $95,000 | $56,000 |
| 9 | Drake University | IA | $65,563 | $77,500 | $93,125 | $58,656 |
| 10 | U. of Tulsa | OK | $60,000 | $75,000 | $90,000 | $59,107 |
| 11 | U. of Baltimore | MD | $70,000 | $85,000 | $130,000 | $59,379 |
| 12 | U. of Iowa | IA | $80,000 | $160,000 | $200,000 | $60,000 |
| 12 | Florida State University | FL | $83,000 | $90,000 | $112,500 | $60,000 |
| 12 | U. of Mississippi | MS | $75,000 | $90,000 | $140,000 | $60,000 |
| 12 | Louisiana State-Baton Rouge | LA | $75,000 | $88,000 | $125,000 | $60,000 |
| 12 | Samford U. (Cumberland) | AL | $72,000 | $81,000 | $100,000 | $60,000 |
| 12 | U. of Missouri-Kansas City | MO | $72,000 | $79,500 | $120,000 | $60,000 |
| 12 | U. of Akron | OH | $65,000 | $75,000 | $104,000 | $60,000 |
| 12 | U. of Cincinnati | OH | $65,000 | $71,000 | $120,000 | $60,000 |
| 20 | U. of Alabama | AL | $80,000 | $150,000 | $165,000 | $60,500 |
| 20 | Vermont Law School | VT | $85,000 | $100,000 | $125,000 | $60,500 |
| 20 | Widener (Commonwealth) | PA | $65,000 | $73,000 | $80,000 | $60,500 |
| 23 | U. of Missouri-Columbia | MO | $70,000 | $84,000 | $170,000 | $60,905 |
| 24 | Liberty University | VA | $66,250 | $75,000 | $82,000 | $61,000 |
| 24 | U. of Wyoming | WY | $66,000 | $75,000 | $87,000 | $61,000 |
| 26 | U. of Florida (Levin) | FL | $93,000 | $140,000 | $205,000 | $61,711 |
| 27 | Arizona State University | AZ | $100,000 | $140,000 | $175,000 | $62,172 |
| 28 | U. of Wisconsin-Madison | WI | $75,000 | $100,000 | $180,000 | $62,400 |
| 29 | Indiana U.-Indianapolis | IN | $75,000 | $100,000 | $150,000 | $62,500 |
| 29 | Duquesne University | PA | $65,000 | $80,000 | $100,000 | $62,500 |
| 29 | Southern Illinois U. | IL | $58,500 | $68,137 | $80,750 | $62,500 |
| 32 | Wake Forest University | NC | $90,000 | $135,000 | $190,000 | $62,800 |
| 33 | U. of South Carolina | SC | $71,500 | $90,000 | $137,750 | $63,000 |
| 34 | U. of Arkansas-Fayetteville | AR | $75,000 | $85,000 | $100,000 | $63,751 |
| 35 | Case Western Reserve U. | OH | $81,350 | $100,000 | $175,000 | $63,925 |
| 36 | Temple University (Beasley) | PA | $90,000 | $150,000 | $200,000 | $64,000 |
| 36 | U. of Maryland | MD | $73,507 | $100,000 | $198,375 | $64,000 |
| 38 | Villanova University | PA | $85,000 | $110,000 | $190,000 | $64,431 |
| 39 | Catholic U. of America | DC | $95,000 | $110,000 | $215,000 | $64,500 |
| 40 | U. of Miami | FL | $87,500 | $120,000 | $215,000 | $65,000 |
| 40 | Pace University | NY | $85,000 | $110,000 | $200,000 | $65,000 |
| 40 | Florida International U. | FL | $83,000 | $90,000 | $150,000 | $65,000 |
| 40 | Michigan State University | MI | $75,000 | $89,000 | $142,700 | $65,000 |
| 40 | Stetson University | FL | $77,500 | $85,000 | $100,000 | $65,000 |
| 40 | U. of Nebraska-Lincoln | NE | $70,000 | $85,000 | $105,000 | $65,000 |
| 40 | Mercer University (GA) | GA | $65,000 | $80,000 | $99,200 | $65,000 |
| 40 | Charleston School of Law | SC | $60,000 | $70,000 | $90,000 | $65,000 |
| 40 | Mississippi College | MS | $60,000 | $65,000 | $80,000 | $65,000 |
| 49 | Marquette University | WI | $70,000 | $80,000 | $110,000 | $65,500 |
| 50 | Washington U. in St Louis | MO | $180,000 | $205,000 | $215,000 | $65,607 |
This data represents self-reported starting salaries for the Class of 2023 measured approximately 10 months after graduation (spring 2024). These figures reflect what graduates were earning at that point—not immediate offers or current salaries.
| Column | What It Represents |
|---|---|
| Private 25th / Median / 75th | The 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile salaries for graduates working in private law firms or business/industry roles. A wide gap (e.g., $85k to $215k) indicates the school places students in two distinct markets. |
| Public Median | The median salary for graduates working in government jobs, judicial clerkships, or non-profit public interest organizations. |
Bimodal Distribution: For many schools, law graduate salaries follow a "bimodal" pattern. Graduates often cluster into two groups: those earning $60k–$90k (small/regional firms) and those earning $215k+ (large national firms). Very few graduates actually earn the median figure. The 25th–75th percentile range provides a more accurate picture of the earnings distribution.
Data Reliability: Salary figures depend on the percentage of graduates who reported their earnings. Schools with low reporting rates may have less reliable data, potentially skewed toward high earners.
Exclusions: Jobs classified as "JD advantage" (positions where a JD is helpful but bar admission is not required) have been excluded from these figures.
ILRG designates this analysis as the 2026 Law School Rankings because it is built for applicants planning to start law school in fall 2026. The rankings rely on the ABA's most recent 509 disclosures (released December 2025), which report the fall 2025 entering class, 2024 bar passage, and 2024 employment outcomes.
Source: Data compiled from ABA 509 disclosures and information released publicly by the law schools. Next Release: December 2026.