The following charts, grouped by Percentage of 2014 Graduates Borrowing, 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 Percentage of 2014 Graduates Borrowing | Debt for 2010 Graduates 35,324 Borrowing Graduates |
Debt for 2014 Graduates 32,672 Borrowing Graduates (-7.5%) |
Change | Averaged Borrowed | % Borrowing | Averaged Borrowed | % Borrowing | $ | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of Graduates Borrowing ≥ 90% | $97K 31 schools |
89.8% | $117K 31 schools |
92.5% | 21.6% | 2.7% |
| Percentage of Graduates Borrowing 80% - 89.9% | $97K 91 schools |
85.7% | $112K 94 schools |
84.3% | 15.3% | -1.4% |
| Percentage of Graduates Borrowing < 80% | $93K 58 schools |
81.4% | $110K 59 schools |
75.2% | 19% | -6.2% |
Read this chart across each row. For example, average debt at schools with Percentage of Graduates Borrowing ≥ 90% increased 21.6% from 2010 to 2014, from $97K to $117K.
| School | 2014 Grad % Borrowing |
2010 Grad Avg. Borrowed |
2014 Grad Avg. Borrowed |
Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California Western School of Lawcalwestern | 91% | $145,621 | $151,197 | 3.8% |
| Thomas Jefferson School of Lawthomasjefferson, tjsl | 91% | $137,352 | $172,445 | 25.5% |
| Florida Coastal School of Lawfloridacoastal, infilaw | 93% | $120,410 | $162,785 | 35.2% |
| St. Thomas University - Floridastu | 91% | $119,271 | $140,808 | 18.1% |
| Barry Universitybarry | 95% | $119,250 | $149,175 | 25.1% |
| University of New Hampshirenh, franklin pierce | 90% | $115,952 | $121,469 | 4.8% |
| Regent Universityregent | 93% | $115,734 | $125,158 | 8.1% |
| Creighton Universitycreighton | 92% | $114,030 | $126,586 | 11% |
| Charlotte School of Lawcharlotte, infilaw, csol | 92.5% | $113,793 | $140,528 | 23.5% |
| Valparaiso Universityvalparaiso, valpo | 93% | $113,643 | $132,010 | 16.2% |
| Howard Universityhoward | 96% | $112,004 | $124,021 | 10.7% |
| Whittier Law Schoolwhittier | 91% | $104,731 | $151,602 | 44.8% |
| Capital Universitycapital | 94% | $103,426 | $113,434 | 9.7% |
| Seattle Universityseattle | 96% | $102,350 | $131,414 | 28.4% |
| Western State Universitywesternstate, argosy | 91% | $98,791 | $120,350 | 21.8% |
| Western New England University School of Lawwesternnewengland | 92% | $96,565 | $130,124 | 34.8% |
| Ohio Northern Universityonu, pettit | 97% | $96,371 | $107,764 | 11.8% |
| University of California - Hastingshastings, uch | 90% | $96,013 | $129,178 | 34.5% |
| Hamline Universityhamline | 95% | $95,174 | $113,173 | 18.9% |
| William Mitchell College of Lawwilliammitchell | 93% | $92,277 | $110,738 | 20% |
| Drake Universitydrake | 94% | $91,576 | $108,857 | 18.9% |
| Willamette Universitywillamette, collins | 93% | $91,347 | $136,099 | 49% |
| Rutgers State University - Newarkrutgers-newark | 91% | $78,302 | $89,507 | 14.3% |
| University of Louisvillelouisville, brandeis | 91% | $77,121 | $90,195 | 17% |
| University of Toledotoledo | 90% | $76,898 | $96,924 | 26% |
| Cleveland-Marshall College of Lawcleveland | 90% | $71,477 | $89,879 | 25.7% |
| Liberty Universityliberty | 92% | $62,032 | $69,475 | 12% |
| University of Utahutah, uu, quinney | 94% | $61,665 | $78,725 | 27.7% |
| University of Montanamontana | 90% | $61,617 | $71,216 | 15.6% |
| Southern University Law Centersouthern | 95% | $55,809 | $77,067 | 38.1% |
| University of South Dakotasouthdakota | 90% | $53,251 | $78,963 | 48.3% |
| American Universityamerican, washington college of law | 83% | $136,121 | $159,316 | 17% |
| Loyola University New Orleansloyola-neworleans | 89% | $136,050 | $117,892 | -13.3% |
| Catholic University of Americacatholic, columbus | 85% | $134,133 | $144,737 | 7.9% |
| Golden Gate Universitygoldengate | 88% | $132,895 | $146,288 | 10.1% |
| Northwestern Universitynorthwestern, nu, nw | 80% | $132,685 | $163,065 | 22.9% |
| Loyola Marymount Universityloyola-la | 85% | $132,267 | $147,701 | 11.7% |
| Charleston School of Lawcharleston, csol | 85% | $128,571 | $147,031 | 14.4% |
| University of the Pacificpacific, mcgeorge | 89% | $128,495 | $140,517 | 9.4% |
| Vermont Law Schoolvermont | 84% | $127,914 | $156,713 | 22.5% |
| Cornell Universitycornell | 83% | $126,000 | $135,000 | 7.1% |
| University of Illinois Chicago School of Lawjohnmarshall-chicago,jmls,uic | 85% | $125,806 | $143,518 | 14.1% |
| Touro Collegetouro, fuchsberg | 85% | $125,481 | $154,855 | 23.4% |
| University of San Franciscosanfrancisco, usf | 88% | $124,982 | $154,321 | 23.5% |
| Albany Law Schoolalbany, union | 85% | $124,271 | $130,184 | 4.8% |
| Roger Williams Universityrogerwilliams, rwu | 86% | $123,338 | $128,543 | 4.2% |
| Villanova Universityvillanova | 83% | $122,410 | $95,297 | -22.1% |
| Stetson Universitystetson | 83% | $122,189 | $148,394 | 21.4% |
| Campbell Universitycampbell | 85% | $121,648 | $90,065 | -26% |
| DePaul Universitydepaul | 87% | $121,324 | $125,895 | 3.8% |
| St. Louis Universityslu | 86% | $120,000 | $128,764 | 7.3% |
| New York Law Schoolnewyork, nyls | 83% | $119,437 | $166,622 | 39.5% |
| University of San Diegosandiego, usd | 82% | $119,331 | $128,477 | 7.7% |
| Penn State Universitypennstate, dickinson | 88% | $117,989 | $123,842 | 5% |
| Nova Southeastern Universitynova, broad | 86% | $117,223 | $136,450 | 16.4% |
| Hofstra Universityhofstra, deane | 80% | $115,705 | $143,646 | 24.1% |
| Oklahoma City Universityocu | 83% | $114,090 | $121,476 | 6.5% |
| Duke Universityduke, dook | 80% | $113,911 | $125,406 | 10.1% |
| University of Denverdenver, du, sturm | 87% | $113,688 | $132,083 | 16.2% |
| Indiana University - Bloomingtonindiana, IU, mauer | 81% | $113,538 | $89,785 | -20.9% |
| Northeastern Universitynortheastern | 87% | $113,081 | $134,918 | 19.3% |
| Suffolk Universitysuffolk | 85% | $112,939 | $120,993 | 7.1% |
| St. John's Universitystjohns | 80% | $112,365 | $111,959 | -0.4% |
| University of Michiganmichigan, umich, um, uofm | 80% | $112,133 | $132,473 | 18.1% |
| Widener University - Pennsylvaniawidener, harrisburg | 89% | $111,909 | $139,229 | 24.4% |
| Widener University - Delawarewidener, wilmington | 89% | $111,909 | $139,229 | 24.4% |
| Marquette Universitymarquette | 88% | $110,147 | $134,533 | 22.1% |
| Samford Universitysamford, cumberland | 81% | $107,850 | $124,106 | 15.1% |
| Santa Clara Universitysantaclara, scu | 83% | $106,869 | $136,990 | 28.2% |
| Washington and Lee Universitywl | 80% | $105,970 | $109,422 | 3.3% |
| Lewis and Clark Collegelewisandclark, northwestern | 87% | $105,928 | $127,064 | 20% |
| Mercer Universitymercer, george | 85% | $105,585 | $125,301 | 18.7% |
| South Texas College of Law Houstonsouthtexas | 85% | $104,862 | $113,748 | 8.5% |
| Elon Law Schoolelon | 86% | $103,059 | $132,444 | 28.5% |
| University of Tulsatulsa | 84% | $100,795 | $99,305 | -1.5% |
| Gonzaga Universitygonzaga | 89% | $100,092 | $121,281 | 21.2% |
| Emory Universityemory | 86% | $99,236 | $108,690 | 9.5% |
| North Carolina Central Universitynccu, nc central | 86% | $98,948 | $58,061 | -41.3% |
| George Mason Universitygmu | 85% | $98,087 | $126,723 | 29.2% |
| Pace Universitypace | 86% | $97,586 | $122,180 | 25.2% |
| University of St. Thomas - Minneapolisstthomas | 87% | $97,238 | $100,401 | 3.3% |
| St. Mary's Universitystmarys | 82% | $97,105 | $116,782 | 20.3% |
| Drexel Universitydrexel | 84% | $96,780 | $91,915 | -5% |
| Quinnipiac Universityquinnipiac | 83% | $96,256 | $119,956 | 24.6% |
| Loyola University Chicagoloyola-chicago | 84% | $95,201 | $134,968 | 41.8% |
| University of Baltimorebaltimore | 83% | $94,834 | $114,725 | 21% |
| University of Richmondrichmond, williams | 80% | $94,200 | $110,380 | 17.2% |
| Wake Forest Universitywake, wf | 89% | $93,223 | $107,532 | 15.3% |
| University of Notre Damenotredame, nd | 82% | $92,310 | $111,310 | 20.6% |
| University of Oregonoregon | 87% | $91,353 | $105,900 | 15.9% |
| University of Minnesotaminnesota, uminn | 81% | $91,314 | $104,733 | 14.7% |
| University of Iowaiowa | 83% | $87,891 | $92,373 | 5.1% |
| Ave Maria School of Lawavemaria | 87% | $87,337 | $132,236 | 51.4% |
| Ohio State Universityosu, moritz | 83% | $81,408 | $97,021 | 19.2% |
| Washburn Universitywashburn | 87% | $80,488 | $83,396 | 3.6% |
| University of Illinoisillinois, uofi, urbana-champaign | 85% | $80,005 | $89,852 | 12.3% |
| University of Mainemaine | 83% | $76,533 | $101,749 | 32.9% |
| University of Nevada - Las Vegasunlv | 80% | $76,478 | $99,678 | 30.3% |
| University of Idahoidaho | 88% | $74,655 | $92,732 | 24.2% |
| Northern Kentucky Universitynku, chase | 81% | $73,469 | $82,989 | 13% |
| Louisiana State Universitylsu, hebert | 82% | $69,462 | $89,471 | 28.8% |
| University of Missouri - Columbiamissouri, mizzou | 87% | $69,046 | $67,289 | -2.5% |
| University of Daytondayton | 86% | $67,856 | $113,486 | 67.2% |
| University of Memphismemphis, humphreys | 85% | $67,074 | $78,030 | 16.3% |
| Wayne State Universitywayne | 86% | $67,029 | $79,881 | 19.2% |
| University of Coloradocolorado, cu, boulder | 84% | $66,554 | $116,280 | 74.7% |
| University of Connecticutuconn | 81% | $66,457 | $70,139 | 5.5% |
| University of Houstonhouston, uhlc, uh | 80% | $65,802 | $88,664 | 34.7% |
| University of Tennesseetennessee, utk | 80% | $65,082 | $66,201 | 1.7% |
| University of North Dakotanorthdakota, UND | 86% | $64,772 | $64,818 | 0.1% |
| University of Mississippimississippi, ole miss | 81% | $62,012 | $73,003 | 17.7% |
| University of North Carolinaunc, chapel hill | 81% | $60,212 | $92,475 | 53.6% |
| University of Akronakron | 81% | $60,149 | $82,322 | 36.9% |
| West Virginia Universitywvu | 87% | $60,074 | $84,727 | 41% |
| University of Arkansas - Little Rockarkansas-littlerock, bowen | 84% | $59,983 | $69,532 | 15.9% |
| University of Cincinnaticincinnati | 87% | $58,455 | $76,663 | 31.1% |
| Georgia State Universitygsu | 84% | $57,408 | $69,822 | 21.6% |
| SUNY Buffalobuffalo | 81% | $56,394 | $76,010 | 34.8% |
| University of New Mexiconewmexico | 87% | $54,122 | $71,029 | 31.2% |
| Northern Illinois Universityniu | 83% | $49,858 | $77,182 | 54.8% |
| University of Kansaskansas, ku | 82% | $45,662 | $74,890 | 64% |
| Florida State Universityfsu | 85% | $44,442 | $80,375 | 80.9% |
| Florida International Universityfiu | 88% | - | $89,815 | - |
| Indiana University - Indianapolisindiana-indy, IU | 81% | - | $96,651 | - |
| University of California - Irvineirvine, uci | 81% | - | $102,891 | - |
| University of Chicagochicago, uchi | 75% | $127,997 | $144,695 | 13% |
| Columbia Universitycolumbia, cls | 76% | $126,945 | $154,076 | 21.4% |
| New York Universitynyu | 74% | $125,169 | $147,744 | 18% |
| Pepperdine Universitypepperdine | 76% | $125,114 | $145,525 | 16.3% |
| Georgetown Universitygulc, gtown | 79% | $122,319 | $150,529 | 23.1% |
| Tulane Universitytulane | 76% | $122,197 | $140,965 | 15.4% |
| Syracuse Universitysyracuse | 79% | $119,769 | $129,249 | 7.9% |
| Fordham Universityfordham | 67% | $119,120 | $140,577 | 18% |
| Cardozo-Yeshiva Universitycardozo | 70% | $118,939 | $121,644 | 2.3% |
| University of Southern Californiausc, gould | 75% | $117,573 | $137,163 | 16.7% |
| University of Detroit Mercydetroit-mercy | 67% | $117,089 | $132,245 | 12.9% |
| Chapman Universitychapman | 79% | $115,064 | $148,429 | 29% |
| Vanderbilt Universityvanderbilt, vandy | 76% | $114,720 | $122,327 | 6.6% |
| Seton Hall Universitysetonhall | 75% | $112,772 | $128,100 | 13.6% |
| George Washington Universitygw | 78% | $110,000 | $141,346 | 28.5% |
| Washington University in St Louiswashu, wustl | 69% | $108,603 | $111,345 | 2.5% |
| Michigan State Universitymsu, michstate, detroit college of law, dcl | 73% | $108,444 | $95,494 | -11.9% |
| University of Virginiauva | 78% | $107,384 | $132,182 | 23.1% |
| Southern Methodist Universitysmu, dedman | 77% | $106,512 | $124,617 | 17% |
| University of Pennsylvaniapenn, upenn | 74% | $105,297 | $130,002 | 23.5% |
| Stanford Universitystanford, sls | 78% | $104,424 | $128,137 | 22.7% |
| Boston Universitybu | 66% | $103,980 | $107,850 | 3.7% |
| University of California - Los Angelesucla | 77% | $103,956 | $121,066 | 16.5% |
| Boston Collegebc | 77% | $103,765 | $97,006 | -6.5% |
| Mississippi Collegemississippicollege | 78% | $102,884 | $130,700 | 27% |
| Baylor Universitybaylor | 71% | $100,661 | $116,666 | 15.9% |
| University of Miamimiami, um, the u | 77% | $98,986 | $143,845 | 45.3% |
| Yale Universityyale, yls | 77% | $98,796 | $117,093 | 18.5% |
| University of California - Davisdavis, ucd, king | 77% | $98,179 | $93,498 | -4.8% |
| Brooklyn Law Schoolbrooklyn | 79% | $97,631 | $114,953 | 17.7% |
| Case Western Reserve Universitycasewestern, cwru | 73% | $94,150 | $131,724 | 39.9% |
| University of California - Berkeleyberkeley, ucb, boalt | 78% | $91,277 | $143,546 | 57.3% |
| Arizona State Universityasu, o'connor | 69% | $89,038 | $97,431 | 9.4% |
| Duquesne Universityduquesne | 69% | $88,908 | $107,496 | 20.9% |
| Texas A&Mtexasam, texas wesleyan, tamu | 71% | $88,062 | $103,500 | 17.5% |
| University of Pittsburghpitt | 78% | $84,772 | $103,461 | 22% |
| Chicago-Kent College of Lawkent, illinois institute of technology | 77% | $84,710 | $119,884 | 41.5% |
| University of Marylandmaryland, carey | 74% | $83,693 | $102,183 | 22.1% |
| William and Marywm, marshall-wythe | 79% | $83,058 | $98,487 | 18.6% |
| Temple Universitytemple, beasley | 74% | $82,836 | $97,323 | 17.5% |
| University of Oklahomaoklahoma, ou | 79% | $78,644 | $81,789 | 4% |
| University of Arizonaarizona, rogers | 78% | $78,412 | $95,533 | 21.8% |
| University of Texastexas, ut | 74% | $78,408 | $100,868 | 28.6% |
| University of Wisconsinwisconsin | 77% | $76,845 | $79,373 | 3.3% |
| University of South Carolinasouthcarolina, usc | 79% | $75,718 | $84,590 | 11.7% |
| University of The District of Columbiaudc, clarke | 71% | $74,667 | $73,175 | -2% |
| University of Georgiageorgia, uga | 72% | $71,283 | $88,825 | 24.6% |
| CUNYcuny-queens, city university of new york | 78% | $70,119 | $82,415 | 17.5% |
| University of Washingtonwashington, uw | 79% | $63,393 | $105,990 | 67.2% |
| University of Floridaflorida, uf, levin | 79% | $62,432 | $82,410 | 32% |
| Texas Tech Universitytexastech, ttu | 76% | $60,124 | $84,272 | 40.2% |
| University of Hawaiihawaii, richardson, manoa | 71% | $58,609 | $56,266 | -4% |
| University of Arkansas - Fayettevillearkansas-fayetteville | 77% | $56,358 | $63,541 | 12.7% |
| Brigham Young Universitybyu, clark | 72% | $52,315 | $54,203 | 3.6% |
| University of Wyomingwyoming | 79% | $51,859 | $67,087 | 29.4% |
| University of Alabamaalabama, bama | 66% | $49,750 | $69,440 | 39.6% |
| University of Nebraskanebraska | 79% | $49,706 | $62,985 | 26.7% |
| University of Kentuckykentucky, uk | 79% | $49,059 | $76,746 | 56.4% |
| Harvard Universityharvard, hls | 77% | - | $137,599 | - |
| John Marshall Law School - Atlantajohnmarshal-atl,jmls | - | $123,025 | - | - |
| New England School of Lawnewengland | - | $108,326 | - | - |
| Rutgers State University - Camdenrutgers-camden | - | $96,705 | - | - |
| Florida A&M Universityfamu | - | $86,557 | - | - |
| Southern Illinois Universitysiu, carbondale | - | $63,517 | - | - |
| Faulkner Universityfaulkner, jones | - | $50,500 | - | - |
| Appalachian School of Lawappalachian | - | - | - | - |
| Arizona Summit Law Schoolarizonasummit, phoenix, infilaw | - | - | - | - |