US News Law School Ranking - An Analysis

In the 2010 U.S. News & World Report rankings, there were significant shifts in the standing of various law schools, reflecting both institutional improvements and changing perceptions of their academic quality and reputation.

One notable shift in the rankings of 2010 was the impressive rise of the State University of New York at Buffalo, which jumped 15 places to 85th in the rankings, from 100th the previous year. This marked a significant achievement for the school, which had worked to increase its national recognition and academic standing. The ranking boost can be attributed to several factors, including enhanced faculty credentials, improvements in student outcomes, and an increasing reputation in the legal field. For a law school like SUNY Buffalo, this movement up the rankings represents a strategic effort to bolster its position in a highly competitive legal education landscape.

In the 2010 rankings, several other law schools also experienced upward movements. The University of Chicago, one of the nation’s top law schools, made a modest but important improvement. Chicago moved up by one place, reinforcing its position as one of the top-tier law schools in the United States. Chicago’s continued rise is in large part due to its prestigious faculty, high-quality legal research, and outstanding employment outcomes for its graduates. The law school is consistently ranked among the top 10, and this small boost in the rankings further solidified its position within this elite group.

Similarly, the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), the University of Texas, the University of Iowa, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison also saw an improvement in their rankings. These schools rose by one spot, reflecting the ongoing efforts they made to strengthen their legal programs, increase faculty research output, and improve the quality of their student bodies. For example, UCLA’s law school is known for its emphasis on public interest law, environmental law, and entertainment law. Its reputation in these fields, combined with increasing faculty engagement and high post-graduation employment rates, likely contributed to its rising status in the 2010 rankings.

American University’s Washington College of Law, DePaul University College of Law, St. John’s University School of Law, St. Louis University School of Law, and Boston University School of Law also made slight improvements in their rankings, moving up by one place each. These universities may not have seen dramatic leaps, but they are gradually increasing their stature by focusing on niche legal areas, strengthening ties to the legal community, and improving student outcomes. For instance, American University, known for its strong programs in international law and public interest law, continued to benefit from its strategic location in Washington, D.C., which provides students with unique opportunities for internships and networking.

One of the most impressive jumps in the 2010 rankings was made by the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), which skyrocketed by 21 places. This dramatic rise indicates a significant improvement in the law school’s overall academic standing, likely resulting from increased national recognition, greater faculty research output, and improvements in student satisfaction and employment prospects. UCSD’s rise is a testament to how focused efforts on strengthening a law school’s academic offerings, faculty, and career services can lead to rapid improvements in rankings.

Other law schools that experienced notable upward movement in the 2010 rankings include Indiana University Bloomington, Louisiana State University, and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), all of which moved up by 13 places. These jumps reflect the increasing investment these schools have made in their academic programs and their growing national reputations. Indiana University, for example, has been recognized for its specialized programs in environmental law, health law, and intellectual property law, which have contributed to its rise in the rankings. Similarly, Louisiana State University and UNLV have made strategic investments in faculty hiring and curriculum development, resulting in better outcomes for their students and an increase in national recognition.

Several law schools also saw a 12-place increase in their rankings in 2010. Lewis & Clark College, Georgia State University, and Penn State University all experienced improvements, reflecting their growing reputation and rising quality of education. Lewis & Clark, known for its focus on environmental law, has consistently ranked highly in this field, which likely played a significant role in its upward movement. Georgia State and Penn State, meanwhile, have strengthened their regional reputations and become increasingly competitive within their respective legal markets, particularly in areas like public interest law, corporate law, and family law.

In the same year, the University of Miami and the University of Denver experienced an 11-place jump in the rankings, which is indicative of the increasing quality of their programs and growing recognition in the legal field. Miami’s rise may be attributed to its focus on international law, as well as its strategic location in a global city with close ties to Latin America. Denver, meanwhile, has been investing in improving faculty research, supporting experiential learning opportunities, and building a network of successful alumni, which has contributed to its rise in national rankings.

The Top 100 list
1. Yale
2. Harvard
3. Stanford
4. Columbia
5. NYU
6. Berkeley
6. Chicago
8. Penn
9. Michigan
10. Duke
10. Northwestern
10. UVA
13. Cornell
14. GULC
15. UCLA
15. Texas
17. Vanderbilt
18. USC
19. WUSTL
20. BU
20. Emory
20. Minnesota
23. Indiana - Bloomington
23. Illinois
23. Notre Dame
26. BC
26. Iowa
28. William and Mary
28. GWU
30. Fordham
30. Alabama
30. UNC
30. U of Washington
30. Washington and Lee
35. OSU
35. Davis
35. Georgia
35. Wisconsin-Madison
39. Hastings
40. Wake Forest
41. BYU
41. GMU
43. Arizona
43. Maryland
45. American
45. Tulane
45. UC Boulder
45. Utah
49. SMU
49. Cardozo
51. U of Florida
52. Florida State
52. U of Cincinnati
52. UConn
55. Arizona State
55. Case Western
55. Pepperdine
55. Kentucky
59. Houston
59. Tennessee
61. Brooklyn
61. Lewis & Clark
61. San Diego
61. Villanova
65. Baylor
65. Georgia State
65. Penn State
65. Temple
65. U of Kansas
65. U of Missouri
71. Loyola LA
71. Miami
71. Oklahoma
71. Pitt
75. Louisiana State
75. UNLV
77. Chicago-Kent
77. Rutgers Camden
77. Seattle
77. Seton Hall
77. Denver
77. New Mexico
77. Oregon
77. Richmond
85. Santa Clara
85. SUNY-Buff
87. DePaul
87. Indiana-Indianapolis
87. Loyola Chicago
87. Marquette
87. Rutgers Newark
87. St. John's
87. South Carolina
94. Catholic
94. Northeastern
94. St Louis
94. Arkansas Fayetteville
98. Louisville
98. USF
100. Gonzaga
100. Hofstra
100. UMaine

Source: US News