U.S. News & World Report Unveils Controversial Law School Rankings with Noteworthy Changes
U.S. News & World Report unveiled its latest rankings of law schools, concluding a period of unprecedented controversy surrounding the annual list. The release was marked by a boycott from nearly one-third of law schools and a delay of over three weeks due to data issues. The updated rankings for this year exhibit noteworthy changes among top-tier law schools, as well as significant movements for many schools lower down the list. These shifts were primarily influenced by the publication's revamped methodology, which increased the emphasis on employment outcomes and bar passage rates while reducing the weight given to Law School Admission Test scores and undergraduate grade-point averages. U.S. News made these adjustments in response to criticism that their previous methodology hindered student diversity and affordability.
Moreover, this year's results differ slightly from a preliminary preview of the top 14 law schools that U.S. News initially released on April 11 but subsequently removed from their website due to a deluge of inquiries from schools. As a result, the release of law and medical school rankings was postponed during that time.
In defense of their rankings, U.S. News emphasized their significance as essential sources of information for prospective students. CEO Eric Gertler highlighted that by prioritizing outcome-based metrics, their orders and resources could provide a valuable roadmap for students' educational journeys.
The final rankings reveal Stanford Law School and Yale Law School maintaining a tie for the No. 1 position, as previously indicated in the preview. The University of Chicago School of Law retained its position at No. 3. However, Harvard Law School, initially ranked No. 4 in the preview, slipped to No. 5 in the final rankings, marking its lowest placement since 1990 when it also occupied the No. 5 spot. A Harvard Law spokesperson regarding this change provided no immediate comment.
Boycott, Data Issues, and Methodology Revamp Impact U.S. News Law School Rankings
Duke Law School and New York University School of Law are now tied at No. 5, a step up from their No. 6 placement in the preview rankings. Duke Law School's progress is particularly noteworthy as it experienced the most significant gain among the top 14 schools, rising by five spots from No. 11 in the previous year's list.
Meanwhile, the University of California at Los Angeles School of Law secured the No. 14 spot, displacing Georgetown University Law Center to No. 15 and excluding it from the so-called T-14 group.
The most significant reshuffling in the rankings occurred beyond the elite schools. A total of 62 law schools witnessed double-digit changes in their orders this year, compared to 27 schools in the previous year. Moreover, 27 schools experienced shifts of 20 or more spots, a substantial increase compared to only four schools last year.
Notably, Duquesne University Thomas R. Kline School of Law achieved the most substantial improvement, ascending by 40 spots to reach No. 89. Following closely, Florida International University College of Law jumped 38 places to secure the No. 60 position.
