100 Best Law schools in the United States

Updated: March 02, 2025

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in the United States ranked based on their research performance in Law. A graph of 181M citations received by 5.73M academic papers made by 1,608 universities in the United States 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

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Law

#1 in North America

#1 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,900

2. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Law

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 66%

3. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Law

#3 in North America

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,998

4. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Law

#4 in North America

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $25,951
Enrollment: 45,699

5. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Law

#6 in North America

#7 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Receiving Aid: 55%
Average Aid: $14,390
Enrollment: 55,620

6. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Law

#7 in North America

#8 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,869

7. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Law

#8 in North America

#9 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,044

8. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Law

#9 in North America

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

9. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Law

#10 in North America

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $27,979

10. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Law

#11 in North America

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,455

11. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Law

#12 in North America

#14 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $22,441
Enrollment: 46,678

12. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Law

#13 in North America

#16 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,730

13. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Law

#14 in North America

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1555
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,844

14. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Law

#15 in North America

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,519

15. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Law

#16 in North America

#19 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 66%

16. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Law

#17 in North America

#20 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1435
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 60%

17. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Law

#18 in North America

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 61%

18. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Law

#20 in North America

#23 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

19. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Law

#21 in North America

#24 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 75%

20. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Law

#22 in North America

#25 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 58%

21. University of Texas at Austin

Texas | Austin

For Law

#23 in North America

#28 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

22. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Law

#24 in North America

#29 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,811

23. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Law

#25 in North America

#31 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1495
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $41,496

24. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Law

#26 in North America

#33 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 65%

25. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Law

#27 in North America

#34 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $11,992
Enrollment: 79,593

26. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Law

#28 in North America

#35 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,422

27. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Law

#29 in North America

#36 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 97%

28. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Law

#30 in North America

#38 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 71%

29. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Law

#31 in North America

#40 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,341

30. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Law

#32 in North America

#41 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $24,176
Enrollment: 42,376

31. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Law

#33 in North America

#42 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $32,964

32. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Law

#34 in North America

#43 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

33. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Law

#35 in North America

#46 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 44%

34. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Law

#36 in North America

#49 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 92%

35. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Law

#37 in North America

#50 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 98%

36. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Law

#38 in North America

#54 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,126
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1864

37. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Law

#40 in North America

#56 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $21,258
Enrollment: 39,707

38. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Law

#41 in North America

#59 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,551

39. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Law

#42 in North America

#60 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

40. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Law

#44 in North America

#64 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 77%

41. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Law

#47 in North America

#71 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $37,967

42. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Law

#48 in North America

#73 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $21,533
Enrollment: 36,582

43. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Law

#49 in North America

#74 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,440

44. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Law

#50 in North America

#75 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 80%

45. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Law

#51 in North America

#76 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,900

46. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Law

#52 in North America

#77 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,986

47. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Law

#53 in North America

#80 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,689

48. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Law

#54 in North America

#83 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 88%

49. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Law

#55 in North America

#84 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $45,466

50. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Law

#58 in North America

#87 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1289
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

51. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Law

#59 in North America

#90 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

52. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Law

#60 in North America

#92 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1430
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 73%

53. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Law

#62 in North America

#96 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 95%

54. Indiana University - Bloomington

Indiana | Bloomington

For Law

#63 in North America

#97 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 83%

55. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Law

#64 in North America

#99 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 28%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $21,732
Enrollment: 26,068

56. George Mason University

Virginia | Fairfax

For Law

#65 in North America

#101 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

57. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Law

#67 in North America

#108 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 66%

58. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Law

#68 in North America

#110 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

59. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Law

#69 in North America

#112 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 84%

60. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Law

#70 in North America

#114 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,083

61. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Law

#71 in North America

#116 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

62. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Law

#72 in North America

#120 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 95%

63. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Law

#74 in North America

#124 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

64. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Law

#75 in North America

#128 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $41,028

65. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Law

#76 in North America

#129 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $41,351

66. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Law

#77 in North America

#132 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

67. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Law

#78 in North America

#133 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1170
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 93%

68. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Law

#79 in North America

#134 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 68%

69. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Law

#80 in North America

#139 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

70. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Law

#81 in North America

#140 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,608

71. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Law

#82 in North America

#141 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 88%

72. Boston College

Massachusetts | Boston

For Law

#84 in North America

#145 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,590

73. Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Law

#85 in North America

#146 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $11,891
Enrollment: 30,205

74. Georgia State University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Law

#86 in North America

#147 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 62%
Average SAT: 1160
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 94%

75. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Law

#87 in North America

#150 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $17,322

76. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Law

#88 in North America

#153 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 90%

77. Syracuse University

New York State | Syracuse

For Law

#89 in North America

#157 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1345
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $51,520

78. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Law

#90 in North America

#158 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 83%

79. Brigham Young University - Provo

Utah | Provo

For Law

#92 in North America

#167 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $14,643

80. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Law

#93 in North America

#174 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $33,333

81. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado | Denver

For Law

#94 in North America

#175 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1100
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 90%

82. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Law

#95 in North America

#177 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

83. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Law

#96 in North America

#178 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 93%

84. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Law

#98 in North America

#187 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 87%

85. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Law

#99 in North America

#189 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $23,397
Receiving Aid: 68%
Average Aid: $60,201

86. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Law

#100 in North America

#190 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 92%

87. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Law

#101 in North America

#192 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1210
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

88. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

Indiana | Indianapolis

For Law

#102 in North America

#193 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

89. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Law

#103 in North America

#196 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

90. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Law

#105 in North America

#203 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 74%
Average Aid: $10,554
Enrollment: 33,500

91. American University in Washington

District of Columbia | Washington

For Law

#106 in North America

#206 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $40,189

92. University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma State | Norman

For Law

#107 in North America

#208 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

93. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Law

#108 in North America

#209 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 89%

94. University of Central Florida

Florida | Orlando

For Law

#109 in North America

#217 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 91%

95. Virginia Commonwealth University

Virginia | Richmond

For Law

#110 in North America

#220 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 100%

96. University of Alabama

Alabama | Tuscaloosa

For Law

#111 in North America

#221 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 84%

97. SUNY at Albany

New York State | Albany

For Law

#112 in North America

#224 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Receiving Aid: 97%
Average Aid: $9,747
Enrollment: 16,880

98. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Law

#113 in North America

#227 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 97%

99. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Minnesota | Rochester

For Law

#115 in North America

#233 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Net Price: $11,577
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $1,900

100. University of California - Riverside

California | Riverside

For Law

#117 in North America

#241 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Receiving Aid: 75%
Average Aid: $21,566
Enrollment: 26,426

The best cities to study Law in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are Cambridge, Ann Arbor, Stanford, and Berkeley.