The following charts, grouped by Risk Level, show change in average debt between 2010 and 2014. Risk level is determined by the 25th Percentile LSAT score for students who entered in 2014. Schools that are either "Extreme," "Very High," or "High" risk are "Serious Risk." More on risk levels.
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. Risk level is determined by the 25th Percentile LSAT score for students who entered in 2014. Schools that are either "Extreme," "Very High," or "High" risk are "Serious Risk." More on risk levels.
The school numbers do not always match up across 2010 and 2014 because some schools inconsistently disclose/withhold debt data.
| Grouped by Risk Level | 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 | $ | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimal Risk | $97K 49 schools |
81.5% | $116K 51 schools |
77.8% | 19.5% | -3.7% |
| Low Risk | $91K 31 schools |
84.5% | $107K 31 schools |
81.8% | 17% | -2.7% |
| Modest Risk | $87K 40 schools |
84.7% | $99K 39 schools |
82.7% | 13.9% | -2% |
| High Risk | $102K 28 schools |
87.2% | $117K 28 schools |
86.4% | 14.4% | -0.8% |
| Very High Risk | $104K 19 schools |
88.2% | $121K 17 schools |
85.5% | 16.4% | -2.7% |
| Extreme Risk | $96K 24 schools |
89.5% | $123K 18 schools |
90.1% | 27.9% | 0.6% |
| Serious Risk Schools | $101K 71 schools |
88.3% | $120K 63 schools |
87.2% | 19% | -1.1% |
| Other Schools | $92K 120 schools |
83.3% | $108K 121 schools |
80.4% | 17.3% | -2.9% |
Read this chart across each row. For example, average debt at schools with Minimal Risk increased 19.5% from 2010 to 2014, from $97K to $116K.
| School | Risk Level | 2010 Grad Avg. Borrowed |
2014 Grad Avg. Borrowed |
Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwestern Universitynorthwestern, nu, nw | Minimal | $132,685 | $163,065 | 22.9% |
| Loyola Marymount Universityloyola-la | Minimal | $132,267 | $147,701 | 11.7% |
| University of Chicagochicago, uchi | Minimal | $127,997 | $144,695 | 13% |
| Columbia Universitycolumbia, cls | Minimal | $126,945 | $154,076 | 21.4% |
| Cornell Universitycornell | Minimal | $126,000 | $135,000 | 7.1% |
| New York Universitynyu | Minimal | $125,169 | $147,744 | 18% |
| Georgetown Universitygulc, gtown | Minimal | $122,319 | $150,529 | 23.1% |
| Tulane Universitytulane | Minimal | $122,197 | $140,965 | 15.4% |
| Fordham Universityfordham | Minimal | $119,120 | $140,577 | 18% |
| University of Southern Californiausc, gould | Minimal | $117,573 | $137,163 | 16.7% |
| Vanderbilt Universityvanderbilt, vandy | Minimal | $114,720 | $122,327 | 6.6% |
| Duke Universityduke, dook | Minimal | $113,911 | $125,406 | 10.1% |
| University of Michiganmichigan, umich, um, uofm | Minimal | $112,133 | $132,473 | 18.1% |
| George Washington Universitygw | Minimal | $110,000 | $141,346 | 28.5% |
| Washington University in St Louiswashu, wustl | Minimal | $108,603 | $111,345 | 2.5% |
| University of Virginiauva | Minimal | $107,384 | $132,182 | 23.1% |
| Santa Clara Universitysantaclara, scu | Minimal | $106,869 | $136,990 | 28.2% |
| Southern Methodist Universitysmu, dedman | Minimal | $106,512 | $124,617 | 17% |
| Washington and Lee Universitywl | Minimal | $105,970 | $109,422 | 3.3% |
| University of Pennsylvaniapenn, upenn | Minimal | $105,297 | $130,002 | 23.5% |
| Stanford Universitystanford, sls | Minimal | $104,424 | $128,137 | 22.7% |
| Boston Universitybu | Minimal | $103,980 | $107,850 | 3.7% |
| University of California - Los Angelesucla | Minimal | $103,956 | $121,066 | 16.5% |
| Boston Collegebc | Minimal | $103,765 | $97,006 | -6.5% |
| Emory Universityemory | Minimal | $99,236 | $108,690 | 9.5% |
| Yale Universityyale, yls | Minimal | $98,796 | $117,093 | 18.5% |
| University of California - Davisdavis, ucd, king | Minimal | $98,179 | $93,498 | -4.8% |
| George Mason Universitygmu | Minimal | $98,087 | $126,723 | 29.2% |
| Case Western Reserve Universitycasewestern, cwru | Minimal | $94,150 | $131,724 | 39.9% |
| Wake Forest Universitywake, wf | Minimal | $93,223 | $107,532 | 15.3% |
| University of Notre Damenotredame, nd | Minimal | $92,310 | $111,310 | 20.6% |
| University of Minnesotaminnesota, uminn | Minimal | $91,314 | $104,733 | 14.7% |
| University of California - Berkeleyberkeley, ucb, boalt | Minimal | $91,277 | $143,546 | 57.3% |
| Arizona State Universityasu, o'connor | Minimal | $89,038 | $97,431 | 9.4% |
| University of Iowaiowa | Minimal | $87,891 | $92,373 | 5.1% |
| William and Marywm, marshall-wythe | Minimal | $83,058 | $98,487 | 18.6% |
| Temple Universitytemple, beasley | Minimal | $82,836 | $97,323 | 17.5% |
| Ohio State Universityosu, moritz | Minimal | $81,408 | $97,021 | 19.2% |
| University of Illinoisillinois, uofi, urbana-champaign | Minimal | $80,005 | $89,852 | 12.3% |
| University of Arizonaarizona, rogers | Minimal | $78,412 | $95,533 | 21.8% |
| University of Texastexas, ut | Minimal | $78,408 | $100,868 | 28.6% |
| University of Wisconsinwisconsin | Minimal | $76,845 | $79,373 | 3.3% |
| University of Georgiageorgia, uga | Minimal | $71,283 | $88,825 | 24.6% |
| University of Coloradocolorado, cu, boulder | Minimal | $66,554 | $116,280 | 74.7% |
| University of Washingtonwashington, uw | Minimal | $63,393 | $105,990 | 67.2% |
| University of North Carolinaunc, chapel hill | Minimal | $60,212 | $92,475 | 53.6% |
| Brigham Young Universitybyu, clark | Minimal | $52,315 | $54,203 | 3.6% |
| University of Alabamaalabama, bama | Minimal | $49,750 | $69,440 | 39.6% |
| Florida State Universityfsu | Minimal | $44,442 | $80,375 | 80.9% |
| Harvard Universityharvard, hls | Minimal | - | $137,599 | - |
| University of California - Irvineirvine, uci | Minimal | - | $102,891 | - |
| Pepperdine Universitypepperdine | Low | $125,114 | $145,525 | 16.3% |
| Syracuse Universitysyracuse | Low | $119,769 | $129,249 | 7.9% |
| University of San Diegosandiego, usd | Low | $119,331 | $128,477 | 7.7% |
| Cardozo-Yeshiva Universitycardozo | Low | $118,939 | $121,644 | 2.3% |
| Penn State Universitypennstate, dickinson | Low | $117,989 | $123,842 | 5% |
| Chapman Universitychapman | Low | $115,064 | $148,429 | 29% |
| University of Denverdenver, du, sturm | Low | $113,688 | $132,083 | 16.2% |
| Indiana University - Bloomingtonindiana, IU, mauer | Low | $113,538 | $89,785 | -20.9% |
| Northeastern Universitynortheastern | Low | $113,081 | $134,918 | 19.3% |
| St. John's Universitystjohns | Low | $112,365 | $111,959 | -0.4% |
| Lewis and Clark Collegelewisandclark, northwestern | Low | $105,928 | $127,064 | 20% |
| Baylor Universitybaylor | Low | $100,661 | $116,666 | 15.9% |
| University of Miamimiami, um, the u | Low | $98,986 | $143,845 | 45.3% |
| Brooklyn Law Schoolbrooklyn | Low | $97,631 | $114,953 | 17.7% |
| University of California - Hastingshastings, uch | Low | $96,013 | $129,178 | 34.5% |
| Loyola University Chicagoloyola-chicago | Low | $95,201 | $134,968 | 41.8% |
| University of Richmondrichmond, williams | Low | $94,200 | $110,380 | 17.2% |
| University of Oregonoregon | Low | $91,353 | $105,900 | 15.9% |
| University of Marylandmaryland, carey | Low | $83,693 | $102,183 | 22.1% |
| University of Oklahomaoklahoma, ou | Low | $78,644 | $81,789 | 4% |
| Rutgers State University - Newarkrutgers-newark | Low | $78,302 | $89,507 | 14.3% |
| University of Nevada - Las Vegasunlv | Low | $76,478 | $99,678 | 30.3% |
| Louisiana State Universitylsu, hebert | Low | $69,462 | $89,471 | 28.8% |
| University of Missouri - Columbiamissouri, mizzou | Low | $69,046 | $67,289 | -2.5% |
| University of Connecticutuconn | Low | $66,457 | $70,139 | 5.5% |
| University of Houstonhouston, uhlc, uh | Low | $65,802 | $88,664 | 34.7% |
| University of Tennesseetennessee, utk | Low | $65,082 | $66,201 | 1.7% |
| University of Floridaflorida, uf, levin | Low | $62,432 | $82,410 | 32% |
| University of Utahutah, uu, quinney | Low | $61,665 | $78,725 | 27.7% |
| Georgia State Universitygsu | Low | $57,408 | $69,822 | 21.6% |
| University of Kansaskansas, ku | Low | $45,662 | $74,890 | 64% |
| American Universityamerican, washington college of law | Modest | $136,121 | $159,316 | 17% |
| Loyola University New Orleansloyola-neworleans | Modest | $136,050 | $117,892 | -13.3% |
| Catholic University of Americacatholic, columbus | Modest | $134,133 | $144,737 | 7.9% |
| University of San Franciscosanfrancisco, usf | Modest | $124,982 | $154,321 | 23.5% |
| Villanova Universityvillanova | Modest | $122,410 | $95,297 | -22.1% |
| Stetson Universitystetson | Modest | $122,189 | $148,394 | 21.4% |
| St. Louis Universityslu | Modest | $120,000 | $128,764 | 7.3% |
| University of New Hampshirenh, franklin pierce | Modest | $115,952 | $121,469 | 4.8% |
| Seton Hall Universitysetonhall | Modest | $112,772 | $128,100 | 13.6% |
| Michigan State Universitymsu, michstate, detroit college of law, dcl | Modest | $108,444 | $95,494 | -11.9% |
| Seattle Universityseattle | Modest | $102,350 | $131,414 | 28.4% |
| University of Tulsatulsa | Modest | $100,795 | $99,305 | -1.5% |
| Gonzaga Universitygonzaga | Modest | $100,092 | $121,281 | 21.2% |
| University of St. Thomas - Minneapolisstthomas | Modest | $97,238 | $100,401 | 3.3% |
| Drexel Universitydrexel | Modest | $96,780 | $91,915 | -5% |
| Rutgers State University - Camdenrutgers-camden | Modest | $96,705 | - | - |
| Quinnipiac Universityquinnipiac | Modest | $96,256 | $119,956 | 24.6% |
| University of Missouri - Kansas Citymissouri-kc, umkc | Modest | $90,767 | - | - |
| Duquesne Universityduquesne | Modest | $88,908 | $107,496 | 20.9% |
| Texas A&Mtexasam, texas wesleyan, tamu | Modest | $88,062 | $103,500 | 17.5% |
| University of Pittsburghpitt | Modest | $84,772 | $103,461 | 22% |
| Chicago-Kent College of Lawkent, illinois institute of technology | Modest | $84,710 | $119,884 | 41.5% |
| University of Louisvillelouisville, brandeis | Modest | $77,121 | $90,195 | 17% |
| University of South Carolinasouthcarolina, usc | Modest | $75,718 | $84,590 | 11.7% |
| Cleveland-Marshall College of Lawcleveland | Modest | $71,477 | $89,879 | 25.7% |
| CUNYcuny-queens, city university of new york | Modest | $70,119 | $82,415 | 17.5% |
| University of Memphismemphis, humphreys | Modest | $67,074 | $78,030 | 16.3% |
| Wayne State Universitywayne | Modest | $67,029 | $79,881 | 19.2% |
| University of Mississippimississippi, ole miss | Modest | $62,012 | $73,003 | 17.7% |
| University of Montanamontana | Modest | $61,617 | $71,216 | 15.6% |
| Texas Tech Universitytexastech, ttu | Modest | $60,124 | $84,272 | 40.2% |
| West Virginia Universitywvu | Modest | $60,074 | $84,727 | 41% |
| University of Hawaiihawaii, richardson, manoa | Modest | $58,609 | $56,266 | -4% |
| University of Cincinnaticincinnati | Modest | $58,455 | $76,663 | 31.1% |
| SUNY Buffalobuffalo | Modest | $56,394 | $76,010 | 34.8% |
| University of Arkansas - Fayettevillearkansas-fayetteville | Modest | $56,358 | $63,541 | 12.7% |
| University of New Mexiconewmexico | Modest | $54,122 | $71,029 | 31.2% |
| University of Wyomingwyoming | Modest | $51,859 | $67,087 | 29.4% |
| University of Nebraskanebraska | Modest | $49,706 | $62,985 | 26.7% |
| University of Kentuckykentucky, uk | Modest | $49,059 | $76,746 | 56.4% |
| Florida International Universityfiu | Modest | - | $89,815 | - |
| Southwestern Law Schoolsouthwestern | High | $136,569 | - | - |
| University of the Pacificpacific, mcgeorge | High | $128,495 | $140,517 | 9.4% |
| Albany Law Schoolalbany, union | High | $124,271 | $130,184 | 4.8% |
| Campbell Universitycampbell | High | $121,648 | $90,065 | -26% |
| DePaul Universitydepaul | High | $121,324 | $125,895 | 3.8% |
| New York Law Schoolnewyork, nyls | High | $119,437 | $166,622 | 39.5% |
| University of Detroit Mercydetroit-mercy | High | $117,089 | $132,245 | 12.9% |
| Regent Universityregent | High | $115,734 | $125,158 | 8.1% |
| Hofstra Universityhofstra, deane | High | $115,705 | $143,646 | 24.1% |
| Creighton Universitycreighton | High | $114,030 | $126,586 | 11% |
| Howard Universityhoward | High | $112,004 | $124,021 | 10.7% |
| Widener University - Delawarewidener, wilmington | High | $111,909 | $139,229 | 24.4% |
| Marquette Universitymarquette | High | $110,147 | $134,533 | 22.1% |
| Samford Universitysamford, cumberland | High | $107,850 | $124,106 | 15.1% |
| Mercer Universitymercer, george | High | $105,585 | $125,301 | 18.7% |
| South Texas College of Law Houstonsouthtexas | High | $104,862 | $113,748 | 8.5% |
| Pace Universitypace | High | $97,586 | $122,180 | 25.2% |
| St. Mary's Universitystmarys | High | $97,105 | $116,782 | 20.3% |
| University of Baltimorebaltimore | High | $94,834 | $114,725 | 21% |
| William Mitchell College of Lawwilliammitchell | High | $92,277 | $110,738 | 20% |
| Drake Universitydrake | High | $91,576 | $108,857 | 18.9% |
| Willamette Universitywillamette, collins | High | $91,347 | $136,099 | 49% |
| Washburn Universitywashburn | High | $80,488 | $83,396 | 3.6% |
| University of Toledotoledo | High | $76,898 | $96,924 | 26% |
| University of Mainemaine | High | $76,533 | $101,749 | 32.9% |
| University of Idahoidaho | High | $74,655 | $92,732 | 24.2% |
| Liberty Universityliberty | High | $62,032 | $69,475 | 12% |
| University of Akronakron | High | $60,149 | $82,322 | 36.9% |
| Indiana University - Indianapolisindiana-indy, IU | High | - | $96,651 | - |
| California Western School of Lawcalwestern | Very High | $145,621 | $151,197 | 3.8% |
| Golden Gate Universitygoldengate | Very High | $132,895 | $146,288 | 10.1% |
| Vermont Law Schoolvermont | Very High | $127,914 | $156,713 | 22.5% |
| University of Illinois Chicago School of Lawjohnmarshall-chicago,jmls,uic | Very High | $125,806 | $143,518 | 14.1% |
| Touro Collegetouro, fuchsberg | Very High | $125,481 | $154,855 | 23.4% |
| Roger Williams Universityrogerwilliams, rwu | Very High | $123,338 | $128,543 | 4.2% |
| John Marshall Law School - Atlantajohnmarshal-atl,jmls | Very High | $123,025 | - | - |
| Nova Southeastern Universitynova, broad | Very High | $117,223 | $136,450 | 16.4% |
| Oklahoma City Universityocu | Very High | $114,090 | $121,476 | 6.5% |
| Widener University - Pennsylvaniawidener, harrisburg | Very High | $111,909 | $139,229 | 24.4% |
| New England School of Lawnewengland | Very High | $108,326 | - | - |
| Elon Law Schoolelon | Very High | $103,059 | $132,444 | 28.5% |
| Western State Universitywesternstate, argosy | Very High | $98,791 | $120,350 | 21.8% |
| Hamline Universityhamline | Very High | $95,174 | $113,173 | 18.9% |
| University of The District of Columbiaudc, clarke | Very High | $74,667 | $73,175 | -2% |
| Northern Kentucky Universitynku, chase | Very High | $73,469 | $82,989 | 13% |
| University of Daytondayton | Very High | $67,856 | $113,486 | 67.2% |
| University of Arkansas - Little Rockarkansas-littlerock, bowen | Very High | $59,983 | $69,532 | 15.9% |
| Northern Illinois Universityniu | Very High | $49,858 | $77,182 | 54.8% |
| Thomas Jefferson School of Lawthomasjefferson, tjsl | Extreme | $137,352 | $172,445 | 25.5% |
| Charleston School of Lawcharleston, csol | Extreme | $128,571 | $147,031 | 14.4% |
| Florida Coastal School of Lawfloridacoastal, infilaw | Extreme | $120,410 | $162,785 | 35.2% |
| St. Thomas University - Floridastu | Extreme | $119,271 | $140,808 | 18.1% |
| Barry Universitybarry | Extreme | $119,250 | $149,175 | 25.1% |
| Charlotte School of Lawcharlotte, infilaw, csol | Extreme | $113,793 | $140,528 | 23.5% |
| Valparaiso Universityvalparaiso, valpo | Extreme | $113,643 | $132,010 | 16.2% |
| Suffolk Universitysuffolk | Extreme | $112,939 | $120,993 | 7.1% |
| Western Michigan University - Cooley Law Schoolcooley, wmu | Extreme | $105,798 | - | - |
| Whittier Law Schoolwhittier | Extreme | $104,731 | $151,602 | 44.8% |
| Capital Universitycapital | Extreme | $103,426 | $113,434 | 9.7% |
| Mississippi Collegemississippicollege | Extreme | $102,884 | $130,700 | 27% |
| University of La Vernelaverne | Extreme | $101,237 | - | - |
| North Carolina Central Universitynccu, nc central | Extreme | $98,948 | $58,061 | -41.3% |
| Western New England University School of Lawwesternnewengland | Extreme | $96,565 | $130,124 | 34.8% |
| Ohio Northern Universityonu, pettit | Extreme | $96,371 | $107,764 | 11.8% |
| Ave Maria School of Lawavemaria | Extreme | $87,337 | $132,236 | 51.4% |
| Florida A&M Universityfamu | Extreme | $86,557 | - | - |
| Texas Southern Universitytexassouthern, tsu, marshall | Extreme | $67,500 | - | - |
| University of North Dakotanorthdakota, UND | Extreme | $64,772 | $64,818 | 0.1% |
| Southern Illinois Universitysiu, carbondale | Extreme | $63,517 | - | - |
| Southern University Law Centersouthern | Extreme | $55,809 | $77,067 | 38.1% |
| University of South Dakotasouthdakota | Extreme | $53,251 | $78,963 | 48.3% |
| Faulkner Universityfaulkner, jones | Extreme | $50,500 | - | - |
| Arizona Summit Law Schoolarizonasummit, phoenix, infilaw | Extreme | - | - | - |
| Appalachian School of Lawappalachian | Extreme | - | - | - |