The following charts, grouped by Total Federal Investment in 2014 Graduates, show change in average debt between 2010 and 2014. Total Federal Investment is the amount cumulatively borrowed by law school graduates at a law school. We determined each group by that amount, and then found the average amount borrowed at the schools in the group. Learn about Total Federal Investment
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. Total Federal Investment is the amount cumulatively borrowed by law school graduates at a law school. We determined each group by that amount, and then found the average amount borrowed at the schools in the group. Learn about Total Federal Investment
The school numbers do not always match up across 2010 and 2014 because some schools inconsistently disclose/withhold debt data.
| Grouped by Total Federal Investment in 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 | $ | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Investment ≥ $50 million | $121K 10 schools |
82.7% | $148K 11 schools |
82.3% | 21.8% | -0.4% |
| Federal Investment $30 - $49.9 million | $115K 20 schools |
82.7% | $137K 20 schools |
82.4% | 19.9% | -0.3% |
| Federal Investment $20 - $29.9 million | $110K 45 schools |
84.4% | $127K 46 schools |
83% | 15.2% | -1.4% |
| Federal Investment $10 - $19.9 million | $91K 74 schools |
85.3% | $106K 75 schools |
82.7% | 17.5% | -2.6% |
| Federal Investment < $10 million | $65K 31 schools |
87.4% | $76K 32 schools |
83% | 17.5% | -4.4% |
Read this chart across each row. For example, average debt at schools with Federal Investment ≥ $50 million increased 21.8% from 2010 to 2014, from $121K to $148K.
| School | 2014 Grad Federal Investment |
2010 Grad Avg. Borrowed |
2014 Grad Avg. Borrowed |
Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Universityamerican, washington college of law | $60,858,712 | $136,121 | $159,316 | 17% |
| Columbia Universitycolumbia, cls | $54,851,056 | $126,945 | $154,076 | 21.4% |
| University of Illinois Chicago School of Lawjohnmarshall-chicago,jmls,uic | $51,092,408 | $125,806 | $143,518 | 14.1% |
| New York Universitynyu | $52,301,376 | $125,169 | $147,744 | 18% |
| Georgetown Universitygulc, gtown | $74,511,855 | $122,319 | $150,529 | 23.1% |
| Florida Coastal School of Lawfloridacoastal, infilaw | $73,253,250 | $120,410 | $162,785 | 35.2% |
| New York Law Schoolnewyork, nyls | $57,317,968 | $119,437 | $166,622 | 39.5% |
| Charlotte School of Lawcharlotte, infilaw, csol | $53,681,696 | $113,793 | $140,528 | 23.5% |
| Suffolk Universitysuffolk | $50,696,067 | $112,939 | $120,993 | 7.1% |
| George Washington Universitygw | $64,453,776 | $110,000 | $141,346 | 28.5% |
| Harvard Universityharvard, hls | $62,057,149 | - | $137,599 | - |
| California Western School of Lawcalwestern | $30,088,203 | $145,621 | $151,197 | 3.8% |
| Thomas Jefferson School of Lawthomasjefferson, tjsl | $46,042,815 | $137,352 | $172,445 | 25.5% |
| Northwestern Universitynorthwestern, nu, nw | $37,994,145 | $132,685 | $163,065 | 22.9% |
| Loyola Marymount Universityloyola-la | $49,775,237 | $132,267 | $147,701 | 11.7% |
| Stetson Universitystetson | $37,840,470 | $122,189 | $148,394 | 21.4% |
| DePaul Universitydepaul | $31,347,855 | $121,324 | $125,895 | 3.8% |
| Fordham Universityfordham | $43,297,716 | $119,120 | $140,577 | 18% |
| Cardozo-Yeshiva Universitycardozo | $33,330,456 | $118,939 | $121,644 | 2.3% |
| Nova Southeastern Universitynova, broad | $32,884,450 | $117,223 | $136,450 | 16.4% |
| Hofstra Universityhofstra, deane | $36,486,084 | $115,705 | $143,646 | 24.1% |
| University of Denverdenver, du, sturm | $31,832,003 | $113,688 | $132,083 | 16.2% |
| University of Michiganmichigan, umich, um, uofm | $41,331,576 | $112,133 | $132,473 | 18.1% |
| University of Virginiauva | $35,953,504 | $107,384 | $132,182 | 23.1% |
| South Texas College of Law Houstonsouthtexas | $37,764,336 | $104,862 | $113,748 | 8.5% |
| University of California - Los Angelesucla | $31,356,094 | $103,956 | $121,066 | 16.5% |
| Seattle Universityseattle | $37,190,162 | $102,350 | $131,414 | 28.4% |
| University of Miamimiami, um, the u | $46,318,090 | $98,986 | $143,845 | 45.3% |
| Brooklyn Law Schoolbrooklyn | $34,715,806 | $97,631 | $114,953 | 17.7% |
| University of California - Hastingshastings, uch | $46,762,436 | $96,013 | $129,178 | 34.5% |
| University of California - Berkeleyberkeley, ucb, boalt | $32,154,304 | $91,277 | $143,546 | 57.3% |
| Loyola University New Orleansloyola-neworleans | $22,871,048 | $136,050 | $117,892 | -13.3% |
| Catholic University of Americacatholic, columbus | $22,000,024 | $134,133 | $144,737 | 7.9% |
| Golden Gate Universitygoldengate | $23,552,368 | $132,895 | $146,288 | 10.1% |
| Charleston School of Lawcharleston, csol | $25,142,301 | $128,571 | $147,031 | 14.4% |
| University of the Pacificpacific, mcgeorge | $23,325,822 | $128,495 | $140,517 | 9.4% |
| University of Chicagochicago, uchi | $22,861,810 | $127,997 | $144,695 | 13% |
| Cornell Universitycornell | $21,465,000 | $126,000 | $135,000 | 7.1% |
| Touro Collegetouro, fuchsberg | $25,860,785 | $125,481 | $154,855 | 23.4% |
| Pepperdine Universitypepperdine | $21,828,750 | $125,114 | $145,525 | 16.3% |
| University of San Franciscosanfrancisco, usf | $26,697,533 | $124,982 | $154,321 | 23.5% |
| Albany Law Schoolalbany, union | $22,521,832 | $124,271 | $130,184 | 4.8% |
| Tulane Universitytulane | $25,514,665 | $122,197 | $140,965 | 15.4% |
| St. Louis Universityslu | $29,615,720 | $120,000 | $128,764 | 7.3% |
| Syracuse Universitysyracuse | $21,584,583 | $119,769 | $129,249 | 7.9% |
| University of San Diegosandiego, usd | $28,136,463 | $119,331 | $128,477 | 7.7% |
| St. Thomas University - Floridastu | $27,739,176 | $119,271 | $140,808 | 18.1% |
| Barry Universitybarry | $29,685,825 | $119,250 | $149,175 | 25.1% |
| University of Southern Californiausc, gould | $22,357,569 | $117,573 | $137,163 | 16.7% |
| Duke Universityduke, dook | $21,569,832 | $113,911 | $125,406 | 10.1% |
| Valparaiso Universityvalparaiso, valpo | $21,121,600 | $113,643 | $132,010 | 16.2% |
| Northeastern Universitynortheastern | $25,364,584 | $113,081 | $134,918 | 19.3% |
| Seton Hall Universitysetonhall | $27,413,400 | $112,772 | $128,100 | 13.6% |
| St. John's Universitystjohns | $23,063,554 | $112,365 | $111,959 | -0.4% |
| Widener University - Delawarewidener, wilmington | $29,238,090 | $111,909 | $139,229 | 24.4% |
| Marquette Universitymarquette | $25,292,204 | $110,147 | $134,533 | 22.1% |
| Michigan State Universitymsu, michstate, detroit college of law, dcl | $23,109,548 | $108,444 | $95,494 | -11.9% |
| Santa Clara Universitysantaclara, scu | $29,726,830 | $106,869 | $136,990 | 28.2% |
| Southern Methodist Universitysmu, dedman | $24,424,932 | $106,512 | $124,617 | 17% |
| Lewis and Clark Collegelewisandclark, northwestern | $25,921,056 | $105,928 | $127,064 | 20% |
| University of Pennsylvaniapenn, upenn | $26,780,412 | $105,297 | $130,002 | 23.5% |
| Whittier Law Schoolwhittier | $26,833,554 | $104,731 | $151,602 | 44.8% |
| Boston Collegebc | $20,371,260 | $103,765 | $97,006 | -6.5% |
| Emory Universityemory | $24,998,700 | $99,236 | $108,690 | 9.5% |
| Yale Universityyale, yls | $20,725,461 | $98,796 | $117,093 | 18.5% |
| Pace Universitypace | $22,847,660 | $97,586 | $122,180 | 25.2% |
| St. Mary's Universitystmarys | $20,903,978 | $97,105 | $116,782 | 20.3% |
| Loyola University Chicagoloyola-chicago | $29,692,960 | $95,201 | $134,968 | 41.8% |
| Hamline Universityhamline | $20,937,005 | $95,174 | $113,173 | 18.9% |
| University of Baltimorebaltimore | $29,943,225 | $94,834 | $114,725 | 21% |
| William Mitchell College of Lawwilliammitchell | $29,677,784 | $92,277 | $110,738 | 20% |
| University of Minnesotaminnesota, uminn | $21,993,930 | $91,314 | $104,733 | 14.7% |
| Chicago-Kent College of Lawkent, illinois institute of technology | $26,973,900 | $84,710 | $119,884 | 41.5% |
| University of Marylandmaryland, carey | $22,378,077 | $83,693 | $102,183 | 22.1% |
| University of Texastexas, ut | $26,225,680 | $78,408 | $100,868 | 28.6% |
| University of Floridaflorida, uf, levin | $20,108,040 | $62,432 | $82,410 | 32% |
| Indiana University - Indianapolisindiana-indy, IU | $21,843,126 | - | $96,651 | - |
| Vermont Law Schoolvermont | $17,081,717 | $127,914 | $156,713 | 22.5% |
| Roger Williams Universityrogerwilliams, rwu | $19,152,907 | $123,338 | $128,543 | 4.2% |
| Villanova Universityvillanova | $17,439,351 | $122,410 | $95,297 | -22.1% |
| Campbell Universitycampbell | $11,798,515 | $121,648 | $90,065 | -26% |
| Penn State Universitypennstate, dickinson | $19,195,510 | $117,989 | $123,842 | 5% |
| University of Detroit Mercydetroit-mercy | $16,266,135 | $117,089 | $132,245 | 12.9% |
| University of New Hampshirenh, franklin pierce | $13,725,997 | $115,952 | $121,469 | 4.8% |
| Regent Universityregent | $14,142,854 | $115,734 | $125,158 | 8.1% |
| Chapman Universitychapman | $16,178,761 | $115,064 | $148,429 | 29% |
| Vanderbilt Universityvanderbilt, vandy | $17,982,069 | $114,720 | $122,327 | 6.6% |
| Oklahoma City Universityocu | $16,277,784 | $114,090 | $121,476 | 6.5% |
| Creighton Universitycreighton | $15,443,492 | $114,030 | $126,586 | 11% |
| Indiana University - Bloomingtonindiana, IU, mauer | $16,161,300 | $113,538 | $89,785 | -20.9% |
| Howard Universityhoward | $13,394,268 | $112,004 | $124,021 | 10.7% |
| Widener University - Pennsylvaniawidener, harrisburg | $14,062,129 | $111,909 | $139,229 | 24.4% |
| Washington University in St Louiswashu, wustl | $19,819,410 | $108,603 | $111,345 | 2.5% |
| Samford Universitysamford, cumberland | $13,651,660 | $107,850 | $124,106 | 15.1% |
| Washington and Lee Universitywl | $11,161,044 | $105,970 | $109,422 | 3.3% |
| Mercer Universitymercer, george | $15,286,722 | $105,585 | $125,301 | 18.7% |
| Stanford Universitystanford, sls | $18,708,002 | $104,424 | $128,137 | 22.7% |
| Boston Universitybu | $17,471,700 | $103,980 | $107,850 | 3.7% |
| Capital Universitycapital | $17,015,100 | $103,426 | $113,434 | 9.7% |
| Elon Law Schoolelon | $11,787,516 | $103,059 | $132,444 | 28.5% |
| Mississippi Collegemississippicollege | $17,775,200 | $102,884 | $130,700 | 27% |
| Baylor Universitybaylor | $11,316,602 | $100,661 | $116,666 | 15.9% |
| Gonzaga Universitygonzaga | $17,464,464 | $100,092 | $121,281 | 21.2% |
| Western State Universitywesternstate, argosy | $16,487,950 | $98,791 | $120,350 | 21.8% |
| University of California - Davisdavis, ucd, king | $12,154,740 | $98,179 | $93,498 | -4.8% |
| George Mason Universitygmu | $19,768,788 | $98,087 | $126,723 | 29.2% |
| University of St. Thomas - Minneapolisstthomas | $12,449,724 | $97,238 | $100,401 | 3.3% |
| Drexel Universitydrexel | $10,845,970 | $96,780 | $91,915 | -5% |
| Western New England University School of Lawwesternnewengland | $11,711,160 | $96,565 | $130,124 | 34.8% |
| Quinnipiac Universityquinnipiac | $11,275,864 | $96,256 | $119,956 | 24.6% |
| University of Richmondrichmond, williams | $13,135,220 | $94,200 | $110,380 | 17.2% |
| Case Western Reserve Universitycasewestern, cwru | $16,202,052 | $94,150 | $131,724 | 39.9% |
| Wake Forest Universitywake, wf | $17,850,312 | $93,223 | $107,532 | 15.3% |
| University of Notre Damenotredame, nd | $16,362,570 | $92,310 | $111,310 | 20.6% |
| Drake Universitydrake | $13,280,554 | $91,576 | $108,857 | 18.9% |
| University of Oregonoregon | $16,944,000 | $91,353 | $105,900 | 15.9% |
| Willamette Universitywillamette, collins | $15,379,187 | $91,347 | $136,099 | 49% |
| Arizona State Universityasu, o'connor | $13,348,047 | $89,038 | $97,431 | 9.4% |
| Duquesne Universityduquesne | $12,577,032 | $88,908 | $107,496 | 20.9% |
| Texas A&Mtexasam, texas wesleyan, tamu | $17,077,500 | $88,062 | $103,500 | 17.5% |
| University of Iowaiowa | $13,486,458 | $87,891 | $92,373 | 5.1% |
| Ave Maria School of Lawavemaria | $12,694,656 | $87,337 | $132,236 | 51.4% |
| University of Pittsburghpitt | $17,795,292 | $84,772 | $103,461 | 22% |
| William and Marywm, marshall-wythe | $16,742,790 | $83,058 | $98,487 | 18.6% |
| Temple Universitytemple, beasley | $18,199,401 | $82,836 | $97,323 | 17.5% |
| Ohio State Universityosu, moritz | $16,881,654 | $81,408 | $97,021 | 19.2% |
| University of Illinoisillinois, uofi, urbana-champaign | $14,106,764 | $80,005 | $89,852 | 12.3% |
| University of Arizonaarizona, rogers | $10,699,696 | $78,412 | $95,533 | 21.8% |
| Rutgers State University - Newarkrutgers-newark | $18,527,949 | $78,302 | $89,507 | 14.3% |
| University of Toledotoledo | $10,758,564 | $76,898 | $96,924 | 26% |
| University of Wisconsinwisconsin | $14,445,886 | $76,845 | $79,373 | 3.3% |
| University of Nevada - Las Vegasunlv | $11,064,258 | $76,478 | $99,678 | 30.3% |
| University of South Carolinasouthcarolina, usc | $13,534,400 | $75,718 | $84,590 | 11.7% |
| University of Idahoidaho | $10,015,056 | $74,655 | $92,732 | 24.2% |
| Northern Kentucky Universitynku, chase | $10,456,614 | $73,469 | $82,989 | 13% |
| Cleveland-Marshall College of Lawcleveland | $12,223,544 | $71,477 | $89,879 | 25.7% |
| University of Georgiageorgia, uga | $15,011,425 | $71,283 | $88,825 | 24.6% |
| Louisiana State Universitylsu, hebert | $16,731,077 | $69,462 | $89,471 | 28.8% |
| University of Daytondayton | $13,618,320 | $67,856 | $113,486 | 67.2% |
| Wayne State Universitywayne | $11,582,745 | $67,029 | $79,881 | 19.2% |
| University of Coloradocolorado, cu, boulder | $16,162,920 | $66,554 | $116,280 | 74.7% |
| University of Connecticutuconn | $10,590,989 | $66,457 | $70,139 | 5.5% |
| University of Houstonhouston, uhlc, uh | $18,176,120 | $65,802 | $88,664 | 34.7% |
| University of Washingtonwashington, uw | $16,746,420 | $63,393 | $105,990 | 67.2% |
| University of Mississippimississippi, ole miss | $10,585,435 | $62,012 | $73,003 | 17.7% |
| University of North Carolinaunc, chapel hill | $18,217,575 | $60,212 | $92,475 | 53.6% |
| Texas Tech Universitytexastech, ttu | $13,652,064 | $60,124 | $84,272 | 40.2% |
| Georgia State Universitygsu | $11,590,452 | $57,408 | $69,822 | 21.6% |
| SUNY Buffalobuffalo | $11,781,550 | $56,394 | $76,010 | 34.8% |
| Southern University Law Centersouthern | $12,099,519 | $55,809 | $77,067 | 38.1% |
| Florida State Universityfsu | $18,325,500 | $44,442 | $80,375 | 80.9% |
| Florida International Universityfiu | $12,214,840 | - | $89,815 | - |
| University of Tulsatulsa | $8,143,010 | $100,795 | $99,305 | -1.5% |
| North Carolina Central Universitynccu, nc central | $7,083,442 | $98,948 | $58,061 | -41.3% |
| Ohio Northern Universityonu, pettit | $9,806,524 | $96,371 | $107,764 | 11.8% |
| Washburn Universitywashburn | $8,089,412 | $80,488 | $83,396 | 3.6% |
| University of Oklahomaoklahoma, ou | $9,242,157 | $78,644 | $81,789 | 4% |
| University of Louisvillelouisville, brandeis | $9,199,890 | $77,121 | $90,195 | 17% |
| University of Mainemaine | $8,038,171 | $76,533 | $101,749 | 32.9% |
| University of The District of Columbiaudc, clarke | $5,341,775 | $74,667 | $73,175 | -2% |
| CUNYcuny-queens, city university of new york | $9,642,555 | $70,119 | $82,415 | 17.5% |
| University of Missouri - Columbiamissouri, mizzou | $7,872,813 | $69,046 | $67,289 | -2.5% |
| University of Memphismemphis, humphreys | $8,661,330 | $67,074 | $78,030 | 16.3% |
| University of Tennesseetennessee, utk | $8,010,321 | $65,082 | $66,201 | 1.7% |
| University of North Dakotanorthdakota, UND | $4,213,170 | $64,772 | $64,818 | 0.1% |
| Liberty Universityliberty | $4,863,250 | $62,032 | $69,475 | 12% |
| University of Utahutah, uu, quinney | $9,132,100 | $61,665 | $78,725 | 27.7% |
| University of Montanamontana | $5,127,552 | $61,617 | $71,216 | 15.6% |
| University of Akronakron | $8,396,844 | $60,149 | $82,322 | 36.9% |
| West Virginia Universitywvu | $9,489,424 | $60,074 | $84,727 | 41% |
| University of Arkansas - Little Rockarkansas-littlerock, bowen | $7,300,860 | $59,983 | $69,532 | 15.9% |
| University of Hawaiihawaii, richardson, manoa | $4,107,418 | $58,609 | $56,266 | -4% |
| University of Cincinnaticincinnati | $8,356,267 | $58,455 | $76,663 | 31.1% |
| University of Arkansas - Fayettevillearkansas-fayetteville | $6,290,559 | $56,358 | $63,541 | 12.7% |
| University of New Mexiconewmexico | $6,889,813 | $54,122 | $71,029 | 31.2% |
| University of South Dakotasouthdakota | $5,764,299 | $53,251 | $78,963 | 48.3% |
| Brigham Young Universitybyu, clark | $5,366,097 | $52,315 | $54,203 | 3.6% |
| University of Wyomingwyoming | $3,756,872 | $51,859 | $67,087 | 29.4% |
| Northern Illinois Universityniu | $6,328,924 | $49,858 | $77,182 | 54.8% |
| University of Alabamaalabama, bama | $7,846,720 | $49,750 | $69,440 | 39.6% |
| University of Nebraskanebraska | $5,794,620 | $49,706 | $62,985 | 26.7% |
| University of Kentuckykentucky, uk | $7,674,600 | $49,059 | $76,746 | 56.4% |
| University of Kansaskansas, ku | $7,339,220 | $45,662 | $74,890 | 64% |
| University of California - Irvineirvine, uci | $7,716,825 | - | $102,891 | - |
| 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 | - | - | - | - |