KU Law ranks No. 5 in nation for best value law schools

LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas School of Law continues to be recognized among the nation’s best for providing an outstanding legal education at an affordable cost. National Jurist magazine has ranked KU Law No. 5 in the nation on its 2025 list of Best Value Law Schools, earning an A+ grade for its combination of affordability, strong employment outcomes and high bar passage rates.

The recognition marks KU Law’s continued presence near the top of national best value rankings. The school placed No. 4 in 2023, No. 6 in 2024 and remains the highest-ranked law school in the region for value.

“These rankings reflect KU Law’s commitment to ensuring every student can build a meaningful legal career without taking on overwhelming debt,” said Stephen Mazza, dean of the KU School of Law. “Affordability and opportunity go hand in hand. A law degree should give you freedom to choose the career you want, not the one you feel forced into.”

The magazine’s methodology assigns a grade to every ABA-accredited law school. The rankings are calculated by weighting cost (55%), employment (30%) and bar passage rates (15%) to determine an overall GPA. KU Law’s A+ rating reflects outstanding performance across all three categories.

KU Law’s Bar Prep Program, funded through alumni support, provides every student with a Themis Bar Review course, diagnostic testing and early-start programs that have helped boost bar passage rates. Although not included in the current rankings, the Class of 2025 is posting another year of outstanding bar passage rates. KU Law’s first-time bar passage rate for the July exam in Kansas was 95%, nearly eight percentage points above the state average for first-time examinees. KU Law students posted a 97% first-time bar passage rate in Missouri, compared with an 86.5% rate for all first-time takers in that state.

Career development at KU Law begins on day one. Each student meets individually with career services staff to map out professional goals. KU Law also offers stipends for public service jobs and travel funding for out-of-state interviews, expanding access to diverse career opportunities.

KU Law remains one of the most affordable law schools among the top 50 ranked by U.S. News & World Report.