Best Law Schools in North America

Updated: February 29, 2024

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in North America ranked based on their research performance in Law. A graph of 143M citations received by 5.72M academic papers made by 1,666 universities in North America was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. Harvard University

United States | Massachusetts

For Law

#1 in the United States

#1 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,491

2. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

United States | Michigan

For Law

#2 in the United States

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 74%

3. Stanford University

United States | California

For Law

#3 in the United States

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,279

4. University of California - Berkeley

United States | California

For Law

#4 in the United States

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $21,669
Enrollment: 45,307

5. University of Toronto

Canada | Ontario

For Law

#1 in Canada

#5 in the World

Enrollment: 27,651
Founded: 1827

6. University of Washington - Seattle

United States | Washington

For Law

#5 in the United States

#7 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $14,731
Enrollment: 52,319

7. Columbia University

United States | New York State

For Law

#6 in the United States

#8 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,058

8. University of Pennsylvania

United States | Pennsylvania

For Law

#7 in the United States

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,123

9. Yale University

United States | Connecticut

For Law

#8 in the United States

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,647

10. Cornell University

United States | New York State

For Law

#9 in the United States

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,060

11. University of California - Los Angeles

United States | California

For Law

#10 in the United States

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 57%
Average Aid: $21,766
Enrollment: 46,430

12. University of Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Law

#11 in the United States

#14 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $36,991

13. New York University

United States | New York State

For Law

#12 in the United States

#15 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,499

14. Pennsylvania State University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Law

#13 in the United States

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1300
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 68%

15. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

United States | Massachusetts

For Law

#14 in the United States

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1555
Average ACT: 36
Net Price: $20,232

16. Johns Hopkins University

United States | Maryland

For Law

#15 in the United States

#19 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $24,034

17. University of Wisconsin - Madison

United States | Wisconsin

For Law

#16 in the United States

#20 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 58%

18. University of British Columbia

Canada | British Columbia

For Law

#2 in Canada

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Enrollment: 20,893
Founded: 1908

19. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

United States | Illinois

For Law

#17 in the United States

#22 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

20. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

United States | Minnesota

For Law

#18 in the United States

#23 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

21. Ohio State University

United States | Ohio

For Law

#19 in the United States

#24 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 83%

22. University of Texas at Austin

United States | Texas

For Law

#20 in the United States

#27 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 89%

23. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

United States | North Carolina

For Law

#21 in the United States

#28 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 59%

24. University of Southern California

United States | California

For Law

#22 in the United States

#29 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $36,808

25. Princeton University

United States | New Jersey

For Law

#23 in the United States

#31 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,698

26. Michigan State University

United States | Michigan

For Law

#24 in the United States

#32 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

27. Arizona State University - Tempe

United States | Arizona

For Law

#25 in the United States

#34 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,381
Enrollment: 80,065

28. University of Maryland - College Park

United States | Maryland

For Law

#26 in the United States

#35 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 63%

29. Carnegie Mellon University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Law

#27 in the United States

#36 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $33,499

30. Duke University

United States | North Carolina

For Law

#28 in the United States

#38 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,694

31. University of Pittsburgh

United States | Pennsylvania

For Law

#29 in the United States

#41 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

32. University of California-San Diego

United States | California

For Law

#30 in the United States

#44 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $20,782
Enrollment: 42,006

33. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

United States | New Jersey

For Law

#31 in the United States

#45 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 70%

34. University of Arizona

United States | Arizona

For Law

#32 in the United States

#46 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

35. University of Florida

United States | Florida

For Law

#33 in the United States

#47 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

36. University of Virginia

United States | Virginia

For Law

#34 in the United States

#48 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 54%

37. University of California - San Francisco

United States | California

For Law

#35 in the United States

#50 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,140
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1864

38. Northwestern University

United States | Illinois

For Law

#36 in the United States

#51 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,095

39. McGill University

Canada | Quebec State

For Law

#3 in Canada

#53 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Enrollment: 37,888
Founded: 1821

40. University of California - Davis

United States | California

For Law

#37 in the United States

#56 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $20,548
Enrollment: 39,679

41. Boston University

United States | Massachusetts

For Law

#38 in the United States

#58 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,829

42. University of Alberta

Canada | Alberta

For Law

#4 in Canada

#60 in the World

Enrollment: 31,185
Founded: 1908

43. Texas A&M University - College Station

United States | Texas

For Law

#39 in the United States

#63 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

44. University of Ottawa

Canada | Ontario

For Law

#5 in Canada

#65 in the World

Enrollment: 42,027
Founded: 1848

45. McMaster University

Canada | Ontario

For Law

#6 in Canada

#66 in the World

Enrollment: 27,965
Founded: 1887

46. University of Illinois at Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Law

#40 in the United States

#70 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 81%

47. University of California - Irvine

United States | California

For Law

#41 in the United States

#71 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $17,411
Enrollment: 35,937

48. Emory University

United States | Georgia

For Law

#42 in the United States

#73 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $26,680

49. Washington University in St Louis

United States | Missouri

For Law

#43 in the United States

#74 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,432

50. Georgetown University

United States | District of Columbia

For Law

#44 in the United States

#75 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $35,566

51. University of Iowa

United States | Iowa State

For Law

#45 in the United States

#76 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

52. Vanderbilt University

United States | Tennessee

For Law

#46 in the United States

#77 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,606

53. University of Rochester

United States | New York State

For Law

#47 in the United States

#78 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $39,775

54. University of Utah

United States | Utah

For Law

#48 in the United States

#80 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

55. University of Calgary

Canada | Alberta

For Law

#7 in Canada

#82 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Enrollment: 33,000
Founded: 1966

56. Georgia Institute of Technology

United States | Georgia

For Law

#49 in the United States

#83 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 73%

57. George Washington University

United States | District of Columbia

For Law

#50 in the United States

#84 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1410
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $42,723

58. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

United States | Massachusetts

For Law

#51 in the United States

#86 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 91%

59. Western University

Canada | Ontario

For Law

#8 in Canada

#87 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Enrollment: 21,836
Founded: 1878

60. University of California - Santa Barbara

United States | California

For Law

#52 in the United States

#92 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $20,389
Enrollment: 26,420

61. Florida State University

United States | Florida

For Law

#53 in the United States

#93 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 93%

62. York University

Canada | Ontario

For Law

#9 in Canada

#95 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Enrollment: 53,000
Founded: 1959

63. Indiana University - Bloomington

United States | Indiana

For Law

#54 in the United States

#97 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 83%

64. George Mason University

United States | Virginia

For Law

#55 in the United States

#100 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

65. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

United States | Virginia

For Law

#56 in the United States

#102 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 71%

66. Purdue University

United States | Indiana

For Law

#57 in the United States

#108 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

67. University of Georgia

United States | Georgia

For Law

#58 in the United States

#109 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1320
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 94%

68. University of Montreal

Canada | Quebec State

For Law

#10 in Canada

#112 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Enrollment: 66,972
Founded: 1878

69. University of Notre Dame

United States | Indiana

For Law

#59 in the United States

#114 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $28,474

70. University of Colorado Boulder

United States | Colorado

For Law

#60 in the United States

#115 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 68%

71. University of Kentucky

United States | Kentucky

For Law

#61 in the United States

#116 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

72. University of Missouri - Columbia

United States | Missouri

For Law

#62 in the United States

#118 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 91%

73. University of South Carolina - Columbia

United States | South Carolina

For Law

#63 in the United States

#119 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 98%

74. Iowa State University

United States | Iowa State

For Law

#64 in the United States

#120 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1220
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

75. University of Waterloo

Canada | Ontario

For Law

#11 in Canada

#122 in the World

Enrollment: 35,900
Founded: 1957

76. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

United States | North Carolina

For Law

#65 in the United States

#125 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 80%

77. University of Miami

United States | Florida

For Law

#66 in the United States

#127 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $36,467

78. Case Western Reserve University

United States | Ohio

For Law

#67 in the United States

#129 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $38,279

79. University of South Florida

United States | Florida

For Law

#68 in the United States

#134 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 90%

80. University of Kansas

United States | Kansas State

For Law

#69 in the United States

#135 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1215
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

81. University at Buffalo

United States | New York State

For Law

#70 in the United States

#136 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 86%

82. Temple University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Law

#71 in the United States

#137 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $11,575
Enrollment: 33,196

83. Boston College

United States | Massachusetts

For Law

#72 in the United States

#138 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1488
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,559

84. Georgia State University

United States | Georgia

For Law

#73 in the United States

#140 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 95%

85. Queen's University

Canada | Ontario

For Law

#12 in Canada

#144 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Enrollment: 30,386
Founded: 1841

86. Brown University

United States | Rhode Island

For Law

#74 in the United States

#146 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,723

87. University of Connecticut

United States | Connecticut

For Law

#75 in the United States

#148 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 89%

88. Syracuse University

United States | New York State

For Law

#76 in the United States

#153 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1345
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $43,651

89. Simon Fraser University

Canada | British Columbia

For Law

#13 in Canada

#154 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1965

90. Providence College

United States | Rhode Island

For Law

#77 in the United States

#155 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $43,970

91. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

United States | Tennessee

For Law

#78 in the United States

#159 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 91%

92. Dartmouth College

United States | New Hampshire

For Law

#79 in the United States

#160 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $19,208

93. Wayne State University

United States | Michigan

For Law

#80 in the United States

#172 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

94. Brigham Young University - Provo

United States | Utah

For Law

#81 in the United States

#173 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1374
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $13,521

95. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

United States | Louisiana

For Law

#82 in the United States

#175 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 98%

96. Tufts University

United States | Massachusetts

For Law

#83 in the United States

#177 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,479

97. University of Cincinnati

United States | Ohio

For Law

#84 in the United States

#178 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 84%

98. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

United States | Colorado

For Law

#85 in the United States

#180 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1145
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 94%

99. Dalhousie University

Canada | Nova Scotia

For Law

#14 in Canada

#183 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Enrollment: 30,867
Founded: 1818

100. University of Delaware

United States | Delaware

For Law

#86 in the United States

#187 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 93%

Liberal Arts & Social Sciences subfields in North America

Anthropology1028

Archaeology1392

Broadcast Journalism318

Classics and Ancient History792

Communications and Public Relations860

Criminology and Criminal Justice557

Early Childhood Education431

Education Majors1108

Forensic Science242

Gender Studies752

Human Rights Law299

Intellectual Property and Patent Law283

International Law286

International Relations and Diplomacy326

Journalism and Digital Media377

Law Enforcement395

Library and Information science966

Linguistics1330

Media Studies596

Military science480

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution318

Occupational Safety and Health340

Political Economy437

Political Science1686

Public Policy / Administration508

Radio and Television broadcasting317

Special Education395

Sports / Exercise science319

Theology / Divinity / Religious studies1150

Urban and Regional planning220