We put all schools on the following chart by plotting bar pass rates in 2013 against Average Amount Borrowed by 2014 Graduates.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.
Click on a group in the legend to hide/show all schools in the group.
The composite bar passage rate is the number ABA-approved law schools report to the ABA for accreditation purposes. 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.
| Grouped by Average Amount Borrowed by 2014 Graduates | Average 2013 Composite Bar Pass Rate |
|---|---|
| Amount Borrowed ≥ $150,000 12 schools |
76.5% |
| Amount Borrowed $130,000 - $149,999 44 schools |
81.2% |
| Amount Borrowed $115,000 - $129,999 34 schools |
84.8% |
| Amount Borrowed $100,000 - $114,999 28 schools |
86.8% |
| Amount Borrowed $80,000 - $99,999 37 schools |
84.7% |
| Amount Borrowed < $80,000 29 schools |
83.5% |
| Amount Borrowed Not Reported 8 schools |
78.9% |
Read this chart across each row. For example, the 12 schools with Amount Borrowed ≥ $150,000 had an average bar passage rate of 76.5% in 2013.
| School | 2014 Grad Avg. Borrowed |
2013 Composite Bar Passage Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Thomas Jefferson School of Lawthomasjefferson, tjsl | $172,445 | 55.2% |
| Whittier Law Schoolwhittier | $151,602 | 65.7% |
| Touro Collegetouro, fuchsberg | $154,855 | 66.4% |
| Florida Coastal School of Lawfloridacoastal, infilaw | $162,785 | 68.4% |
| California Western School of Lawcalwestern | $151,197 | 71.4% |
| University of San Franciscosanfrancisco, usf | $154,321 | 75.1% |
| Vermont Law Schoolvermont | $156,713 | 77% |
| American Universityamerican, washington college of law | $159,316 | 79.2% |
| New York Law Schoolnewyork, nyls | $166,622 | 82.5% |
| Georgetown Universitygulc, gtown | $150,529 | 89.9% |
| Northwestern Universitynorthwestern, nu, nw | $163,065 | 91.3% |
| Columbia Universitycolumbia, cls | $154,076 | 96.3% |
| Golden Gate Universitygoldengate | $146,288 | 55.7% |
| University of Detroit Mercydetroit-mercy | $132,245 | 61.1% |
| Charlotte School of Lawcharlotte, infilaw, csol | $140,528 | 61.7% |
| Ave Maria School of Lawavemaria | $132,236 | 62.6% |
| Western New England University School of Lawwesternnewengland | $130,124 | 64.1% |
| Elon Law Schoolelon | $132,444 | 65.5% |
| University of the Pacificpacific, mcgeorge | $140,517 | 67.7% |
| St. Thomas University - Floridastu | $140,808 | 71.4% |
| Santa Clara Universitysantaclara, scu | $136,990 | 72% |
| Tulane Universitytulane | $140,965 | 73.9% |
| Charleston School of Lawcharleston, csol | $147,031 | 75.6% |
| Catholic University of Americacatholic, columbus | $144,737 | 75.7% |
| Valparaiso Universityvalparaiso, valpo | $132,010 | 76% |
| Chapman Universitychapman | $148,429 | 76.4% |
| Mississippi Collegemississippicollege | $130,700 | 77.6% |
| Barry Universitybarry | $149,175 | 79.3% |
| Albany Law Schoolalbany, union | $130,184 | 79.8% |
| Willamette Universitywillamette, collins | $136,099 | 80.6% |
| Pepperdine Universitypepperdine | $145,525 | 80.9% |
| Widener University - Delawarewidener, wilmington | $139,229 | 81% |
| Nova Southeastern Universitynova, broad | $136,450 | 81.6% |
| University of Miamimiami, um, the u | $143,845 | 81.6% |
| Seattle Universityseattle | $131,414 | 82.2% |
| Hofstra Universityhofstra, deane | $143,646 | 82.6% |
| Widener University - Pennsylvaniawidener, harrisburg | $139,229 | 83.3% |
| Loyola Marymount Universityloyola-la | $147,701 | 84.7% |
| University of Illinois Chicago School of Lawjohnmarshall-chicago,jmls,uic | $143,518 | 84.9% |
| University of California - Berkeleyberkeley, ucb, boalt | $143,546 | 85.7% |
| University of Denverdenver, du, sturm | $132,083 | 85.7% |
| University of Southern Californiausc, gould | $137,163 | 86% |
| Case Western Reserve Universitycasewestern, cwru | $131,724 | 86.7% |
| Northeastern Universitynortheastern | $134,918 | 88.3% |
| Loyola University Chicagoloyola-chicago | $134,968 | 88.6% |
| Stetson Universitystetson | $148,394 | 89.3% |
| George Washington Universitygw | $141,346 | 90.6% |
| Fordham Universityfordham | $140,577 | 90.6% |
| University of Virginiauva | $132,182 | 92.8% |
| University of Michiganmichigan, umich, um, uofm | $132,473 | 93.6% |
| Cornell Universitycornell | $135,000 | 94.4% |
| University of Chicagochicago, uchi | $144,695 | 94.8% |
| University of Pennsylvaniapenn, upenn | $130,002 | 95.6% |
| New York Universitynyu | $147,744 | 96.2% |
| Harvard Universityharvard, hls | $137,599 | 96.4% |
| Marquette Universitymarquette | $134,533 | 100% |
| Howard Universityhoward | $124,021 | 64.3% |
| Loyola University New Orleansloyola-neworleans | $117,892 | 64.9% |
| University of California - Hastingshastings, uch | $129,178 | 74.6% |
| Regent Universityregent | $125,158 | 75.6% |
| University of San Diegosandiego, usd | $128,477 | 76.5% |
| Western State Universitywesternstate, argosy | $120,350 | 77.6% |
| Oklahoma City Universityocu | $121,476 | 79% |
| Pace Universitypace | $122,180 | 79.3% |
| Roger Williams Universityrogerwilliams, rwu | $128,543 | 80.3% |
| Lewis and Clark Collegelewisandclark, northwestern | $127,064 | 81.2% |
| St. Mary's Universitystmarys | $116,782 | 81.5% |
| Suffolk Universitysuffolk | $120,993 | 81.9% |
| Creighton Universitycreighton | $126,586 | 82% |
| Quinnipiac Universityquinnipiac | $119,956 | 82.2% |
| Syracuse Universitysyracuse | $129,249 | 84.7% |
| University of New Hampshirenh, franklin pierce | $121,469 | 84.8% |
| Samford Universitysamford, cumberland | $124,106 | 84.9% |
| Cardozo-Yeshiva Universitycardozo | $121,644 | 85% |
| Mercer Universitymercer, george | $125,301 | 86.8% |
| DePaul Universitydepaul | $125,895 | 86.8% |
| Seton Hall Universitysetonhall | $128,100 | 87.8% |
| University of California - Los Angelesucla | $121,066 | 88.6% |
| Penn State Universitypennstate, dickinson | $123,842 | 89.2% |
| University of Coloradocolorado, cu, boulder | $116,280 | 89.2% |
| Southern Methodist Universitysmu, dedman | $124,617 | 89.6% |
| Gonzaga Universitygonzaga | $121,281 | 90.8% |
| St. Louis Universityslu | $128,764 | 91.5% |
| Stanford Universitystanford, sls | $128,137 | 91.9% |
| Chicago-Kent College of Lawkent, illinois institute of technology | $119,884 | 93% |
| George Mason Universitygmu | $126,723 | 93.1% |
| Duke Universityduke, dook | $125,406 | 95.4% |
| Vanderbilt Universityvanderbilt, vandy | $122,327 | 95.6% |
| Yale Universityyale, yls | $117,093 | 96.2% |
| Baylor Universitybaylor | $116,666 | 97% |
| University of Daytondayton | $113,486 | 77.4% |
| University of California - Irvineirvine, uci | $102,891 | 80% |
| Wake Forest Universitywake, wf | $107,532 | 80.1% |
| University of Oregonoregon | $105,900 | 80.7% |
| University of Pittsburghpitt | $103,461 | 80.9% |
| University of Richmondrichmond, williams | $110,380 | 81.2% |
| Duquesne Universityduquesne | $107,496 | 82.2% |
| Washington and Lee Universitywl | $109,422 | 82.3% |
| University of Marylandmaryland, carey | $102,183 | 83.5% |
| Hamline Universityhamline | $113,173 | 83.8% |
| University of Baltimorebaltimore | $114,725 | 84.9% |
| Ohio Northern Universityonu, pettit | $107,764 | 85.7% |
| Capital Universitycapital | $113,434 | 86.6% |
| Texas A&Mtexasam, texas wesleyan, tamu | $103,500 | 86.7% |
| University of Mainemaine | $101,749 | 87.5% |
| St. John's Universitystjohns | $111,959 | 87.6% |
| University of St. Thomas - Minneapolisstthomas | $100,401 | 87.7% |
| University of Notre Damenotredame, nd | $111,310 | 88.1% |
| South Texas College of Law Houstonsouthtexas | $113,748 | 88.1% |
| Washington University in St Louiswashu, wustl | $111,345 | 88.5% |
| William Mitchell College of Lawwilliammitchell | $110,738 | 88.8% |
| Brooklyn Law Schoolbrooklyn | $114,953 | 92.7% |
| University of Minnesotaminnesota, uminn | $104,733 | 93.5% |
| University of Washingtonwashington, uw | $105,990 | 93.5% |
| Boston Universitybu | $107,850 | 94.7% |
| Drake Universitydrake | $108,857 | 94.7% |
| Emory Universityemory | $108,690 | 94.9% |
| University of Texastexas, ut | $100,868 | 95.1% |
| Rutgers State University - Newarkrutgers-newark | $89,507 | 70.4% |
| Louisiana State Universitylsu, hebert | $89,471 | 73.4% |
| University of Nevada - Las Vegasunlv | $99,678 | 75.4% |
| Michigan State Universitymsu, michstate, detroit college of law, dcl | $95,494 | 76.6% |
| West Virginia Universitywvu | $84,727 | 76.9% |
| University of Idahoidaho | $92,732 | 77.9% |
| CUNYcuny-queens, city university of new york | $82,415 | 79.2% |
| University of Louisvillelouisville, brandeis | $90,195 | 80.2% |
| Drexel Universitydrexel | $91,915 | 80.2% |
| University of Arizonaarizona, rogers | $95,533 | 80.5% |
| University of Toledotoledo | $96,924 | 81.2% |
| Northern Kentucky Universitynku, chase | $82,989 | 82% |
| University of North Carolinaunc, chapel hill | $92,475 | 82.4% |
| Campbell Universitycampbell | $90,065 | 82.4% |
| Indiana University - Indianapolisindiana-indy, IU | $96,651 | 82.5% |
| University of California - Davisdavis, ucd, king | $93,498 | 82.9% |
| University of Akronakron | $82,322 | 83.8% |
| University of South Carolinasouthcarolina, usc | $84,590 | 84.7% |
| Florida International Universityfiu | $89,815 | 84.8% |
| Washburn Universitywashburn | $83,396 | 85.3% |
| Texas Tech Universitytexastech, ttu | $84,272 | 86.9% |
| University of Tulsatulsa | $99,305 | 87% |
| University of Floridaflorida, uf, levin | $82,410 | 87.2% |
| Arizona State Universityasu, o'connor | $97,431 | 87.9% |
| University of Oklahomaoklahoma, ou | $81,789 | 88.1% |
| University of Houstonhouston, uhlc, uh | $88,664 | 88.2% |
| Villanova Universityvillanova | $95,297 | 88.3% |
| Florida State Universityfsu | $80,375 | 88.4% |
| William and Marywm, marshall-wythe | $98,487 | 89.5% |
| University of Iowaiowa | $92,373 | 89.8% |
| Temple Universitytemple, beasley | $97,323 | 90% |
| Cleveland-Marshall College of Lawcleveland | $89,879 | 91.1% |
| Indiana University - Bloomingtonindiana, IU, mauer | $89,785 | 91.4% |
| Boston Collegebc | $97,006 | 94.4% |
| University of Illinoisillinois, uofi, urbana-champaign | $89,852 | 94.7% |
| Ohio State Universityosu, moritz | $97,021 | 94.7% |
| University of Georgiageorgia, uga | $88,825 | 94.8% |
| Southern University Law Centersouthern | $77,067 | 46.6% |
| University of The District of Columbiaudc, clarke | $73,175 | 54.7% |
| North Carolina Central Universitynccu, nc central | $58,061 | 65.6% |
| Liberty Universityliberty | $69,475 | 70.1% |
| University of Arkansas - Little Rockarkansas-littlerock, bowen | $69,532 | 70.6% |
| University of North Dakotanorthdakota, UND | $64,818 | 73.6% |
| Wayne State Universitywayne | $79,881 | 78.4% |
| University of Wyomingwyoming | $67,087 | 80.6% |
| University of Hawaiihawaii, richardson, manoa | $56,266 | 82.6% |
| SUNY Buffalobuffalo | $76,010 | 83% |
| University of Connecticutuconn | $70,139 | 83.7% |
| University of New Mexiconewmexico | $71,029 | 85.4% |
| University of Arkansas - Fayettevillearkansas-fayetteville | $63,541 | 85.7% |
| Brigham Young Universitybyu, clark | $54,203 | 86.1% |
| University of Montanamontana | $71,216 | 86.1% |
| University of Nebraskanebraska | $62,985 | 86.3% |
| Northern Illinois Universityniu | $77,182 | 87.4% |
| University of Memphismemphis, humphreys | $78,030 | 88% |
| University of Kansaskansas, ku | $74,890 | 89.5% |
| University of Cincinnaticincinnati | $76,663 | 89.6% |
| University of Utahutah, uu, quinney | $78,725 | 90% |
| University of Kentuckykentucky, uk | $76,746 | 90.2% |
| University of Mississippimississippi, ole miss | $73,003 | 90.8% |
| University of Missouri - Columbiamissouri, mizzou | $67,289 | 93.3% |
| University of Tennesseetennessee, utk | $66,201 | 94.3% |
| Georgia State Universitygsu | $69,822 | 94.4% |
| University of Alabamaalabama, bama | $69,440 | 96.4% |
| University of South Dakotasouthdakota | $78,963 | 97.8% |
| University of Wisconsinwisconsin | $79,373 | 100% |
| John Marshall Law School - Atlantajohnmarshal-atl,jmls | - | 67.1% |
| Appalachian School of Lawappalachian | - | 68.3% |
| Arizona Summit Law Schoolarizonasummit, phoenix, infilaw | - | 69.1% |
| Florida A&M Universityfamu | - | 73.1% |
| Rutgers State University - Camdenrutgers-camden | - | 83.8% |
| Southern Illinois Universitysiu, carbondale | - | 88.8% |
| New England School of Lawnewengland | - | 89.2% |
| Faulkner Universityfaulkner, jones | - | 91.9% |