The following charts, grouped by Type of School, 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 Type of School | 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 | $ | % |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Public Schools | $76K 81 schools |
84.8% | $90K 79 schools |
81.8% | 19.6% | -3% |
Private Schools | $109K 105 schools |
85.4% | $128K 101 schools |
83.2% | 16.8% | -2.2% |
For-Profit Schools | $117K 5 schools |
87.2% | $143K 4 schools |
90.4% | 22% | 3.2% |
Read this chart across each row. For example, average debt at Public Schools increased 19.6% from 2010 to 2014, from $76K to $90K.
School | Type | 2010 Grad Avg. Borrowed |
2014 Grad Avg. Borrowed |
Change |
---|---|---|---|---|
University of Illinois Chicago School of Lawjohnmarshall-chicago,jmls,uic | Public | $125,806 | $143,518 | 14.1% |
Penn State Universitypennstate, dickinson | Public | $117,989 | $123,842 | 5% |
University of New Hampshirenh, franklin pierce | Public | $115,952 | $121,469 | 4.8% |
Indiana University - Bloomingtonindiana, IU, mauer | Public | $113,538 | $89,785 | -20.9% |
University of Michiganmichigan, umich, um, uofm | Public | $112,133 | $132,473 | 18.1% |
Michigan State Universitymsu, michstate, detroit college of law, dcl | Public | $108,444 | $95,494 | -11.9% |
University of Virginiauva | Public | $107,384 | $132,182 | 23.1% |
University of California - Los Angelesucla | Public | $103,956 | $121,066 | 16.5% |
North Carolina Central Universitynccu, nc central | Public | $98,948 | $58,061 | -41.3% |
University of California - Davisdavis, ucd, king | Public | $98,179 | $93,498 | -4.8% |
George Mason Universitygmu | Public | $98,087 | $126,723 | 29.2% |
Rutgers State University - Camdenrutgers-camden | Public | $96,705 | - | - |
University of California - Hastingshastings, uch | Public | $96,013 | $129,178 | 34.5% |
University of Baltimorebaltimore | Public | $94,834 | $114,725 | 21% |
University of Oregonoregon | Public | $91,353 | $105,900 | 15.9% |
University of Minnesotaminnesota, uminn | Public | $91,314 | $104,733 | 14.7% |
University of California - Berkeleyberkeley, ucb, boalt | Public | $91,277 | $143,546 | 57.3% |
University of Missouri - Kansas Citymissouri-kc, umkc | Public | $90,767 | - | - |
Arizona State Universityasu, o'connor | Public | $89,038 | $97,431 | 9.4% |
Texas A&Mtexasam, texas wesleyan, tamu | Public | $88,062 | $103,500 | 17.5% |
University of Iowaiowa | Public | $87,891 | $92,373 | 5.1% |
Florida A&M Universityfamu | Public | $86,557 | - | - |
University of Pittsburghpitt | Public | $84,772 | $103,461 | 22% |
University of Marylandmaryland, carey | Public | $83,693 | $102,183 | 22.1% |
William and Marywm, marshall-wythe | Public | $83,058 | $98,487 | 18.6% |
Temple Universitytemple, beasley | Public | $82,836 | $97,323 | 17.5% |
Ohio State Universityosu, moritz | Public | $81,408 | $97,021 | 19.2% |
Washburn Universitywashburn | Public | $80,488 | $83,396 | 3.6% |
University of Illinoisillinois, uofi, urbana-champaign | Public | $80,005 | $89,852 | 12.3% |
University of Oklahomaoklahoma, ou | Public | $78,644 | $81,789 | 4% |
University of Arizonaarizona, rogers | Public | $78,412 | $95,533 | 21.8% |
University of Texastexas, ut | Public | $78,408 | $100,868 | 28.6% |
Rutgers State University - Newarkrutgers-newark | Public | $78,302 | $89,507 | 14.3% |
University of Louisvillelouisville, brandeis | Public | $77,121 | $90,195 | 17% |
University of Toledotoledo | Public | $76,898 | $96,924 | 26% |
University of Wisconsinwisconsin | Public | $76,845 | $79,373 | 3.3% |
University of Mainemaine | Public | $76,533 | $101,749 | 32.9% |
University of Nevada - Las Vegasunlv | Public | $76,478 | $99,678 | 30.3% |
University of South Carolinasouthcarolina, usc | Public | $75,718 | $84,590 | 11.7% |
University of The District of Columbiaudc, clarke | Public | $74,667 | $73,175 | -2% |
University of Idahoidaho | Public | $74,655 | $92,732 | 24.2% |
Northern Kentucky Universitynku, chase | Public | $73,469 | $82,989 | 13% |
Cleveland-Marshall College of Lawcleveland | Public | $71,477 | $89,879 | 25.7% |
University of Georgiageorgia, uga | Public | $71,283 | $88,825 | 24.6% |
CUNYcuny-queens, city university of new york | Public | $70,119 | $82,415 | 17.5% |
Louisiana State Universitylsu, hebert | Public | $69,462 | $89,471 | 28.8% |
University of Missouri - Columbiamissouri, mizzou | Public | $69,046 | $67,289 | -2.5% |
Texas Southern Universitytexassouthern, tsu, marshall | Public | $67,500 | - | - |
University of Memphismemphis, humphreys | Public | $67,074 | $78,030 | 16.3% |
Wayne State Universitywayne | Public | $67,029 | $79,881 | 19.2% |
University of Coloradocolorado, cu, boulder | Public | $66,554 | $116,280 | 74.7% |
University of Connecticutuconn | Public | $66,457 | $70,139 | 5.5% |
University of Houstonhouston, uhlc, uh | Public | $65,802 | $88,664 | 34.7% |
University of Tennesseetennessee, utk | Public | $65,082 | $66,201 | 1.7% |
University of North Dakotanorthdakota, UND | Public | $64,772 | $64,818 | 0.1% |
Southern Illinois Universitysiu, carbondale | Public | $63,517 | - | - |
University of Washingtonwashington, uw | Public | $63,393 | $105,990 | 67.2% |
University of Floridaflorida, uf, levin | Public | $62,432 | $82,410 | 32% |
University of Mississippimississippi, ole miss | Public | $62,012 | $73,003 | 17.7% |
University of Utahutah, uu, quinney | Public | $61,665 | $78,725 | 27.7% |
University of Montanamontana | Public | $61,617 | $71,216 | 15.6% |
University of North Carolinaunc, chapel hill | Public | $60,212 | $92,475 | 53.6% |
University of Akronakron | Public | $60,149 | $82,322 | 36.9% |
Texas Tech Universitytexastech, ttu | Public | $60,124 | $84,272 | 40.2% |
West Virginia Universitywvu | Public | $60,074 | $84,727 | 41% |
University of Arkansas - Little Rockarkansas-littlerock, bowen | Public | $59,983 | $69,532 | 15.9% |
University of Hawaiihawaii, richardson, manoa | Public | $58,609 | $56,266 | -4% |
University of Cincinnaticincinnati | Public | $58,455 | $76,663 | 31.1% |
Georgia State Universitygsu | Public | $57,408 | $69,822 | 21.6% |
SUNY Buffalobuffalo | Public | $56,394 | $76,010 | 34.8% |
University of Arkansas - Fayettevillearkansas-fayetteville | Public | $56,358 | $63,541 | 12.7% |
Southern University Law Centersouthern | Public | $55,809 | $77,067 | 38.1% |
University of New Mexiconewmexico | Public | $54,122 | $71,029 | 31.2% |
University of South Dakotasouthdakota | Public | $53,251 | $78,963 | 48.3% |
University of Wyomingwyoming | Public | $51,859 | $67,087 | 29.4% |
Northern Illinois Universityniu | Public | $49,858 | $77,182 | 54.8% |
University of Alabamaalabama, bama | Public | $49,750 | $69,440 | 39.6% |
University of Nebraskanebraska | Public | $49,706 | $62,985 | 26.7% |
University of Kentuckykentucky, uk | Public | $49,059 | $76,746 | 56.4% |
University of Kansaskansas, ku | Public | $45,662 | $74,890 | 64% |
Florida State Universityfsu | Public | $44,442 | $80,375 | 80.9% |
Indiana University - Indianapolisindiana-indy, IU | Public | - | $96,651 | - |
Florida International Universityfiu | Public | - | $89,815 | - |
University of California - Irvineirvine, uci | Public | - | $102,891 | - |
California Western School of Lawcalwestern | Private | $145,621 | $151,197 | 3.8% |
Thomas Jefferson School of Lawthomasjefferson, tjsl | Private | $137,352 | $172,445 | 25.5% |
Southwestern Law Schoolsouthwestern | Private | $136,569 | - | - |
American Universityamerican, washington college of law | Private | $136,121 | $159,316 | 17% |
Loyola University New Orleansloyola-neworleans | Private | $136,050 | $117,892 | -13.3% |
Catholic University of Americacatholic, columbus | Private | $134,133 | $144,737 | 7.9% |
Golden Gate Universitygoldengate | Private | $132,895 | $146,288 | 10.1% |
Northwestern Universitynorthwestern, nu, nw | Private | $132,685 | $163,065 | 22.9% |
Loyola Marymount Universityloyola-la | Private | $132,267 | $147,701 | 11.7% |
University of the Pacificpacific, mcgeorge | Private | $128,495 | $140,517 | 9.4% |
University of Chicagochicago, uchi | Private | $127,997 | $144,695 | 13% |
Vermont Law Schoolvermont | Private | $127,914 | $156,713 | 22.5% |
Columbia Universitycolumbia, cls | Private | $126,945 | $154,076 | 21.4% |
Cornell Universitycornell | Private | $126,000 | $135,000 | 7.1% |
Touro Collegetouro, fuchsberg | Private | $125,481 | $154,855 | 23.4% |
New York Universitynyu | Private | $125,169 | $147,744 | 18% |
Pepperdine Universitypepperdine | Private | $125,114 | $145,525 | 16.3% |
University of San Franciscosanfrancisco, usf | Private | $124,982 | $154,321 | 23.5% |
Albany Law Schoolalbany, union | Private | $124,271 | $130,184 | 4.8% |
Roger Williams Universityrogerwilliams, rwu | Private | $123,338 | $128,543 | 4.2% |
Villanova Universityvillanova | Private | $122,410 | $95,297 | -22.1% |
Georgetown Universitygulc, gtown | Private | $122,319 | $150,529 | 23.1% |
Tulane Universitytulane | Private | $122,197 | $140,965 | 15.4% |
Stetson Universitystetson | Private | $122,189 | $148,394 | 21.4% |
Campbell Universitycampbell | Private | $121,648 | $90,065 | -26% |
DePaul Universitydepaul | Private | $121,324 | $125,895 | 3.8% |
St. Louis Universityslu | Private | $120,000 | $128,764 | 7.3% |
Syracuse Universitysyracuse | Private | $119,769 | $129,249 | 7.9% |
New York Law Schoolnewyork, nyls | Private | $119,437 | $166,622 | 39.5% |
University of San Diegosandiego, usd | Private | $119,331 | $128,477 | 7.7% |
St. Thomas University - Floridastu | Private | $119,271 | $140,808 | 18.1% |
Barry Universitybarry | Private | $119,250 | $149,175 | 25.1% |
Fordham Universityfordham | Private | $119,120 | $140,577 | 18% |
Cardozo-Yeshiva Universitycardozo | Private | $118,939 | $121,644 | 2.3% |
University of Southern Californiausc, gould | Private | $117,573 | $137,163 | 16.7% |
Nova Southeastern Universitynova, broad | Private | $117,223 | $136,450 | 16.4% |
University of Detroit Mercydetroit-mercy | Private | $117,089 | $132,245 | 12.9% |
Regent Universityregent | Private | $115,734 | $125,158 | 8.1% |
Hofstra Universityhofstra, deane | Private | $115,705 | $143,646 | 24.1% |
Chapman Universitychapman | Private | $115,064 | $148,429 | 29% |
Vanderbilt Universityvanderbilt, vandy | Private | $114,720 | $122,327 | 6.6% |
Oklahoma City Universityocu | Private | $114,090 | $121,476 | 6.5% |
Creighton Universitycreighton | Private | $114,030 | $126,586 | 11% |
Duke Universityduke, dook | Private | $113,911 | $125,406 | 10.1% |
University of Denverdenver, du, sturm | Private | $113,688 | $132,083 | 16.2% |
Valparaiso Universityvalparaiso, valpo | Private | $113,643 | $132,010 | 16.2% |
Northeastern Universitynortheastern | Private | $113,081 | $134,918 | 19.3% |
Suffolk Universitysuffolk | Private | $112,939 | $120,993 | 7.1% |
Seton Hall Universitysetonhall | Private | $112,772 | $128,100 | 13.6% |
St. John's Universitystjohns | Private | $112,365 | $111,959 | -0.4% |
Howard Universityhoward | Private | $112,004 | $124,021 | 10.7% |
Widener University - Pennsylvaniawidener, harrisburg | Private | $111,909 | $139,229 | 24.4% |
Widener University - Delawarewidener, wilmington | Private | $111,909 | $139,229 | 24.4% |
Marquette Universitymarquette | Private | $110,147 | $134,533 | 22.1% |
George Washington Universitygw | Private | $110,000 | $141,346 | 28.5% |
Washington University in St Louiswashu, wustl | Private | $108,603 | $111,345 | 2.5% |
New England School of Lawnewengland | Private | $108,326 | - | - |
Samford Universitysamford, cumberland | Private | $107,850 | $124,106 | 15.1% |
Santa Clara Universitysantaclara, scu | Private | $106,869 | $136,990 | 28.2% |
Southern Methodist Universitysmu, dedman | Private | $106,512 | $124,617 | 17% |
Washington and Lee Universitywl | Private | $105,970 | $109,422 | 3.3% |
Lewis and Clark Collegelewisandclark, northwestern | Private | $105,928 | $127,064 | 20% |
Western Michigan University - Cooley Law Schoolcooley, wmu | Private | $105,798 | - | - |
Mercer Universitymercer, george | Private | $105,585 | $125,301 | 18.7% |
University of Pennsylvaniapenn, upenn | Private | $105,297 | $130,002 | 23.5% |
South Texas College of Law Houstonsouthtexas | Private | $104,862 | $113,748 | 8.5% |
Whittier Law Schoolwhittier | Private | $104,731 | $151,602 | 44.8% |
Stanford Universitystanford, sls | Private | $104,424 | $128,137 | 22.7% |
Boston Universitybu | Private | $103,980 | $107,850 | 3.7% |
Boston Collegebc | Private | $103,765 | $97,006 | -6.5% |
Capital Universitycapital | Private | $103,426 | $113,434 | 9.7% |
Elon Law Schoolelon | Private | $103,059 | $132,444 | 28.5% |
Mississippi Collegemississippicollege | Private | $102,884 | $130,700 | 27% |
Seattle Universityseattle | Private | $102,350 | $131,414 | 28.4% |
University of La Vernelaverne | Private | $101,237 | - | - |
University of Tulsatulsa | Private | $100,795 | $99,305 | -1.5% |
Baylor Universitybaylor | Private | $100,661 | $116,666 | 15.9% |
Gonzaga Universitygonzaga | Private | $100,092 | $121,281 | 21.2% |
Emory Universityemory | Private | $99,236 | $108,690 | 9.5% |
University of Miamimiami, um, the u | Private | $98,986 | $143,845 | 45.3% |
Yale Universityyale, yls | Private | $98,796 | $117,093 | 18.5% |
Brooklyn Law Schoolbrooklyn | Private | $97,631 | $114,953 | 17.7% |
Pace Universitypace | Private | $97,586 | $122,180 | 25.2% |
University of St. Thomas - Minneapolisstthomas | Private | $97,238 | $100,401 | 3.3% |
St. Mary's Universitystmarys | Private | $97,105 | $116,782 | 20.3% |
Drexel Universitydrexel | Private | $96,780 | $91,915 | -5% |
Western New England University School of Lawwesternnewengland | Private | $96,565 | $130,124 | 34.8% |
Ohio Northern Universityonu, pettit | Private | $96,371 | $107,764 | 11.8% |
Quinnipiac Universityquinnipiac | Private | $96,256 | $119,956 | 24.6% |
Loyola University Chicagoloyola-chicago | Private | $95,201 | $134,968 | 41.8% |
Hamline Universityhamline | Private | $95,174 | $113,173 | 18.9% |
University of Richmondrichmond, williams | Private | $94,200 | $110,380 | 17.2% |
Case Western Reserve Universitycasewestern, cwru | Private | $94,150 | $131,724 | 39.9% |
Wake Forest Universitywake, wf | Private | $93,223 | $107,532 | 15.3% |
University of Notre Damenotredame, nd | Private | $92,310 | $111,310 | 20.6% |
William Mitchell College of Lawwilliammitchell | Private | $92,277 | $110,738 | 20% |
Drake Universitydrake | Private | $91,576 | $108,857 | 18.9% |
Willamette Universitywillamette, collins | Private | $91,347 | $136,099 | 49% |
Duquesne Universityduquesne | Private | $88,908 | $107,496 | 20.9% |
Ave Maria School of Lawavemaria | Private | $87,337 | $132,236 | 51.4% |
Chicago-Kent College of Lawkent, illinois institute of technology | Private | $84,710 | $119,884 | 41.5% |
University of Daytondayton | Private | $67,856 | $113,486 | 67.2% |
Liberty Universityliberty | Private | $62,032 | $69,475 | 12% |
Brigham Young Universitybyu, clark | Private | $52,315 | $54,203 | 3.6% |
Faulkner Universityfaulkner, jones | Private | $50,500 | - | - |
Appalachian School of Lawappalachian | Private | - | - | - |
Harvard Universityharvard, hls | Private | - | $137,599 | - |
Charleston School of Lawcharleston, csol | For Profit | $128,571 | $147,031 | 14.4% |
John Marshall Law School - Atlantajohnmarshal-atl,jmls | For Profit | $123,025 | - | - |
Florida Coastal School of Lawfloridacoastal, infilaw | For Profit | $120,410 | $162,785 | 35.2% |
Charlotte School of Lawcharlotte, infilaw, csol | For Profit | $113,793 | $140,528 | 23.5% |
Western State Universitywesternstate, argosy | For Profit | $98,791 | $120,350 | 21.8% |
Arizona Summit Law Schoolarizonasummit, phoenix, infilaw | For Profit | - | - | - |