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Best Value Law Schools: Will These Schools Reduce Your Student Debt?

By Stephanie Rabiner, Esq. on November 30, 2011 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

The National Jurist has released its ranking of the top 60 Best Value Law Schools, and the results aren't exactly that surprising.

Only three private schools made the list, one of which may or may not game the system. And there seems to be a concentration of schools located in regions with a low cost of living.

You know, like the Midwest, South and other places without many BigLaw firm offices.

For these reasons, attending one of these schools would probably reduce your student loan debt. But if you value free food and city culture, the discount might not be worth it.

Moving on, this year's winner is Georgia State University College of Law, which boasts an in-state tuition of $13,310. But keep in mind that the average non-resident tuition rate for the list is $32,060.

In other words, public schools are not exactly a great value for out-of-staters.

And Brigham Young University might not be a great value if you aren't a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. As the third best value law school, BYU attendees only pay $10,280 a year.

Well, if they're a church member. Non-LDS members pay $20,560 a year, but it's unclear how many students fall into this category.

To make matters more complicated, the list of best value law schools is based on tuition, student indebtedness, bar passage rates, and two-year employment data. Most of these numbers are self-reported. And as recent events have shown, they might not be so trustworthy.

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