The following charts, grouped by Job Outcomes in 2014, show change in average debt between 2010 and 2014. "LT, FT BPR" means a job that is long term (a job with an indefinite duration or fixed duration of 1 year or more), full time (at least 35 hours per week) bar passage required (job requires a law license).
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. "LT, FT BPR" means a job that is long term (a job with an indefinite duration or fixed duration of 1 year or more), full time (at least 35 hours per week) bar passage required (job requires a law license).
The school numbers do not always match up across 2010 and 2014 because some schools inconsistently disclose/withhold debt data.
| Grouped by Job Outcomes in 2014 | 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 | $ | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ≥ 90% LT, FT BPR | $114K 10 schools |
82.8% | $137K 10 schools |
77.6% | 20.4% | -5.2% |
| 75% - 89.9% LT, FT BPR | $95K 17 schools |
80.1% | $111K 18 schools |
78.3% | 16.6% | -1.8% |
| 60% - 74.9% LT, FT BPR | $86K 63 schools |
84.7% | $101K 63 schools |
82% | 17% | -2.7% |
| 50% - 59.9% LT, FT BPR | $94K 50 schools |
85.3% | $112K 49 schools |
82.6% | 19.1% | -2.7% |
| 40% - 49.9% LT, FT BPR | $103K 33 schools |
87.6% | $119K 29 schools |
86.7% | 14.9% | -0.9% |
| 30% - 39.9% LT, FT BPR | $104K 13 schools |
87.1% | $130K 11 schools |
88% | 25.3% | 0.9% |
| < 30% LT, FT BPR | $111K 5 schools |
90.1% | $136K 4 schools |
85.3% | 22.3% | -4.8% |
Read this chart across each row. For example, average debt at schools with ≥ 90% LT, FT BPR increased 20.4% from 2010 to 2014, from $114K to $137K.
| School | 2014 LT, FT Legal Jobs |
2010 Grad Avg. Borrowed |
2014 Grad Avg. Borrowed |
Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Chicagochicago, uchi | 92.4% | $127,997 | $144,695 | 13% |
| Columbia Universitycolumbia, cls | 93.8% | $126,945 | $154,076 | 21.4% |
| Cornell Universitycornell | 95.8% | $126,000 | $135,000 | 7.1% |
| New York Universitynyu | 93.5% | $125,169 | $147,744 | 18% |
| Duke Universityduke, dook | 90.2% | $113,911 | $125,406 | 10.1% |
| University of Michiganmichigan, umich, um, uofm | 90.3% | $112,133 | $132,473 | 18.1% |
| University of Virginiauva | 94.3% | $107,384 | $132,182 | 23.1% |
| University of Pennsylvaniapenn, upenn | 94.6% | $105,297 | $130,002 | 23.5% |
| Stanford Universitystanford, sls | 90.4% | $104,424 | $128,137 | 22.7% |
| University of California - Berkeleyberkeley, ucb, boalt | 92.3% | $91,277 | $143,546 | 57.3% |
| Northwestern Universitynorthwestern, nu, nw | 81.4% | $132,685 | $163,065 | 22.9% |
| Georgetown Universitygulc, gtown | 79.9% | $122,319 | $150,529 | 23.1% |
| University of Southern Californiausc, gould | 79.3% | $117,573 | $137,163 | 16.7% |
| Vanderbilt Universityvanderbilt, vandy | 84.5% | $114,720 | $122,327 | 6.6% |
| George Washington Universitygw | 78.9% | $110,000 | $141,346 | 28.5% |
| Washington University in St Louiswashu, wustl | 78.3% | $108,603 | $111,345 | 2.5% |
| University of California - Los Angelesucla | 81% | $103,956 | $121,066 | 16.5% |
| Boston Collegebc | 75.1% | $103,765 | $97,006 | -6.5% |
| Emory Universityemory | 83.6% | $99,236 | $108,690 | 9.5% |
| University of California - Davisdavis, ucd, king | 77.5% | $98,179 | $93,498 | -4.8% |
| University of Notre Damenotredame, nd | 78.8% | $92,310 | $111,310 | 20.6% |
| University of Minnesotaminnesota, uminn | 76.1% | $91,314 | $104,733 | 14.7% |
| University of Iowaiowa | 77.8% | $87,891 | $92,373 | 5.1% |
| University of Texastexas, ut | 78.1% | $78,408 | $100,868 | 28.6% |
| University of New Mexiconewmexico | 80.2% | $54,122 | $71,029 | 31.2% |
| Brigham Young Universitybyu, clark | 76.1% | $52,315 | $54,203 | 3.6% |
| University of Kentuckykentucky, uk | 80.2% | $49,059 | $76,746 | 56.4% |
| Harvard Universityharvard, hls | 89.9% | - | $137,599 | - |
| Loyola Marymount Universityloyola-la | 60.6% | $132,267 | $147,701 | 11.7% |
| Albany Law Schoolalbany, union | 62.3% | $124,271 | $130,184 | 4.8% |
| Villanova Universityvillanova | 65% | $122,410 | $95,297 | -22.1% |
| Tulane Universitytulane | 61.8% | $122,197 | $140,965 | 15.4% |
| St. Louis Universityslu | 62.6% | $120,000 | $128,764 | 7.3% |
| Fordham Universityfordham | 67.8% | $119,120 | $140,577 | 18% |
| Penn State Universitypennstate, dickinson | 65.9% | $117,989 | $123,842 | 5% |
| Nova Southeastern Universitynova, broad | 62.1% | $117,223 | $136,450 | 16.4% |
| University of New Hampshirenh, franklin pierce | 64.3% | $115,952 | $121,469 | 4.8% |
| Oklahoma City Universityocu | 63.6% | $114,090 | $121,476 | 6.5% |
| Creighton Universitycreighton | 63.9% | $114,030 | $126,586 | 11% |
| Indiana University - Bloomingtonindiana, IU, mauer | 65.8% | $113,538 | $89,785 | -20.9% |
| Seton Hall Universitysetonhall | 72.3% | $112,772 | $128,100 | 13.6% |
| St. John's Universitystjohns | 61.5% | $112,365 | $111,959 | -0.4% |
| Southern Methodist Universitysmu, dedman | 69.7% | $106,512 | $124,617 | 17% |
| Washington and Lee Universitywl | 64.6% | $105,970 | $109,422 | 3.3% |
| Mercer Universitymercer, george | 69.2% | $105,585 | $125,301 | 18.7% |
| South Texas College of Law Houstonsouthtexas | 61.8% | $104,862 | $113,748 | 8.5% |
| Boston Universitybu | 72.8% | $103,980 | $107,850 | 3.7% |
| University of Tulsatulsa | 69.4% | $100,795 | $99,305 | -1.5% |
| Baylor Universitybaylor | 68.4% | $100,661 | $116,666 | 15.9% |
| University of Miamimiami, um, the u | 68.9% | $98,986 | $143,845 | 45.3% |
| Yale Universityyale, yls | 72.6% | $98,796 | $117,093 | 18.5% |
| Drexel Universitydrexel | 63.1% | $96,780 | $91,915 | -5% |
| Rutgers State University - Camdenrutgers-camden | 61.5% | $96,705 | - | - |
| Wake Forest Universitywake, wf | 71.1% | $93,223 | $107,532 | 15.3% |
| Drake Universitydrake | 64.6% | $91,576 | $108,857 | 18.9% |
| Willamette Universitywillamette, collins | 66.4% | $91,347 | $136,099 | 49% |
| University of Missouri - Kansas Citymissouri-kc, umkc | 64.3% | $90,767 | - | - |
| Arizona State Universityasu, o'connor | 71.2% | $89,038 | $97,431 | 9.4% |
| William and Marywm, marshall-wythe | 72.6% | $83,058 | $98,487 | 18.6% |
| Temple Universitytemple, beasley | 61.7% | $82,836 | $97,323 | 17.5% |
| Ohio State Universityosu, moritz | 73.8% | $81,408 | $97,021 | 19.2% |
| Washburn Universitywashburn | 72.3% | $80,488 | $83,396 | 3.6% |
| University of Illinoisillinois, uofi, urbana-champaign | 72.4% | $80,005 | $89,852 | 12.3% |
| University of Oklahomaoklahoma, ou | 68.5% | $78,644 | $81,789 | 4% |
| University of Arizonaarizona, rogers | 71.5% | $78,412 | $95,533 | 21.8% |
| Rutgers State University - Newarkrutgers-newark | 65.2% | $78,302 | $89,507 | 14.3% |
| University of Louisvillelouisville, brandeis | 66.1% | $77,121 | $90,195 | 17% |
| University of Wisconsinwisconsin | 66.5% | $76,845 | $79,373 | 3.3% |
| University of Nevada - Las Vegasunlv | 66.9% | $76,478 | $99,678 | 30.3% |
| University of South Carolinasouthcarolina, usc | 65.4% | $75,718 | $84,590 | 11.7% |
| University of Idahoidaho | 68.3% | $74,655 | $92,732 | 24.2% |
| University of Georgiageorgia, uga | 70.6% | $71,283 | $88,825 | 24.6% |
| Louisiana State Universitylsu, hebert | 72.4% | $69,462 | $89,471 | 28.8% |
| University of Missouri - Columbiamissouri, mizzou | 65.9% | $69,046 | $67,289 | -2.5% |
| University of Coloradocolorado, cu, boulder | 69.7% | $66,554 | $116,280 | 74.7% |
| University of Houstonhouston, uhlc, uh | 66.4% | $65,802 | $88,664 | 34.7% |
| Southern Illinois Universitysiu, carbondale | 64.8% | $63,517 | - | - |
| University of Washingtonwashington, uw | 63.5% | $63,393 | $105,990 | 67.2% |
| University of Floridaflorida, uf, levin | 69.3% | $62,432 | $82,410 | 32% |
| University of Utahutah, uu, quinney | 66.7% | $61,665 | $78,725 | 27.7% |
| University of Montanamontana | 67.5% | $61,617 | $71,216 | 15.6% |
| University of North Carolinaunc, chapel hill | 69.6% | $60,212 | $92,475 | 53.6% |
| Texas Tech Universitytexastech, ttu | 60.6% | $60,124 | $84,272 | 40.2% |
| University of Cincinnaticincinnati | 63.2% | $58,455 | $76,663 | 31.1% |
| Georgia State Universitygsu | 71.2% | $57,408 | $69,822 | 21.6% |
| University of South Dakotasouthdakota | 67.9% | $53,251 | $78,963 | 48.3% |
| Northern Illinois Universityniu | 60.6% | $49,858 | $77,182 | 54.8% |
| University of Alabamaalabama, bama | 73.1% | $49,750 | $69,440 | 39.6% |
| University of Nebraskanebraska | 73.5% | $49,706 | $62,985 | 26.7% |
| University of Kansaskansas, ku | 68.1% | $45,662 | $74,890 | 64% |
| Florida State Universityfsu | 67.2% | $44,442 | $80,375 | 80.9% |
| Indiana University - Indianapolisindiana-indy, IU | 61.3% | - | $96,651 | - |
| Florida International Universityfiu | 65.6% | - | $89,815 | - |
| University of California - Irvineirvine, uci | 74.2% | - | $102,891 | - |
| American Universityamerican, washington college of law | 54.6% | $136,121 | $159,316 | 17% |
| Loyola University New Orleansloyola-neworleans | 52.8% | $136,050 | $117,892 | -13.3% |
| Charleston School of Lawcharleston, csol | 52.7% | $128,571 | $147,031 | 14.4% |
| University of Illinois Chicago School of Lawjohnmarshall-chicago,jmls,uic | 56.6% | $125,806 | $143,518 | 14.1% |
| Touro Collegetouro, fuchsberg | 56.6% | $125,481 | $154,855 | 23.4% |
| Stetson Universitystetson | 57% | $122,189 | $148,394 | 21.4% |
| Campbell Universitycampbell | 59.7% | $121,648 | $90,065 | -26% |
| DePaul Universitydepaul | 55.2% | $121,324 | $125,895 | 3.8% |
| Syracuse Universitysyracuse | 57.4% | $119,769 | $129,249 | 7.9% |
| Cardozo-Yeshiva Universitycardozo | 56.6% | $118,939 | $121,644 | 2.3% |
| Hofstra Universityhofstra, deane | 57.7% | $115,705 | $143,646 | 24.1% |
| University of Denverdenver, du, sturm | 56% | $113,688 | $132,083 | 16.2% |
| Northeastern Universitynortheastern | 53.2% | $113,081 | $134,918 | 19.3% |
| Howard Universityhoward | 55.8% | $112,004 | $124,021 | 10.7% |
| Widener University - Pennsylvaniawidener, harrisburg | 54% | $111,909 | $139,229 | 24.4% |
| Marquette Universitymarquette | 51.4% | $110,147 | $134,533 | 22.1% |
| Samford Universitysamford, cumberland | 56.6% | $107,850 | $124,106 | 15.1% |
| Lewis and Clark Collegelewisandclark, northwestern | 52.6% | $105,928 | $127,064 | 20% |
| Mississippi Collegemississippicollege | 53.1% | $102,884 | $130,700 | 27% |
| Gonzaga Universitygonzaga | 56.8% | $100,092 | $121,281 | 21.2% |
| George Mason Universitygmu | 55.4% | $98,087 | $126,723 | 29.2% |
| Brooklyn Law Schoolbrooklyn | 52.4% | $97,631 | $114,953 | 17.7% |
| Pace Universitypace | 58.5% | $97,586 | $122,180 | 25.2% |
| St. Mary's Universitystmarys | 58.7% | $97,105 | $116,782 | 20.3% |
| University of California - Hastingshastings, uch | 51.2% | $96,013 | $129,178 | 34.5% |
| Loyola University Chicagoloyola-chicago | 55.7% | $95,201 | $134,968 | 41.8% |
| University of Baltimorebaltimore | 51.3% | $94,834 | $114,725 | 21% |
| University of Richmondrichmond, williams | 59.1% | $94,200 | $110,380 | 17.2% |
| Case Western Reserve Universitycasewestern, cwru | 54.8% | $94,150 | $131,724 | 39.9% |
| William Mitchell College of Lawwilliammitchell | 55.9% | $92,277 | $110,738 | 20% |
| Duquesne Universityduquesne | 57.1% | $88,908 | $107,496 | 20.9% |
| Texas A&Mtexasam, texas wesleyan, tamu | 52.2% | $88,062 | $103,500 | 17.5% |
| University of Pittsburghpitt | 52.5% | $84,772 | $103,461 | 22% |
| Chicago-Kent College of Lawkent, illinois institute of technology | 51.7% | $84,710 | $119,884 | 41.5% |
| University of Marylandmaryland, carey | 57.4% | $83,693 | $102,183 | 22.1% |
| University of Mainemaine | 50.5% | $76,533 | $101,749 | 32.9% |
| University of Daytondayton | 52.9% | $67,856 | $113,486 | 67.2% |
| Texas Southern Universitytexassouthern, tsu, marshall | 50.7% | $67,500 | - | - |
| University of Memphismemphis, humphreys | 57.3% | $67,074 | $78,030 | 16.3% |
| Wayne State Universitywayne | 53.3% | $67,029 | $79,881 | 19.2% |
| University of Connecticutuconn | 52.9% | $66,457 | $70,139 | 5.5% |
| University of Tennesseetennessee, utk | 57% | $65,082 | $66,201 | 1.7% |
| University of North Dakotanorthdakota, UND | 59.2% | $64,772 | $64,818 | 0.1% |
| University of Mississippimississippi, ole miss | 54.8% | $62,012 | $73,003 | 17.7% |
| University of Akronakron | 50.8% | $60,149 | $82,322 | 36.9% |
| West Virginia Universitywvu | 58.9% | $60,074 | $84,727 | 41% |
| University of Arkansas - Little Rockarkansas-littlerock, bowen | 59.2% | $59,983 | $69,532 | 15.9% |
| University of Hawaiihawaii, richardson, manoa | 54.4% | $58,609 | $56,266 | -4% |
| SUNY Buffalobuffalo | 59.7% | $56,394 | $76,010 | 34.8% |
| University of Arkansas - Fayettevillearkansas-fayetteville | 55% | $56,358 | $63,541 | 12.7% |
| California Western School of Lawcalwestern | 48.9% | $145,621 | $151,197 | 3.8% |
| Catholic University of Americacatholic, columbus | 45.8% | $134,133 | $144,737 | 7.9% |
| University of the Pacificpacific, mcgeorge | 45.5% | $128,495 | $140,517 | 9.4% |
| Vermont Law Schoolvermont | 48.5% | $127,914 | $156,713 | 22.5% |
| Pepperdine Universitypepperdine | 49% | $125,114 | $145,525 | 16.3% |
| Roger Williams Universityrogerwilliams, rwu | 46.2% | $123,338 | $128,543 | 4.2% |
| John Marshall Law School - Atlantajohnmarshal-atl,jmls | 43.7% | $123,025 | - | - |
| New York Law Schoolnewyork, nyls | 43.1% | $119,437 | $166,622 | 39.5% |
| University of San Diegosandiego, usd | 47.9% | $119,331 | $128,477 | 7.7% |
| St. Thomas University - Floridastu | 47.2% | $119,271 | $140,808 | 18.1% |
| Barry Universitybarry | 42.1% | $119,250 | $149,175 | 25.1% |
| Regent Universityregent | 47.5% | $115,734 | $125,158 | 8.1% |
| Chapman Universitychapman | 47.8% | $115,064 | $148,429 | 29% |
| Valparaiso Universityvalparaiso, valpo | 49.4% | $113,643 | $132,010 | 16.2% |
| Suffolk Universitysuffolk | 46.9% | $112,939 | $120,993 | 7.1% |
| Widener University - Delawarewidener, wilmington | 44.9% | $111,909 | $139,229 | 24.4% |
| Michigan State Universitymsu, michstate, detroit college of law, dcl | 46.8% | $108,444 | $95,494 | -11.9% |
| New England School of Lawnewengland | 42.1% | $108,326 | - | - |
| Seattle Universityseattle | 49.2% | $102,350 | $131,414 | 28.4% |
| University of La Vernelaverne | 45.5% | $101,237 | - | - |
| North Carolina Central Universitynccu, nc central | 40.9% | $98,948 | $58,061 | -41.3% |
| University of St. Thomas - Minneapolisstthomas | 49% | $97,238 | $100,401 | 3.3% |
| Ohio Northern Universityonu, pettit | 47.9% | $96,371 | $107,764 | 11.8% |
| Quinnipiac Universityquinnipiac | 42.5% | $96,256 | $119,956 | 24.6% |
| Hamline Universityhamline | 48.7% | $95,174 | $113,173 | 18.9% |
| University of Oregonoregon | 47.8% | $91,353 | $105,900 | 15.9% |
| University of Toledotoledo | 43.9% | $76,898 | $96,924 | 26% |
| Northern Kentucky Universitynku, chase | 44.9% | $73,469 | $82,989 | 13% |
| Cleveland-Marshall College of Lawcleveland | 49% | $71,477 | $89,879 | 25.7% |
| CUNYcuny-queens, city university of new york | 48.7% | $70,119 | $82,415 | 17.5% |
| Liberty Universityliberty | 47.4% | $62,032 | $69,475 | 12% |
| University of Wyomingwyoming | 49.3% | $51,859 | $67,087 | 29.4% |
| Faulkner Universityfaulkner, jones | 45.8% | $50,500 | - | - |
| Arizona Summit Law Schoolarizonasummit, phoenix, infilaw | 41.7% | - | - | - |
| Southwestern Law Schoolsouthwestern | 39% | $136,569 | - | - |
| University of San Franciscosanfrancisco, usf | 33% | $124,982 | $154,321 | 23.5% |
| Florida Coastal School of Lawfloridacoastal, infilaw | 34.7% | $120,410 | $162,785 | 35.2% |
| University of Detroit Mercydetroit-mercy | 37.2% | $117,089 | $132,245 | 12.9% |
| Charlotte School of Lawcharlotte, infilaw, csol | 34.1% | $113,793 | $140,528 | 23.5% |
| Santa Clara Universitysantaclara, scu | 35.6% | $106,869 | $136,990 | 28.2% |
| Capital Universitycapital | 38.8% | $103,426 | $113,434 | 9.7% |
| Elon Law Schoolelon | 39.4% | $103,059 | $132,444 | 28.5% |
| Western State Universitywesternstate, argosy | 32.7% | $98,791 | $120,350 | 21.8% |
| Western New England University School of Lawwesternnewengland | 36.7% | $96,565 | $130,124 | 34.8% |
| Ave Maria School of Lawavemaria | 37.3% | $87,337 | $132,236 | 51.4% |
| Florida A&M Universityfamu | 31% | $86,557 | - | - |
| Southern University Law Centersouthern | 34.6% | $55,809 | $77,067 | 38.1% |
| Appalachian School of Lawappalachian | 35.8% | - | - | - |
| Thomas Jefferson School of Lawthomasjefferson, tjsl | 29.7% | $137,352 | $172,445 | 25.5% |
| Golden Gate Universitygoldengate | 25.7% | $132,895 | $146,288 | 10.1% |
| Western Michigan University - Cooley Law Schoolcooley, wmu | 30% | $105,798 | - | - |
| Whittier Law Schoolwhittier | 27.3% | $104,731 | $151,602 | 44.8% |
| University of The District of Columbiaudc, clarke | 28.2% | $74,667 | $73,175 | -2% |