The following charts, grouped by Average Amount Borrowed by 2014 Graduates, 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 Average Amount Borrowed by 2014 Graduates | 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 | $ | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount Borrowed ≥ $150,000 | $127K 12 schools |
86.7% | $158K 12 schools |
85.3% | 24.5% | -1.4% |
| Amount Borrowed $130,000 - $149,999 | $114K 43 schools |
84.8% | $139K 44 schools |
82.9% | 22% | -1.9% |
| Amount Borrowed $115,000 - $129,999 | $108K 34 schools |
84.2% | $123K 34 schools |
83.4% | 14.3% | -0.8% |
| Amount Borrowed $100,000 - $114,999 | $93K 27 schools |
85.6% | $108K 28 schools |
82.2% | 16.9% | -3.4% |
| Amount Borrowed $80,000 - $99,999 | $81K 35 schools |
83.4% | $91K 37 schools |
81.6% | 11.9% | -1.8% |
| Amount Borrowed < $80,000 | $61K 29 schools |
86.9% | $71K 29 schools |
82.5% | 16.8% | -4.4% |
Read this chart across each row. For example, average debt at schools with Amount Borrowed ≥ $150,000 increased 24.5% from 2010 to 2014, from $127K to $158K.
| School | 2010 Grad Avg. Borrowed |
2014 Grad Avg. Borrowed |
Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| California Western School of Lawcalwestern | $145,621 | $151,197 | 3.8% |
| Thomas Jefferson School of Lawthomasjefferson, tjsl | $137,352 | $172,445 | 25.5% |
| American Universityamerican, washington college of law | $136,121 | $159,316 | 17% |
| Northwestern Universitynorthwestern, nu, nw | $132,685 | $163,065 | 22.9% |
| Vermont Law Schoolvermont | $127,914 | $156,713 | 22.5% |
| Columbia Universitycolumbia, cls | $126,945 | $154,076 | 21.4% |
| Touro Collegetouro, fuchsberg | $125,481 | $154,855 | 23.4% |
| University of San Franciscosanfrancisco, usf | $124,982 | $154,321 | 23.5% |
| Georgetown Universitygulc, gtown | $122,319 | $150,529 | 23.1% |
| Florida Coastal School of Lawfloridacoastal, infilaw | $120,410 | $162,785 | 35.2% |
| New York Law Schoolnewyork, nyls | $119,437 | $166,622 | 39.5% |
| Whittier Law Schoolwhittier | $104,731 | $151,602 | 44.8% |
| Catholic University of Americacatholic, columbus | $134,133 | $144,737 | 7.9% |
| Golden Gate Universitygoldengate | $132,895 | $146,288 | 10.1% |
| Loyola Marymount Universityloyola-la | $132,267 | $147,701 | 11.7% |
| Charleston School of Lawcharleston, csol | $128,571 | $147,031 | 14.4% |
| University of the Pacificpacific, mcgeorge | $128,495 | $140,517 | 9.4% |
| University of Chicagochicago, uchi | $127,997 | $144,695 | 13% |
| Cornell Universitycornell | $126,000 | $135,000 | 7.1% |
| University of Illinois Chicago School of Lawjohnmarshall-chicago,jmls,uic | $125,806 | $143,518 | 14.1% |
| New York Universitynyu | $125,169 | $147,744 | 18% |
| Pepperdine Universitypepperdine | $125,114 | $145,525 | 16.3% |
| Albany Law Schoolalbany, union | $124,271 | $130,184 | 4.8% |
| Tulane Universitytulane | $122,197 | $140,965 | 15.4% |
| Stetson Universitystetson | $122,189 | $148,394 | 21.4% |
| St. Thomas University - Floridastu | $119,271 | $140,808 | 18.1% |
| Barry Universitybarry | $119,250 | $149,175 | 25.1% |
| Fordham Universityfordham | $119,120 | $140,577 | 18% |
| University of Southern Californiausc, gould | $117,573 | $137,163 | 16.7% |
| Nova Southeastern Universitynova, broad | $117,223 | $136,450 | 16.4% |
| University of Detroit Mercydetroit-mercy | $117,089 | $132,245 | 12.9% |
| Hofstra Universityhofstra, deane | $115,705 | $143,646 | 24.1% |
| Chapman Universitychapman | $115,064 | $148,429 | 29% |
| Charlotte School of Lawcharlotte, infilaw, csol | $113,793 | $140,528 | 23.5% |
| University of Denverdenver, du, sturm | $113,688 | $132,083 | 16.2% |
| Valparaiso Universityvalparaiso, valpo | $113,643 | $132,010 | 16.2% |
| Northeastern Universitynortheastern | $113,081 | $134,918 | 19.3% |
| University of Michiganmichigan, umich, um, uofm | $112,133 | $132,473 | 18.1% |
| Widener University - Pennsylvaniawidener, harrisburg | $111,909 | $139,229 | 24.4% |
| Widener University - Delawarewidener, wilmington | $111,909 | $139,229 | 24.4% |
| Marquette Universitymarquette | $110,147 | $134,533 | 22.1% |
| George Washington Universitygw | $110,000 | $141,346 | 28.5% |
| University of Virginiauva | $107,384 | $132,182 | 23.1% |
| Santa Clara Universitysantaclara, scu | $106,869 | $136,990 | 28.2% |
| University of Pennsylvaniapenn, upenn | $105,297 | $130,002 | 23.5% |
| Elon Law Schoolelon | $103,059 | $132,444 | 28.5% |
| Mississippi Collegemississippicollege | $102,884 | $130,700 | 27% |
| Seattle Universityseattle | $102,350 | $131,414 | 28.4% |
| University of Miamimiami, um, the u | $98,986 | $143,845 | 45.3% |
| Western New England University School of Lawwesternnewengland | $96,565 | $130,124 | 34.8% |
| Loyola University Chicagoloyola-chicago | $95,201 | $134,968 | 41.8% |
| Case Western Reserve Universitycasewestern, cwru | $94,150 | $131,724 | 39.9% |
| Willamette Universitywillamette, collins | $91,347 | $136,099 | 49% |
| University of California - Berkeleyberkeley, ucb, boalt | $91,277 | $143,546 | 57.3% |
| Ave Maria School of Lawavemaria | $87,337 | $132,236 | 51.4% |
| Harvard Universityharvard, hls | - | $137,599 | - |
| Loyola University New Orleansloyola-neworleans | $136,050 | $117,892 | -13.3% |
| Roger Williams Universityrogerwilliams, rwu | $123,338 | $128,543 | 4.2% |
| DePaul Universitydepaul | $121,324 | $125,895 | 3.8% |
| St. Louis Universityslu | $120,000 | $128,764 | 7.3% |
| Syracuse Universitysyracuse | $119,769 | $129,249 | 7.9% |
| University of San Diegosandiego, usd | $119,331 | $128,477 | 7.7% |
| Cardozo-Yeshiva Universitycardozo | $118,939 | $121,644 | 2.3% |
| Penn State Universitypennstate, dickinson | $117,989 | $123,842 | 5% |
| University of New Hampshirenh, franklin pierce | $115,952 | $121,469 | 4.8% |
| Regent Universityregent | $115,734 | $125,158 | 8.1% |
| Vanderbilt Universityvanderbilt, vandy | $114,720 | $122,327 | 6.6% |
| Oklahoma City Universityocu | $114,090 | $121,476 | 6.5% |
| Creighton Universitycreighton | $114,030 | $126,586 | 11% |
| Duke Universityduke, dook | $113,911 | $125,406 | 10.1% |
| Suffolk Universitysuffolk | $112,939 | $120,993 | 7.1% |
| Seton Hall Universitysetonhall | $112,772 | $128,100 | 13.6% |
| Howard Universityhoward | $112,004 | $124,021 | 10.7% |
| Samford Universitysamford, cumberland | $107,850 | $124,106 | 15.1% |
| Southern Methodist Universitysmu, dedman | $106,512 | $124,617 | 17% |
| Lewis and Clark Collegelewisandclark, northwestern | $105,928 | $127,064 | 20% |
| Mercer Universitymercer, george | $105,585 | $125,301 | 18.7% |
| Stanford Universitystanford, sls | $104,424 | $128,137 | 22.7% |
| University of California - Los Angelesucla | $103,956 | $121,066 | 16.5% |
| Baylor Universitybaylor | $100,661 | $116,666 | 15.9% |
| Gonzaga Universitygonzaga | $100,092 | $121,281 | 21.2% |
| Yale Universityyale, yls | $98,796 | $117,093 | 18.5% |
| Western State Universitywesternstate, argosy | $98,791 | $120,350 | 21.8% |
| George Mason Universitygmu | $98,087 | $126,723 | 29.2% |
| Pace Universitypace | $97,586 | $122,180 | 25.2% |
| St. Mary's Universitystmarys | $97,105 | $116,782 | 20.3% |
| Quinnipiac Universityquinnipiac | $96,256 | $119,956 | 24.6% |
| University of California - Hastingshastings, uch | $96,013 | $129,178 | 34.5% |
| Chicago-Kent College of Lawkent, illinois institute of technology | $84,710 | $119,884 | 41.5% |
| University of Coloradocolorado, cu, boulder | $66,554 | $116,280 | 74.7% |
| St. John's Universitystjohns | $112,365 | $111,959 | -0.4% |
| Washington University in St Louiswashu, wustl | $108,603 | $111,345 | 2.5% |
| Washington and Lee Universitywl | $105,970 | $109,422 | 3.3% |
| South Texas College of Law Houstonsouthtexas | $104,862 | $113,748 | 8.5% |
| Boston Universitybu | $103,980 | $107,850 | 3.7% |
| Capital Universitycapital | $103,426 | $113,434 | 9.7% |
| Emory Universityemory | $99,236 | $108,690 | 9.5% |
| Brooklyn Law Schoolbrooklyn | $97,631 | $114,953 | 17.7% |
| University of St. Thomas - Minneapolisstthomas | $97,238 | $100,401 | 3.3% |
| Ohio Northern Universityonu, pettit | $96,371 | $107,764 | 11.8% |
| Hamline Universityhamline | $95,174 | $113,173 | 18.9% |
| University of Baltimorebaltimore | $94,834 | $114,725 | 21% |
| University of Richmondrichmond, williams | $94,200 | $110,380 | 17.2% |
| Wake Forest Universitywake, wf | $93,223 | $107,532 | 15.3% |
| University of Notre Damenotredame, nd | $92,310 | $111,310 | 20.6% |
| William Mitchell College of Lawwilliammitchell | $92,277 | $110,738 | 20% |
| Drake Universitydrake | $91,576 | $108,857 | 18.9% |
| University of Oregonoregon | $91,353 | $105,900 | 15.9% |
| University of Minnesotaminnesota, uminn | $91,314 | $104,733 | 14.7% |
| Duquesne Universityduquesne | $88,908 | $107,496 | 20.9% |
| Texas A&Mtexasam, texas wesleyan, tamu | $88,062 | $103,500 | 17.5% |
| University of Pittsburghpitt | $84,772 | $103,461 | 22% |
| University of Marylandmaryland, carey | $83,693 | $102,183 | 22.1% |
| University of Texastexas, ut | $78,408 | $100,868 | 28.6% |
| University of Mainemaine | $76,533 | $101,749 | 32.9% |
| University of Daytondayton | $67,856 | $113,486 | 67.2% |
| University of Washingtonwashington, uw | $63,393 | $105,990 | 67.2% |
| University of California - Irvineirvine, uci | - | $102,891 | - |
| Villanova Universityvillanova | $122,410 | $95,297 | -22.1% |
| Campbell Universitycampbell | $121,648 | $90,065 | -26% |
| Indiana University - Bloomingtonindiana, IU, mauer | $113,538 | $89,785 | -20.9% |
| Michigan State Universitymsu, michstate, detroit college of law, dcl | $108,444 | $95,494 | -11.9% |
| Boston Collegebc | $103,765 | $97,006 | -6.5% |
| University of Tulsatulsa | $100,795 | $99,305 | -1.5% |
| University of California - Davisdavis, ucd, king | $98,179 | $93,498 | -4.8% |
| Drexel Universitydrexel | $96,780 | $91,915 | -5% |
| Arizona State Universityasu, o'connor | $89,038 | $97,431 | 9.4% |
| University of Iowaiowa | $87,891 | $92,373 | 5.1% |
| William and Marywm, marshall-wythe | $83,058 | $98,487 | 18.6% |
| Temple Universitytemple, beasley | $82,836 | $97,323 | 17.5% |
| Ohio State Universityosu, moritz | $81,408 | $97,021 | 19.2% |
| Washburn Universitywashburn | $80,488 | $83,396 | 3.6% |
| University of Illinoisillinois, uofi, urbana-champaign | $80,005 | $89,852 | 12.3% |
| University of Oklahomaoklahoma, ou | $78,644 | $81,789 | 4% |
| University of Arizonaarizona, rogers | $78,412 | $95,533 | 21.8% |
| Rutgers State University - Newarkrutgers-newark | $78,302 | $89,507 | 14.3% |
| University of Louisvillelouisville, brandeis | $77,121 | $90,195 | 17% |
| University of Toledotoledo | $76,898 | $96,924 | 26% |
| University of Nevada - Las Vegasunlv | $76,478 | $99,678 | 30.3% |
| University of South Carolinasouthcarolina, usc | $75,718 | $84,590 | 11.7% |
| University of Idahoidaho | $74,655 | $92,732 | 24.2% |
| Northern Kentucky Universitynku, chase | $73,469 | $82,989 | 13% |
| Cleveland-Marshall College of Lawcleveland | $71,477 | $89,879 | 25.7% |
| University of Georgiageorgia, uga | $71,283 | $88,825 | 24.6% |
| CUNYcuny-queens, city university of new york | $70,119 | $82,415 | 17.5% |
| Louisiana State Universitylsu, hebert | $69,462 | $89,471 | 28.8% |
| University of Houstonhouston, uhlc, uh | $65,802 | $88,664 | 34.7% |
| University of Floridaflorida, uf, levin | $62,432 | $82,410 | 32% |
| University of North Carolinaunc, chapel hill | $60,212 | $92,475 | 53.6% |
| University of Akronakron | $60,149 | $82,322 | 36.9% |
| Texas Tech Universitytexastech, ttu | $60,124 | $84,272 | 40.2% |
| West Virginia Universitywvu | $60,074 | $84,727 | 41% |
| Florida State Universityfsu | $44,442 | $80,375 | 80.9% |
| Indiana University - Indianapolisindiana-indy, IU | - | $96,651 | - |
| Florida International Universityfiu | - | $89,815 | - |
| North Carolina Central Universitynccu, nc central | $98,948 | $58,061 | -41.3% |
| University of Wisconsinwisconsin | $76,845 | $79,373 | 3.3% |
| University of The District of Columbiaudc, clarke | $74,667 | $73,175 | -2% |
| University of Missouri - Columbiamissouri, mizzou | $69,046 | $67,289 | -2.5% |
| University of Memphismemphis, humphreys | $67,074 | $78,030 | 16.3% |
| Wayne State Universitywayne | $67,029 | $79,881 | 19.2% |
| University of Connecticutuconn | $66,457 | $70,139 | 5.5% |
| University of Tennesseetennessee, utk | $65,082 | $66,201 | 1.7% |
| University of North Dakotanorthdakota, UND | $64,772 | $64,818 | 0.1% |
| Liberty Universityliberty | $62,032 | $69,475 | 12% |
| University of Mississippimississippi, ole miss | $62,012 | $73,003 | 17.7% |
| University of Utahutah, uu, quinney | $61,665 | $78,725 | 27.7% |
| University of Montanamontana | $61,617 | $71,216 | 15.6% |
| University of Arkansas - Little Rockarkansas-littlerock, bowen | $59,983 | $69,532 | 15.9% |
| University of Hawaiihawaii, richardson, manoa | $58,609 | $56,266 | -4% |
| University of Cincinnaticincinnati | $58,455 | $76,663 | 31.1% |
| Georgia State Universitygsu | $57,408 | $69,822 | 21.6% |
| SUNY Buffalobuffalo | $56,394 | $76,010 | 34.8% |
| University of Arkansas - Fayettevillearkansas-fayetteville | $56,358 | $63,541 | 12.7% |
| Southern University Law Centersouthern | $55,809 | $77,067 | 38.1% |
| University of New Mexiconewmexico | $54,122 | $71,029 | 31.2% |
| University of South Dakotasouthdakota | $53,251 | $78,963 | 48.3% |
| Brigham Young Universitybyu, clark | $52,315 | $54,203 | 3.6% |
| University of Wyomingwyoming | $51,859 | $67,087 | 29.4% |
| Northern Illinois Universityniu | $49,858 | $77,182 | 54.8% |
| University of Alabamaalabama, bama | $49,750 | $69,440 | 39.6% |
| University of Nebraskanebraska | $49,706 | $62,985 | 26.7% |
| University of Kentuckykentucky, uk | $49,059 | $76,746 | 56.4% |
| University of Kansaskansas, ku | $45,662 | $74,890 | 64% |
| 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 | - | - | - |