The following charts, grouped by Bar Passage Rates in 2013, show change in average debt between 2010 and 2014.
Click anywhere on the chart and drag your cursor to zoom.
We use normal averages rather than weighted averages on this page. Debt is not the amount owed, but the amount borrowed. It does not include interest that accumulated during law school, debt from other degree programs, or private debt related to attending law school. Note also that these amounts reflect only graduates.
The school numbers do not always match up across 2010 and 2014 because some schools inconsistently disclose/withhold debt data.
| Grouped by Bar Passage Rates in 2013 | Debt for 2010 Graduates 36,753 Borrowing Graduates |
Debt for 2014 Graduates 34,006 Borrowing Graduates (-7.5%) |
Change | Averaged Borrowed | % Borrowing | Averaged Borrowed | % Borrowing | $ | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bar Pass Rate ≥ 85% | $90K 93 schools |
83.9% | $107K 90 schools |
80.7% | 19% | -3.2% |
| Bar Pass Rate 75% - 84.9% | $99K 66 schools |
85.2% | $115K 68 schools |
83.8% | 16.7% | -1.4% |
| Bar Pass Rate 60% - 74.9% | $103K 26 schools |
88.2% | $121K 22 schools |
87.3% | 17.2% | -0.9% |
| Bar Pass Rate < 60% | $101K 6 schools |
91.7% | $117K 4 schools |
86.3% | 15.7% | -5.4% |
Read this chart across each row. For example, average debt at schools with Bar Pass Rate ≥ 85% increased 19% from 2010 to 2014, from $90K to $107K.
| School | 2013 Bar Pass Rate |
2010 Grad Avg. Borrowed |
2014 Grad Avg. Borrowed |
Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwestern Universitynorthwestern, nu, nw | 91.3% | $132,685 | $163,065 | 22.9% |
| University of Chicagochicago, uchi | 94.8% | $127,997 | $144,695 | 13% |
| Columbia Universitycolumbia, cls | 96.3% | $126,945 | $154,076 | 21.4% |
| Cornell Universitycornell | 94.4% | $126,000 | $135,000 | 7.1% |
| New York Universitynyu | 96.2% | $125,169 | $147,744 | 18% |
| Villanova Universityvillanova | 88.3% | $122,410 | $95,297 | -22.1% |
| Georgetown Universitygulc, gtown | 89.9% | $122,319 | $150,529 | 23.1% |
| Stetson Universitystetson | 89.3% | $122,189 | $148,394 | 21.4% |
| DePaul Universitydepaul | 86.8% | $121,324 | $125,895 | 3.8% |
| St. Louis Universityslu | 91.5% | $120,000 | $128,764 | 7.3% |
| Fordham Universityfordham | 90.6% | $119,120 | $140,577 | 18% |
| Cardozo-Yeshiva Universitycardozo | 85% | $118,939 | $121,644 | 2.3% |
| Penn State Universitypennstate, dickinson | 89.2% | $117,989 | $123,842 | 5% |
| University of Southern Californiausc, gould | 86% | $117,573 | $137,163 | 16.7% |
| Vanderbilt Universityvanderbilt, vandy | 95.6% | $114,720 | $122,327 | 6.6% |
| Duke Universityduke, dook | 95.4% | $113,911 | $125,406 | 10.1% |
| University of Denverdenver, du, sturm | 85.7% | $113,688 | $132,083 | 16.2% |
| Indiana University - Bloomingtonindiana, IU, mauer | 91.4% | $113,538 | $89,785 | -20.9% |
| Northeastern Universitynortheastern | 88.3% | $113,081 | $134,918 | 19.3% |
| Seton Hall Universitysetonhall | 87.8% | $112,772 | $128,100 | 13.6% |
| St. John's Universitystjohns | 87.6% | $112,365 | $111,959 | -0.4% |
| University of Michiganmichigan, umich, um, uofm | 93.6% | $112,133 | $132,473 | 18.1% |
| Marquette Universitymarquette | 100% | $110,147 | $134,533 | 22.1% |
| George Washington Universitygw | 90.6% | $110,000 | $141,346 | 28.5% |
| Washington University in St Louiswashu, wustl | 88.5% | $108,603 | $111,345 | 2.5% |
| New England School of Lawnewengland | 89.2% | $108,326 | - | - |
| University of Virginiauva | 92.8% | $107,384 | $132,182 | 23.1% |
| Southern Methodist Universitysmu, dedman | 89.6% | $106,512 | $124,617 | 17% |
| Mercer Universitymercer, george | 86.8% | $105,585 | $125,301 | 18.7% |
| University of Pennsylvaniapenn, upenn | 95.6% | $105,297 | $130,002 | 23.5% |
| South Texas College of Law Houstonsouthtexas | 88.1% | $104,862 | $113,748 | 8.5% |
| Stanford Universitystanford, sls | 91.9% | $104,424 | $128,137 | 22.7% |
| Boston Universitybu | 94.7% | $103,980 | $107,850 | 3.7% |
| University of California - Los Angelesucla | 88.6% | $103,956 | $121,066 | 16.5% |
| Boston Collegebc | 94.4% | $103,765 | $97,006 | -6.5% |
| Capital Universitycapital | 86.6% | $103,426 | $113,434 | 9.7% |
| University of Tulsatulsa | 87% | $100,795 | $99,305 | -1.5% |
| Baylor Universitybaylor | 97% | $100,661 | $116,666 | 15.9% |
| Gonzaga Universitygonzaga | 90.8% | $100,092 | $121,281 | 21.2% |
| Emory Universityemory | 94.9% | $99,236 | $108,690 | 9.5% |
| Yale Universityyale, yls | 96.2% | $98,796 | $117,093 | 18.5% |
| George Mason Universitygmu | 93.1% | $98,087 | $126,723 | 29.2% |
| Brooklyn Law Schoolbrooklyn | 92.7% | $97,631 | $114,953 | 17.7% |
| University of St. Thomas - Minneapolisstthomas | 87.7% | $97,238 | $100,401 | 3.3% |
| Ohio Northern Universityonu, pettit | 85.7% | $96,371 | $107,764 | 11.8% |
| Loyola University Chicagoloyola-chicago | 88.6% | $95,201 | $134,968 | 41.8% |
| Case Western Reserve Universitycasewestern, cwru | 86.7% | $94,150 | $131,724 | 39.9% |
| University of Notre Damenotredame, nd | 88.1% | $92,310 | $111,310 | 20.6% |
| William Mitchell College of Lawwilliammitchell | 88.8% | $92,277 | $110,738 | 20% |
| Drake Universitydrake | 94.7% | $91,576 | $108,857 | 18.9% |
| University of Minnesotaminnesota, uminn | 93.5% | $91,314 | $104,733 | 14.7% |
| University of California - Berkeleyberkeley, ucb, boalt | 85.7% | $91,277 | $143,546 | 57.3% |
| University of Missouri - Kansas Citymissouri-kc, umkc | 91.7% | $90,767 | - | - |
| Arizona State Universityasu, o'connor | 87.9% | $89,038 | $97,431 | 9.4% |
| Texas A&Mtexasam, texas wesleyan, tamu | 86.7% | $88,062 | $103,500 | 17.5% |
| University of Iowaiowa | 89.8% | $87,891 | $92,373 | 5.1% |
| Chicago-Kent College of Lawkent, illinois institute of technology | 93% | $84,710 | $119,884 | 41.5% |
| William and Marywm, marshall-wythe | 89.5% | $83,058 | $98,487 | 18.6% |
| Temple Universitytemple, beasley | 90% | $82,836 | $97,323 | 17.5% |
| Ohio State Universityosu, moritz | 94.7% | $81,408 | $97,021 | 19.2% |
| Washburn Universitywashburn | 85.3% | $80,488 | $83,396 | 3.6% |
| University of Illinoisillinois, uofi, urbana-champaign | 94.7% | $80,005 | $89,852 | 12.3% |
| University of Oklahomaoklahoma, ou | 88.1% | $78,644 | $81,789 | 4% |
| University of Texastexas, ut | 95.1% | $78,408 | $100,868 | 28.6% |
| University of Wisconsinwisconsin | 100% | $76,845 | $79,373 | 3.3% |
| University of Mainemaine | 87.5% | $76,533 | $101,749 | 32.9% |
| Cleveland-Marshall College of Lawcleveland | 91.1% | $71,477 | $89,879 | 25.7% |
| University of Georgiageorgia, uga | 94.8% | $71,283 | $88,825 | 24.6% |
| University of Missouri - Columbiamissouri, mizzou | 93.3% | $69,046 | $67,289 | -2.5% |
| University of Memphismemphis, humphreys | 88% | $67,074 | $78,030 | 16.3% |
| University of Coloradocolorado, cu, boulder | 89.2% | $66,554 | $116,280 | 74.7% |
| University of Houstonhouston, uhlc, uh | 88.2% | $65,802 | $88,664 | 34.7% |
| University of Tennesseetennessee, utk | 94.3% | $65,082 | $66,201 | 1.7% |
| Southern Illinois Universitysiu, carbondale | 88.8% | $63,517 | - | - |
| University of Washingtonwashington, uw | 93.5% | $63,393 | $105,990 | 67.2% |
| University of Floridaflorida, uf, levin | 87.2% | $62,432 | $82,410 | 32% |
| University of Mississippimississippi, ole miss | 90.8% | $62,012 | $73,003 | 17.7% |
| University of Utahutah, uu, quinney | 90% | $61,665 | $78,725 | 27.7% |
| University of Montanamontana | 86.1% | $61,617 | $71,216 | 15.6% |
| Texas Tech Universitytexastech, ttu | 86.9% | $60,124 | $84,272 | 40.2% |
| University of Cincinnaticincinnati | 89.6% | $58,455 | $76,663 | 31.1% |
| Georgia State Universitygsu | 94.4% | $57,408 | $69,822 | 21.6% |
| University of Arkansas - Fayettevillearkansas-fayetteville | 85.7% | $56,358 | $63,541 | 12.7% |
| University of New Mexiconewmexico | 85.4% | $54,122 | $71,029 | 31.2% |
| University of South Dakotasouthdakota | 97.8% | $53,251 | $78,963 | 48.3% |
| Brigham Young Universitybyu, clark | 86.1% | $52,315 | $54,203 | 3.6% |
| Faulkner Universityfaulkner, jones | 91.9% | $50,500 | - | - |
| Northern Illinois Universityniu | 87.4% | $49,858 | $77,182 | 54.8% |
| University of Alabamaalabama, bama | 96.4% | $49,750 | $69,440 | 39.6% |
| University of Nebraskanebraska | 86.3% | $49,706 | $62,985 | 26.7% |
| University of Kentuckykentucky, uk | 90.2% | $49,059 | $76,746 | 56.4% |
| University of Kansaskansas, ku | 89.5% | $45,662 | $74,890 | 64% |
| Florida State Universityfsu | 88.4% | $44,442 | $80,375 | 80.9% |
| Harvard Universityharvard, hls | 96.4% | - | $137,599 | - |
| American Universityamerican, washington college of law | 79.2% | $136,121 | $159,316 | 17% |
| Catholic University of Americacatholic, columbus | 75.7% | $134,133 | $144,737 | 7.9% |
| Loyola Marymount Universityloyola-la | 84.7% | $132,267 | $147,701 | 11.7% |
| Charleston School of Lawcharleston, csol | 75.6% | $128,571 | $147,031 | 14.4% |
| Vermont Law Schoolvermont | 77% | $127,914 | $156,713 | 22.5% |
| University of Illinois Chicago School of Lawjohnmarshall-chicago,jmls,uic | 84.9% | $125,806 | $143,518 | 14.1% |
| Pepperdine Universitypepperdine | 80.9% | $125,114 | $145,525 | 16.3% |
| University of San Franciscosanfrancisco, usf | 75.1% | $124,982 | $154,321 | 23.5% |
| Albany Law Schoolalbany, union | 79.8% | $124,271 | $130,184 | 4.8% |
| Roger Williams Universityrogerwilliams, rwu | 80.3% | $123,338 | $128,543 | 4.2% |
| Campbell Universitycampbell | 82.4% | $121,648 | $90,065 | -26% |
| Syracuse Universitysyracuse | 84.7% | $119,769 | $129,249 | 7.9% |
| New York Law Schoolnewyork, nyls | 82.5% | $119,437 | $166,622 | 39.5% |
| University of San Diegosandiego, usd | 76.5% | $119,331 | $128,477 | 7.7% |
| Barry Universitybarry | 79.3% | $119,250 | $149,175 | 25.1% |
| Nova Southeastern Universitynova, broad | 81.6% | $117,223 | $136,450 | 16.4% |
| University of New Hampshirenh, franklin pierce | 84.8% | $115,952 | $121,469 | 4.8% |
| Regent Universityregent | 75.6% | $115,734 | $125,158 | 8.1% |
| Hofstra Universityhofstra, deane | 82.6% | $115,705 | $143,646 | 24.1% |
| Chapman Universitychapman | 76.4% | $115,064 | $148,429 | 29% |
| Oklahoma City Universityocu | 79% | $114,090 | $121,476 | 6.5% |
| Creighton Universitycreighton | 82% | $114,030 | $126,586 | 11% |
| Valparaiso Universityvalparaiso, valpo | 76% | $113,643 | $132,010 | 16.2% |
| Suffolk Universitysuffolk | 81.9% | $112,939 | $120,993 | 7.1% |
| Widener University - Delawarewidener, wilmington | 81% | $111,909 | $139,229 | 24.4% |
| Widener University - Pennsylvaniawidener, harrisburg | 83.3% | $111,909 | $139,229 | 24.4% |
| Michigan State Universitymsu, michstate, detroit college of law, dcl | 76.6% | $108,444 | $95,494 | -11.9% |
| Samford Universitysamford, cumberland | 84.9% | $107,850 | $124,106 | 15.1% |
| Washington and Lee Universitywl | 82.3% | $105,970 | $109,422 | 3.3% |
| Lewis and Clark Collegelewisandclark, northwestern | 81.2% | $105,928 | $127,064 | 20% |
| Mississippi Collegemississippicollege | 77.6% | $102,884 | $130,700 | 27% |
| Seattle Universityseattle | 82.2% | $102,350 | $131,414 | 28.4% |
| University of Miamimiami, um, the u | 81.6% | $98,986 | $143,845 | 45.3% |
| Western State Universitywesternstate, argosy | 77.6% | $98,791 | $120,350 | 21.8% |
| University of California - Davisdavis, ucd, king | 82.9% | $98,179 | $93,498 | -4.8% |
| Pace Universitypace | 79.3% | $97,586 | $122,180 | 25.2% |
| St. Mary's Universitystmarys | 81.5% | $97,105 | $116,782 | 20.3% |
| Drexel Universitydrexel | 80.2% | $96,780 | $91,915 | -5% |
| Rutgers State University - Camdenrutgers-camden | 83.8% | $96,705 | - | - |
| Quinnipiac Universityquinnipiac | 82.2% | $96,256 | $119,956 | 24.6% |
| Hamline Universityhamline | 83.8% | $95,174 | $113,173 | 18.9% |
| University of Baltimorebaltimore | 84.9% | $94,834 | $114,725 | 21% |
| University of Richmondrichmond, williams | 81.2% | $94,200 | $110,380 | 17.2% |
| Wake Forest Universitywake, wf | 80.1% | $93,223 | $107,532 | 15.3% |
| University of Oregonoregon | 80.7% | $91,353 | $105,900 | 15.9% |
| Willamette Universitywillamette, collins | 80.6% | $91,347 | $136,099 | 49% |
| Duquesne Universityduquesne | 82.2% | $88,908 | $107,496 | 20.9% |
| University of Pittsburghpitt | 80.9% | $84,772 | $103,461 | 22% |
| University of Marylandmaryland, carey | 83.5% | $83,693 | $102,183 | 22.1% |
| University of Arizonaarizona, rogers | 80.5% | $78,412 | $95,533 | 21.8% |
| University of Louisvillelouisville, brandeis | 80.2% | $77,121 | $90,195 | 17% |
| University of Toledotoledo | 81.2% | $76,898 | $96,924 | 26% |
| University of Nevada - Las Vegasunlv | 75.4% | $76,478 | $99,678 | 30.3% |
| University of South Carolinasouthcarolina, usc | 84.7% | $75,718 | $84,590 | 11.7% |
| University of Idahoidaho | 77.9% | $74,655 | $92,732 | 24.2% |
| Northern Kentucky Universitynku, chase | 82% | $73,469 | $82,989 | 13% |
| CUNYcuny-queens, city university of new york | 79.2% | $70,119 | $82,415 | 17.5% |
| University of Daytondayton | 77.4% | $67,856 | $113,486 | 67.2% |
| Wayne State Universitywayne | 78.4% | $67,029 | $79,881 | 19.2% |
| University of Connecticutuconn | 83.7% | $66,457 | $70,139 | 5.5% |
| University of North Carolinaunc, chapel hill | 82.4% | $60,212 | $92,475 | 53.6% |
| University of Akronakron | 83.8% | $60,149 | $82,322 | 36.9% |
| West Virginia Universitywvu | 76.9% | $60,074 | $84,727 | 41% |
| University of Hawaiihawaii, richardson, manoa | 82.6% | $58,609 | $56,266 | -4% |
| SUNY Buffalobuffalo | 83% | $56,394 | $76,010 | 34.8% |
| University of Wyomingwyoming | 80.6% | $51,859 | $67,087 | 29.4% |
| Florida International Universityfiu | 84.8% | - | $89,815 | - |
| Indiana University - Indianapolisindiana-indy, IU | 82.5% | - | $96,651 | - |
| University of California - Irvineirvine, uci | 80% | - | $102,891 | - |
| California Western School of Lawcalwestern | 71.4% | $145,621 | $151,197 | 3.8% |
| Southwestern Law Schoolsouthwestern | 73.5% | $136,569 | - | - |
| Loyola University New Orleansloyola-neworleans | 64.9% | $136,050 | $117,892 | -13.3% |
| University of the Pacificpacific, mcgeorge | 67.7% | $128,495 | $140,517 | 9.4% |
| Touro Collegetouro, fuchsberg | 66.4% | $125,481 | $154,855 | 23.4% |
| John Marshall Law School - Atlantajohnmarshal-atl,jmls | 67.1% | $123,025 | - | - |
| Tulane Universitytulane | 73.9% | $122,197 | $140,965 | 15.4% |
| Florida Coastal School of Lawfloridacoastal, infilaw | 68.4% | $120,410 | $162,785 | 35.2% |
| St. Thomas University - Floridastu | 71.4% | $119,271 | $140,808 | 18.1% |
| University of Detroit Mercydetroit-mercy | 61.1% | $117,089 | $132,245 | 12.9% |
| Charlotte School of Lawcharlotte, infilaw, csol | 61.7% | $113,793 | $140,528 | 23.5% |
| Howard Universityhoward | 64.3% | $112,004 | $124,021 | 10.7% |
| Santa Clara Universitysantaclara, scu | 72% | $106,869 | $136,990 | 28.2% |
| Whittier Law Schoolwhittier | 65.7% | $104,731 | $151,602 | 44.8% |
| Elon Law Schoolelon | 65.5% | $103,059 | $132,444 | 28.5% |
| North Carolina Central Universitynccu, nc central | 65.6% | $98,948 | $58,061 | -41.3% |
| Western New England University School of Lawwesternnewengland | 64.1% | $96,565 | $130,124 | 34.8% |
| University of California - Hastingshastings, uch | 74.6% | $96,013 | $129,178 | 34.5% |
| Ave Maria School of Lawavemaria | 62.6% | $87,337 | $132,236 | 51.4% |
| Florida A&M Universityfamu | 73.1% | $86,557 | - | - |
| Rutgers State University - Newarkrutgers-newark | 70.4% | $78,302 | $89,507 | 14.3% |
| Louisiana State Universitylsu, hebert | 73.4% | $69,462 | $89,471 | 28.8% |
| Texas Southern Universitytexassouthern, tsu, marshall | 66.8% | $67,500 | - | - |
| University of North Dakotanorthdakota, UND | 73.6% | $64,772 | $64,818 | 0.1% |
| Liberty Universityliberty | 70.1% | $62,032 | $69,475 | 12% |
| University of Arkansas - Little Rockarkansas-littlerock, bowen | 70.6% | $59,983 | $69,532 | 15.9% |
| Appalachian School of Lawappalachian | 68.3% | - | - | - |
| Arizona Summit Law Schoolarizonasummit, phoenix, infilaw | 69.1% | - | - | - |
| Thomas Jefferson School of Lawthomasjefferson, tjsl | 55.2% | $137,352 | $172,445 | 25.5% |
| Golden Gate Universitygoldengate | 55.7% | $132,895 | $146,288 | 10.1% |
| Western Michigan University - Cooley Law Schoolcooley, wmu | 51.5% | $105,798 | - | - |
| University of La Vernelaverne | 56.4% | $101,237 | - | - |
| University of The District of Columbiaudc, clarke | 54.7% | $74,667 | $73,175 | -2% |
| Southern University Law Centersouthern | 46.6% | $55,809 | $77,067 | 38.1% |