Best Law Schools in North America

Updated: July 18, 2023

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 770M citations received by 24.2M academic papers made by 1,589 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. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

United States | Michigan

For Law

#1 in the United States

#1 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $16,326
Enrollment: 50,278

2. Harvard University

United States | Massachusetts

For Law

#2 in the United States

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $13,910

3. Stanford University

United States | California

For Law

#3 in the United States

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $14,402

4. University of California - Berkeley

United States | California

For Law

#4 in the United States

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $21,406
Enrollment: 45,036

5. University of Toronto

Canada | Ontario

For Law

#1 in Canada

#5 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Enrollment: 95,055
Founded: 1827

6. Columbia University

United States | New York State

For Law

#5 in the United States

#7 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $12,411

7. University of Washington - Seattle

United States | Washington

For Law

#6 in the United States

#8 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Receiving Aid: 54%
Average Aid: $15,895
Enrollment: 52,434

8. University of Pennsylvania

United States | Pennsylvania

For Law

#7 in the United States

#9 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $14,578

9. Yale University

United States | Connecticut

For Law

#8 in the United States

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $20,605

10. University of Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Law

#9 in the United States

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $33,727

11. University of California - Los Angeles

United States | California

For Law

#10 in the United States

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 56%
Average Aid: $17,592
Enrollment: 46,116

12. Pennsylvania State University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Law

#11 in the United States

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Receiving Aid: 73%
Average Aid: $8,719
Enrollment: 40,363

13. New York University

United States | New York State

For Law

#12 in the United States

#14 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1510
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $50,991

14. University of Wisconsin - Madison

United States | Wisconsin

For Law

#13 in the United States

#16 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1410
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 64%

15. Cornell University

United States | New York State

For Law

#14 in the United States

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $24,262

16. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

United States | Massachusetts

For Law

#15 in the United States

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Net Price: $30,958
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $32,562

17. University of British Columbia

Canada | British Columbia

For Law

#2 in Canada

#19 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Enrollment: 59,659
Founded: 1908

18. Ohio State University

United States | Ohio

For Law

#16 in the United States

#20 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1345
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 83%

19. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

United States | Illinois

For Law

#17 in the United States

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 85%

20. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

United States | North Carolina

For Law

#18 in the United States

#24 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 60%

21. University of Texas at Austin

United States | Texas

For Law

#19 in the United States

#25 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 71%

22. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

United States | Minnesota

For Law

#20 in the United States

#26 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

23. University of Southern California

United States | California

For Law

#21 in the United States

#28 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,021

24. Boston University

United States | Massachusetts

For Law

#22 in the United States

#30 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $25,852

25. Michigan State University

United States | Michigan

For Law

#23 in the United States

#31 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1210
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 72%

26. Princeton University

United States | New Jersey

For Law

#24 in the United States

#33 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1515
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $20,908

27. Arizona State University - Tempe

United States | Arizona

For Law

#25 in the United States

#34 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Receiving Aid: 92%
Average Aid: $12,201
Enrollment: 77,881

28. Carnegie Mellon University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Law

#26 in the United States

#35 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $37,450

29. Johns Hopkins University

United States | Maryland

For Law

#27 in the United States

#36 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Net Price: $20,680
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $45,373

30. University of Maryland - College Park

United States | Maryland

For Law

#28 in the United States

#37 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1420
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 68%

31. University of Pittsburgh

United States | Pennsylvania

For Law

#29 in the United States

#39 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 78%

32. Duke University

United States | North Carolina

For Law

#30 in the United States

#40 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1513
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $27,297

33. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

United States | New Jersey

For Law

#31 in the United States

#43 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1355
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

34. University of Arizona

United States | Arizona

For Law

#32 in the United States

#46 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 95%

35. McGill University

Canada | Quebec State

For Law

#3 in Canada

#47 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Enrollment: 40,036
Founded: 1821

36. University of California-San Diego

United States | California

For Law

#33 in the United States

#48 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Receiving Aid: 54%
Average Aid: $18,083
Enrollment: 41,885

37. University of Florida

United States | Florida

For Law

#34 in the United States

#49 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Average SAT: 1385
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

38. University of Virginia

United States | Virginia

For Law

#35 in the United States

#50 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 63%

39. University of California - San Francisco

United States | California

For Law

#36 in the United States

#51 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Enrollment: 3,165
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1864

40. University of Alberta

Canada | Alberta

For Law

#4 in Canada

#56 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Founded: 1908

41. University of California - Davis

United States | California

For Law

#37 in the United States

#57 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Receiving Aid: 65%
Average Aid: $17,628
Enrollment: 40,050

42. Indiana University - Bloomington

United States | Indiana

For Law

#38 in the United States

#60 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 79%

43. University of Ottawa

Canada | Ontario

For Law

#5 in Canada

#63 in the World

Enrollment: 42,027
Founded: 1848

44. Northwestern University

United States | Illinois

For Law

#39 in the United States

#64 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $29,999

45. Texas A&M University - College Station

United States | Texas

For Law

#40 in the United States

#66 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 78%

46. McMaster University

Canada | Ontario

For Law

#6 in Canada

#67 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 59%
Enrollment: 30,117
Founded: 1887

47. University of California - Irvine

United States | California

For Law

#41 in the United States

#70 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Receiving Aid: 79%
Average Aid: $16,868
Enrollment: 36,505

48. Emory University

United States | Georgia

For Law

#42 in the United States

#71 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1480
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $28,367

49. University of Iowa

United States | Iowa State

For Law

#43 in the United States

#74 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 87%

50. Washington University in St Louis

United States | Missouri

For Law

#44 in the United States

#75 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $28,298

51. Vanderbilt University

United States | Tennessee

For Law

#45 in the United States

#77 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $27,553

52. University of Rochester

United States | New York State

For Law

#46 in the United States

#78 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,125

53. University of Calgary

Canada | Alberta

For Law

#7 in Canada

#79 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 33,000
Founded: 1966

54. Western University

Canada | Ontario

For Law

#8 in Canada

#80 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Enrollment: 27,300
Founded: 1878

55. George Washington University

United States | District of Columbia

For Law

#47 in the United States

#81 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $31,240

56. Georgia Institute of Technology

United States | Georgia

For Law

#48 in the United States

#82 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 72%

57. University of Illinois at Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Law

#49 in the United States

#84 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1195
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 81%

58. University of Utah

United States | Utah

For Law

#50 in the United States

#88 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 89%

59. Georgetown University

United States | District of Columbia

For Law

#51 in the United States

#89 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1480
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,049

60. York University

Canada | Ontario

For Law

#9 in Canada

#91 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Enrollment: 53,000
Founded: 1959

61. George Mason University

United States | Virginia

For Law

#52 in the United States

#93 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 79%

62. Florida State University

United States | Florida

For Law

#53 in the United States

#95 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 96%

63. University of California - Santa Barbara

United States | California

For Law

#54 in the United States

#96 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $18,107
Enrollment: 26,124

64. University of Colorado Boulder

United States | Colorado

For Law

#55 in the United States

#103 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 65%

65. University of Notre Dame

United States | Indiana

For Law

#56 in the United States

#105 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Average SAT: 1480
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,513

66. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

United States | Virginia

For Law

#57 in the United States

#106 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 72%

67. University of Montreal

Canada | Quebec State

For Law

#10 in Canada

#108 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Enrollment: 45,360
Founded: 1878

68. University of Missouri - Columbia

United States | Missouri

For Law

#58 in the United States

#109 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 91%

69. University of Kentucky

United States | Kentucky

For Law

#59 in the United States

#110 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Average SAT: 1207
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 94%

70. University of Waterloo

Canada | Ontario

For Law

#11 in Canada

#111 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Enrollment: 35,900
Founded: 1957

71. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

United States | Massachusetts

For Law

#60 in the United States

#113 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1355
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 88%

72. Purdue University

United States | Indiana

For Law

#61 in the United States

#114 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 73%

73. University of South Carolina - Columbia

United States | South Carolina

For Law

#62 in the United States

#115 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 62%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 95%

74. Iowa State University

United States | Iowa State

For Law

#63 in the United States

#117 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1207
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 93%

75. University of Kansas

United States | Kansas State

For Law

#64 in the United States

#120 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1210
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 86%

76. University of South Florida

United States | Florida

For Law

#65 in the United States

#121 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 99%

77. Georgia State University

United States | Georgia

For Law

#66 in the United States

#123 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Average SAT: 1170
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 97%

78. Temple University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Law

#67 in the United States

#124 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Receiving Aid: 91%
Average Aid: $11,292
Enrollment: 35,626

79. University of Connecticut

United States | Connecticut

For Law

#68 in the United States

#127 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

80. Case Western Reserve University

United States | Ohio

For Law

#69 in the United States

#128 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $38,166

81. Queen's University

Canada | Ontario

For Law

#12 in Canada

#129 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Enrollment: 30,386
Founded: 1841

82. Boston College

United States | Massachusetts

For Law

#70 in the United States

#131 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,159

83. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

United States | North Carolina

For Law

#71 in the United States

#136 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1355
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 74%

84. Simon Fraser University

Canada | British Columbia

For Law

#13 in Canada

#141 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 59%
Founded: 1965

85. Syracuse University

United States | New York State

For Law

#72 in the United States

#147 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 59%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $43,545

86. Brown University

United States | Rhode Island

For Law

#73 in the United States

#148 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1515
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $25,028

87. University of Miami

United States | Florida

For Law

#74 in the United States

#153 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 28%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $34,492

88. Dartmouth College

United States | New Hampshire

For Law

#75 in the United States

#154 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $24,078

89. Brigham Young University - Provo

United States | Utah

For Law

#76 in the United States

#158 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 59%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $13,432

90. Wayne State University

United States | Michigan

For Law

#77 in the United States

#164 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1145
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 99%

91. Providence College

United States | Rhode Island

For Law

#78 in the United States

#165 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $39,566

92. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

United States | Tennessee

For Law

#79 in the United States

#168 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

93. University at Buffalo

United States | New York State

For Law

#80 in the United States

#169 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 84%

94. Tufts University

United States | Massachusetts

For Law

#81 in the United States

#172 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1495
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $31,630

95. Dalhousie University

Canada | Nova Scotia

For Law

#14 in Canada

#180 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Enrollment: 18,500
Founded: 1818

96. University of Cincinnati

United States | Ohio

For Law

#82 in the United States

#181 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 85%

97. University of Delaware

United States | Delaware

For Law

#83 in the United States

#184 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Average SAT: 1248
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 90%

98. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

United States | Nebraska

For Law

#84 in the United States

#185 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1205
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

99. University of Oregon

United States | Oregon

For Law

#85 in the United States

#190 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Receiving Aid: 88%
Average Aid: $13,590
Enrollment: 22,257

100. Stony Brook University

United States | New York State

For Law

#86 in the United States

#193 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 82%

Liberal Arts & Social Sciences subfields in North America

Anthropology949

Archaeology1315

Broadcast Journalism303

Classics and Ancient History698

Communications and Public Relations798

Criminology and Criminal Justice535

Early Childhood Education437

Education Majors1046

Forensic Science262

Gender Studies711

Human Rights Law302

Intellectual Property and Patent Law288

International Law311

International Relations and Diplomacy321

Journalism and Digital Media336

Law Enforcement414

Library and Information science752

Linguistics1244

Media Studies516

Military science444

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution317

Occupational Safety and Health346

Political Economy415

Political Science1624

Public Policy / Administration477

Radio and Television broadcasting293

Special Education407

Sports / Exercise science296

Theology / Divinity / Religious studies1076

Urban and Regional planning209