The best law schools in the US according to QS World University Rankings 2027 are Harvard, Yale, Stanford, New York University, Columbia, UC Berkeley, the University of Chicago, Georgetown, Penn, and Cornell. Harvard ranks No. 1 globally for Law & Legal Studies in QS 2026, followed by Yale at No. 4 and Stanford at No. 5. NYU ranks No. 7, Columbia No. 8, Berkeley No. 10, Chicago No. 12, Georgetown No. 21, Penn No. 22, and Cornell =26. QS has already released its 2027 overall university rankings. However, its 2027 subject ranking for Law & Legal Studies has not yet been published. That means this guide uses the latest verified QS law ranking while incorporating QS 2027 overall university positions where useful.
Best Law Schools in the US: QS Rankings
| US Law School | QS Law & Legal Studies 2026 | QS Overall 2027 | 2025 Acceptance Rate | 2024 Acceptance Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harvard University | #1 | #5 | 9.20% | — |
| Yale University | #4 | =16 | 4.06% | 5.25% |
| Stanford University | #5 | =2 | 6.10% | 8.85% |
| New York University | #7 | #58 | 13.39% | 16.67% |
| Columbia University | #8 | =43 | 11.84% | 11.75% |
| UC Berkeley | #10 | =20 | 14.84% | 17.30% |
| University of Chicago | #12 | #24 | 9.74% | 12.73% |
| Georgetown University | #21 | — | 15.75% | 20.13% |
| University of Pennsylvania | #22 | #15 | 8.05% | 9.95% |
| Cornell University | =26 | =16 | 18.19% | 23.11% |
Acceptance rates come from ABA Standard 509 disclosures for the entering classes of 2025 and 2024. QS law positions are from the latest available QS Law & Legal Studies ranking. QS overall positions are from the 2027 World University Rankings. Georgetown’s QS 2027 overall position is not included in the table because the ranking page data used here does not establish it directly.
How We Ranked the Best Law Schools in the US
The wording around QS rankings needs careful handling because QS 2027 can refer to two different products. QS released the QS World University Rankings 2027 on June 18, 2026. That ranking covers universities as institutions rather than ranking individual academic subjects. QS’s subject rankings follow a separate publication cycle. The latest available subject edition for Law & Legal Studies is the 2026 edition published March 25, 2026. Therefore, calling a university “No. 1 in QS Law 2027” would be inaccurate until QS publishes that subject edition. This distinction is particularly important for an SEO article because readers expect ranking claims to match the source and publication year.
QS’s 2027 overall ranking still provides valuable context. Stanford ranks =2 globally while Harvard ranks No. 5. Penn ranks No. 15 while Cornell and Yale share =16. Berkeley ranks =20 while Chicago ranks No. 24. Columbia ranks =43 and NYU ranks No. 58. These positions measure overall institutional performance rather than law specifically. You should therefore never substitute them for a law ranking. A university can have a very strong law school even when its overall university position differs substantially.
The QS Law & Legal Studies ranking measures a different academic picture. QS says its subject ranking evaluates universities using indicators including academic reputation, employer reputation, citations per paper, and H-index citations. Those indicators emphasize scholarly influence and professional recognition. They don’t directly measure every feature that matters to a prospective law student. Tuition, bar eligibility, clinics, location, employment outcomes, student debt, and admissions requirements require additional research. For that reason, this guide combines QS with ABA disclosures and LSAC guidance.
The American Bar Association provides another important source of information. ABA Standard 509 requires approved law schools to publicly disclose admissions data, tuition, financial aid, enrollment information, employment outcomes, and bar passage data. This creates a common reporting framework across American law schools. It also makes historical comparisons more useful than relying on random acceptance-rate websites. The ABA’s statistics page provides current and archived law-school data for students and researchers.
For international students, the distinction between a JD and an LLM is just as important. LSAC explains that admission to a US JD program requires a bachelor’s degree. The JD is normally the principal professional route into US legal practice. An LLM is different because it is a graduate law qualification generally designed for someone who already holds a first professional law degree. LSAC specifically notes that international students pursuing an LLM generally need an LLB or equivalent first professional law credential.
1. Harvard University
Harvard Law School QS Ranking and Admissions
Harvard University holds the No. 1 position worldwide in QS Law & Legal Studies 2026. Its law ranking gives Harvard an overall score of 99.0. Harvard also ranks No. 5 in the broader QS World University Rankings 2027. That combination gives the university a particularly strong position in both the subject-specific and overall QS tables. Harvard’s law ranking is supported by exceptionally high academic and employer reputation scores. QS reports Harvard at 99.8 for academic reputation and 100.0 for employer reputation in the 2026 law table.
Harvard Law School’s 2025 ABA Standard 509 report recorded 8,872 completed applications and 816 offers of admission. That produced an acceptance rate of 9.20%. The entering class contained 579 students including 96 students who deferred from a previous year. The same report lists a median LSAT of 174 and a median undergraduate GPA of 3.96. Those figures describe the enrolled class rather than an admissions cutoff. They show the academic profile of students who actually entered Harvard Law School.
Harvard’s 2025 acceptance rate should also be read alongside the broader admissions cycle. The current ABA disclosure records 8,872 completed applications. Earlier reports used different application volumes and produced different acceptance rates. This is why a single percentage can give a distorted picture of admissions difficulty. Harvard’s Standard 509 report provides a standardized measure that can be compared with other ABA-approved schools. The school’s official Harvard Law School website should remain your primary source for application requirements, deadlines, tuition, and financial-aid information.
Harvard’s academic breadth is another reason it remains prominent in international law-school research. Students can explore public law, corporate law, international law, intellectual property, tax, criminal law, constitutional law, environmental law, and many interdisciplinary fields. The school also operates clinics and research programs that connect classroom study with legal practice. For an international student, that breadth can be useful if you are still deciding which legal field you want to pursue. It can also provide room to connect US law with international or cross-border legal questions.
Harvard is especially relevant to students comparing global prestige with professional preparation. QS places it first in Law & Legal Studies while the ABA provides separate data about admissions, employment, and bar outcomes. Those sources answer different questions. QS tells you about global academic and professional reputation. ABA disclosures tell you what happened to students in defined reporting cohorts. A serious applicant should use both rather than treating the QS number as a complete verdict on the school.
2. Yale University
Yale Law School QS Ranking and Acceptance Rate
Yale Law School ranks No. 4 globally in QS Law & Legal Studies 2026. Yale’s overall QS score is 94.4, placing it behind Harvard, Oxford, and Cambridge in the global subject table. In the QS World University Rankings 2027, Yale ranks =16 overall. That is a major difference between a subject ranking and a university-wide ranking. Yale’s law position is much higher because the QS subject table focuses specifically on Law & Legal Studies.
Yale’s 2025 ABA Standard 509 report records 5,562 completed applications and 226 offers of admission. The resulting acceptance rate was only 4.06%. The entering class contained 204 students. Its median LSAT was 174 while its median undergraduate GPA was 3.96. Yale also accepted some students using the GRE rather than the LSAT. These figures show a very small entering class relative to the size of the applicant pool.
The year-over-year movement is striking. Yale’s 2024 Standard 509 acceptance rate was 5.25%. It fell to 4.06% for the 2025 entering class. That change occurred alongside shifts in applications and offers. A falling acceptance rate does not necessarily mean every applicant became less qualified. It can also reflect application volume, class size, and admissions decisions. You should therefore use the percentage as historical context rather than treating it as an individual admission probability.
Yale’s law school has a distinctive academic identity built around close faculty engagement, scholarship, and interdisciplinary study. The school is especially well known for constitutional law, legal theory, public law, and legal scholarship. Its small class size can make the student experience different from a much larger law school. That difference matters because law-school life is not only about rankings. Seminars, faculty relationships, clinics, student organizations, and research opportunities can shape your three years considerably.
For international students, Yale requires the same careful planning as any other US law school. LSAC explains that the JD route normally begins after a bachelor’s degree. International students who already hold a foreign law degree may instead investigate Yale’s graduate law options. Yale’s law ranking makes it highly visible globally, but the correct degree matters more than the university’s name alone. Visit Yale Law School and LSAC’s international student guidance before deciding which application route fits your background.
3. Stanford University
Stanford Law School QS Ranking 2026 and 2027 Context
Stanford University ranks No. 5 worldwide for Law & Legal Studies in QS 2026. Its subject score is 92.8. Stanford also ranks =2 overall in the QS World University Rankings 2027. This creates an unusual combination because Stanford’s overall institutional position is higher than its law-specific position. The difference illustrates why students should not use a university-wide ranking as a substitute for a subject ranking. Stanford remains a major global research institution while its law school has its own distinct profile.
Stanford Law School’s 2025 ABA report recorded 5,526 completed applications and 337 offers of admission. Its acceptance rate was 6.10%. The school enrolled 193 first-year students. The 2025 report also lists an LSAT median of 173. Its application volume was higher than in 2024 while the acceptance rate declined. The 2024 report recorded 4,270 completed applications and 378 offers for an 8.85% acceptance rate.
That year-to-year comparison matters because the change is substantial. Stanford’s acceptance rate moved from 8.85% to 6.10%. At the same time, applications increased from 4,270 to 5,526. Offers declined from 378 to 337. The numbers therefore show a tighter admissions funnel in the 2025 entering class. They don’t establish a fixed threshold for future applicants. Law schools can see significant changes in application behavior from one year to the next.
Stanford’s academic environment is particularly notable for its connection to technology and innovation. Its location in Silicon Valley places the law school near major technology companies, venture capital firms, startups, and technology-policy institutions. Students interested in intellectual property, technology law, privacy, artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, and corporate law may find that environment especially relevant. Stanford also has a strong public-law and international-law presence. The school therefore extends beyond the stereotypical image of corporate legal education.
For international students, Stanford can make sense when your legal interests cross national borders. Technology regulation, intellectual property, data privacy, international business, and emerging legal systems increasingly overlap. An international background can also provide useful context for cross-border legal research. However, you still need to determine whether you need a JD or an LLM. LSAC states that international students who already hold a first professional law degree may pursue an LLM while students seeking the normal US professional pathway generally pursue a JD.
4. New York University
NYU Law QS Ranking and Acceptance Rate
New York University ranks No. 7 globally in QS Law & Legal Studies 2026. Its score was 90.4. NYU therefore sits inside the global top 10 for law while its overall university position in QS 2027 is No. 58. That difference is important for students searching specifically for law programs. NYU’s legal reputation is considerably stronger in the QS subject table than its overall university position alone might suggest. The school is based in Manhattan and benefits from proximity to major law firms, courts, financial institutions, international organizations, and public-interest organizations.
NYU Law’s 2025 Standard 509 report recorded 10,546 completed applications and 1,412 offers of admission. Its acceptance rate was 13.39%. The school enrolled 452 students in the first-year class, including deferred students. The median LSAT was 172 and the median undergraduate GPA was 3.92. The 2024 report recorded 8,537 applications and 1,423 offers. That produced a 16.67% acceptance rate.
The historical comparison shows a clear change. Applications rose by more than 2,000 between the two reported entering classes. Offers were almost unchanged. The result was a fall in the acceptance rate from 16.67% to 13.39%. That movement illustrates a basic rule of admissions statistics. More applications can make a school appear considerably more selective even when the number of offers changes only modestly. Students should therefore examine applications and offers together rather than copying a percentage without its year.
NYU’s location is one of its defining features. Manhattan places students in one of the world’s largest legal and financial centers. The school offers extensive opportunities in international law, tax, corporate law, public interest law, intellectual property, and other specialties. New York also provides a deep network of courts, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and law firms. For a student interested in international commercial work, financial regulation, arbitration, or cross-border practice, location can become an important part of the academic equation.
International applicants should pay attention to the distinction between studying law and qualifying to practice law. An LLM can provide advanced legal study for someone who already holds a foreign law degree. It does not automatically create a nationwide right to practice law in the United States. The ABA notes that bar eligibility varies by jurisdiction. LSAC likewise explains that some internationally educated students may become eligible for a state bar after an LLM depending on the jurisdiction’s rules.
5. Columbia University
Columbia Law School QS Ranking and Admissions
Columbia University ranks No. 8 globally in QS Law & Legal Studies 2026 with a score of 89.4. Columbia also ranks =43 overall in the QS World University Rankings 2027. The subject ranking therefore presents a much stronger global position for law than the university’s overall ranking. That is not unusual. Subject rankings focus on discipline-specific reputation and research rather than measuring the entire institution as one unit. Columbia’s New York location also gives its law school an unusual connection to international business, finance, media, government, and public-interest work.
Columbia’s 2025 Standard 509 report recorded 9,463 completed applications and 1,120 offers of admission. The acceptance rate was 11.84%. The first-year class contained 444 students. Columbia’s 2024 report recorded 7,671 applications and 901 offers. Its acceptance rate was 11.75%. The year-over-year percentage therefore changed very little even though application volume increased substantially.
This comparison is useful because it shows that acceptance-rate movement isn’t always dramatic. Columbia’s rate remained around 12% across the two cycles. Applications increased by nearly 1,800. Offers also increased. The balance between those two numbers produced a broadly similar percentage. That is why applicants should examine the raw data. A headline such as “Columbia acceptance rate” is incomplete without specifying the entering class and the reporting year.
Columbia Law School has a strong focus on corporate and commercial law alongside international, public, constitutional, and intellectual-property fields. Its location in New York adds practical relevance to areas such as financial regulation and cross-border transactions. Students can also draw on Columbia University’s wider academic ecosystem. This matters when legal questions overlap with economics, political science, technology, journalism, international affairs, or public policy. The surrounding city becomes part of the learning environment in a way that is difficult to reproduce on a traditional isolated campus.
For international students, Columbia deserves careful attention to degree type and bar eligibility. An applicant with an LLB from another country may be better suited to an LLM than a JD depending on their goals. Someone who wants the full US professional legal education route may need to pursue a JD after completing a bachelor’s degree. LSAC makes this distinction clearly in its international guidance. The Columbia Law School website should be used for current JD and LLM requirements because application rules can change.
6. University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley Law QS Ranking and Acceptance Rate
UC Berkeley ranks No. 10 globally in QS Law & Legal Studies 2026. Its overall subject score is 87.9. Berkeley also ranks =20 in the QS World University Rankings 2027. The university therefore sits inside the global top 25 overall while its law school ranks inside the global top 10 for law. This is particularly relevant to international students comparing American public universities with private law schools. Berkeley offers the global reputation of a major research institution alongside the distinctive character of a public university.
Berkeley Law’s 2025 Standard 509 report recorded 6,562 completed applications and 974 offers of admission. The acceptance rate was 14.84%. The school enrolled 374 students in its first-year class. The median LSAT was 170 and the median GPA was 3.92. In 2024, Berkeley received 6,463 applications and made 1,118 offers. Its acceptance rate was 17.30%.
The year-over-year change is significant. Berkeley’s acceptance rate fell from 17.30% to 14.84%. Applications increased slightly while offers fell substantially. That combination created a more selective admissions ratio in the 2025 report. The change also shows why using older acceptance-rate articles can mislead applicants. A figure published two years earlier may no longer describe the current admissions environment. ABA Standard 509 reports give you a consistent basis for comparing cycles.
Berkeley Law has a particularly strong academic identity around technology, environmental law, public interest law, intellectual property, and policy. Its Bay Area location places students near one of the world’s largest technology ecosystems. That creates opportunities for students interested in emerging legal questions surrounding artificial intelligence, privacy, cybersecurity, intellectual property, and technology regulation. Berkeley also maintains a strong public-law and public-interest tradition. Students who want to combine law with policy or social impact can therefore explore several paths.
For international students, Berkeley also highlights an important financial distinction. The 2025 Standard 509 report lists full-time tuition of $62,532 for residents and $76,149 for nonresidents. Living expenses are reported separately. These figures are not a complete individual cost because financial aid, housing, insurance, and personal expenses vary. Still, Berkeley’s public-university structure makes it useful to compare against private schools. The official Berkeley Law website and ABA disclosure should be checked before calculating your study-abroad budget.
7. University of Chicago
Chicago Law QS Ranking and Acceptance Rate
The University of Chicago ranks No. 12 globally for Law & Legal Studies in QS 2026. Its score is 84.1. The university ranks No. 24 overall in the QS World University Rankings 2027. The law school therefore occupies a stronger position in the subject table than the overall university table alone might suggest. Chicago is known for an academically rigorous approach to legal education and for its strong connection between law, economics, philosophy, politics, and social science. Those interdisciplinary connections are an important part of understanding its profile.
Chicago Law’s 2025 Standard 509 report recorded 6,581 completed applications and 641 offers of admission. Its acceptance rate was 9.74%. The first-year class contained 204 students. The median LSAT was 174 and the median GPA was 3.97. In 2024, Chicago received 5,366 applications and made 683 offers. The resulting acceptance rate was 12.73%.
The change from 12.73% to 9.74% is substantial. Applications increased by more than 1,200. Offers declined from 683 to 641. The first-year class remained small. Those factors together produced a considerably lower acceptance rate. Yet the percentage should not be read as a minimum admissions standard. The ABA data describes the relationship between completed applications and offers. It doesn’t identify the specific academic or personal profile that led to each individual decision.
Chicago’s academic character makes it particularly interesting for students who enjoy theory and interdisciplinary thinking. Law and economics is strongly associated with the university. Students can also explore constitutional law, corporate law, criminal law, international law, legal history, and jurisprudence. Its Hyde Park location creates a different environment from Manhattan or Washington, D.C. That difference can influence your daily life, internship choices, housing costs, and access to legal employers.
International students considering Chicago should first determine whether the JD or LLM is appropriate. LSAC explains that a US JD normally requires a bachelor’s degree. An LLM generally requires a first professional law degree for international applicants. The ABA also warns that bar eligibility is controlled by individual jurisdictions rather than by the ranking system. If your goal is eventual US licensure, identify the state where you expect to qualify before selecting a degree.
8. Georgetown University
Georgetown Law QS Ranking and Admissions
Georgetown University ranks No. 21 globally in QS Law & Legal Studies 2026 with a score of 81.4. Georgetown is especially notable for its location in Washington, D.C. because the capital brings students close to federal agencies, Congress, courts, international organizations, embassies, think tanks, and national advocacy organizations. That environment gives Georgetown a different practical profile from universities located in major commercial cities. Its QS law position reflects strong academic and employer reputation.
Georgetown’s 2025 Standard 509 report recorded 13,924 completed applications and 2,193 offers of admission. Its acceptance rate was 15.75%. The first-year class contained 672 students. The school also has a part-time division, which makes its entering-class structure somewhat different from many of the other schools in this list. In 2024, Georgetown recorded 11,309 applications and 2,276 offers. Its acceptance rate was 20.13%.
The historical comparison shows a sharp decline in the acceptance rate. Georgetown moved from 20.13% to 15.75% in the two reported cycles. Applications increased by more than 2,600 while offers fell slightly. That combination produced the change. The numbers also reinforce the importance of using current ABA data. A student researching Georgetown through older articles might see a much higher acceptance rate than the one associated with the 2025 entering class.
Georgetown’s location gives it particular strength for students interested in government and public policy. Its programs cover constitutional law, international law, national security, health law, tax, corporate law, environmental law, and many other fields. Students can also engage with federal institutions and policy organizations located nearby. Washington is a city where law and government intersect every day. For someone interested in regulatory practice or public service, that environment can be highly relevant.
Georgetown also offers graduate legal education for international students. The ABA lists Georgetown among US schools offering LLM programs for foreign lawyers and international students. LSAC explains that international LLM applicants generally need a first professional law degree such as an LLB or equivalent. Bar eligibility then depends on the jurisdiction where you seek admission. Students should therefore avoid assuming that completing an LLM automatically grants permission to practice nationwide.
9. University of Pennsylvania
Penn Carey Law QS Ranking and Acceptance Rate
The University of Pennsylvania ranks No. 22 globally in QS Law & Legal Studies 2026. Its subject score is 81.2. Penn’s overall university position is considerably stronger in QS 2027 at No. 15 globally. That difference again demonstrates why subject rankings matter when you are specifically researching law. Penn Carey Law combines legal education with the broader resources of the University of Pennsylvania. The university’s professional-school ecosystem can be especially useful for students interested in business, health, technology, economics, and interdisciplinary legal work.
Penn Carey Law’s 2025 ABA report recorded 8,074 completed applications and 650 offers of admission. Its acceptance rate was 8.05%. The first-year class contained 265 students. The median LSAT was 173 and the median GPA was 3.95. In 2024, Penn received 6,461 applications and made 643 offers. The acceptance rate was 9.95%.
Penn’s acceptance rate therefore fell from 9.95% to 8.05%. Applications increased by more than 1,600 while offers increased only slightly. The change shows how a growing applicant pool can make a school substantially more selective on paper. It also highlights the difference between applications and applicants. One student can apply to multiple law schools. Consequently, the total application count does not represent the number of unique people pursuing legal education.
Penn’s academic environment benefits from its connection to Wharton, the Perelman School of Medicine, engineering, public policy, and other university units. That makes interdisciplinary study particularly relevant. A student interested in corporate law can combine legal study with business knowledge. Another student might explore health law, intellectual property, technology, or public policy. Philadelphia also provides access to courts, firms, government institutions, and nonprofit organizations. These practical factors complement the global reputation measured by QS.
International students should investigate Penn’s LLM and JD pathways separately. A foreign law graduate may use an LLM to deepen expertise in US or international legal subjects. Someone beginning the US legal-professional route will normally need a JD after a bachelor’s degree. LSAC provides separate application guidance for both pathways. The official Penn Carey Law website should be your main reference for current admissions requirements, tuition, financial aid, and graduate programs.
10. Cornell University
Cornell Law School QS Ranking and Acceptance Rate
Cornell University ranks =26 globally in QS Law & Legal Studies 2026 with a score of 80.2. Cornell also ranks =16 overall in the QS World University Rankings 2027. The difference is useful because Cornell has a broad academic identity that extends far beyond law. Its law school benefits from the wider university’s strength in technology, agriculture, economics, public policy, and research. That interdisciplinary setting can matter when your legal interests overlap with science, technology, business, or public policy.
Cornell Law’s 2025 Standard 509 report recorded 4,608 completed applications and 838 offers of admission. Its acceptance rate was 18.19%. The first-year class contained 217 students. The median LSAT was 173 while the median undergraduate GPA was 3.92. In 2024, Cornell recorded 3,722 applications and 860 offers. Its acceptance rate was 23.11%.
The two-year comparison is one of the clearest in this group. Cornell’s acceptance rate fell by nearly five percentage points. Applications increased by almost 900 while offers declined slightly. That combination produced a much lower admission rate. Even so, the 18.19% figure does not mean Cornell is an easy law school to enter. The enrolled class still had a 173 LSAT median. The raw acceptance percentage must therefore be considered alongside the academic profile of the entering students.
Cornell Law offers a relatively small law-school environment within a major research university. Its programs cover international law, corporate law, intellectual property, technology, public law, and other areas. The Ithaca setting is quieter than New York City or Washington, D.C. That can be an advantage for students who prefer a focused campus environment. Cornell’s location also means that you should think carefully about where you want to build your professional network after graduation.
For international applicants, Cornell provides both JD and advanced law-study pathways. The LLM route is generally designed for people who already possess a first professional law degree. The JD route normally begins with a bachelor’s degree. LSAC makes that distinction explicit and advises international students to use the appropriate credential process. If you plan to seek US bar admission after an LLM, check the rules of the state where you intend to qualify because eligibility varies.
QS Law Rankings 2025 vs 2026: What Changed?
The latest QS Law & Legal Studies ranking also becomes more useful when you compare it with the previous edition. Harvard remained No. 1. Yale remained No. 4. Stanford remained No. 5. Other American universities moved more noticeably. Berkeley moved from No. 7 to No. 10. Columbia moved from No. 8 to No. 8. NYU moved from No. 9 to No. 7. Chicago moved from No. 11 to No. 12. Georgetown moved from =26 to No. 21. Penn moved from No. 29 to No. 22. Cornell moved from =31 to =26.
| Law School | QS Law 2025 | QS Law 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvard | 1 | 1 | No change |
| Yale | 4 | 4 | No change |
| Stanford | 5 | 5 | No change |
| NYU | 9 | 7 | Up 2 |
| Columbia | 8 | 8 | No change |
| Berkeley | 7 | 10 | Down 3 |
| Chicago | 11 | 12 | Down 1 |
| Georgetown | =26 | 21 | Up |
| Penn | 29 | 22 | Up |
| Cornell | =31 | =26 | Up |
This historical comparison should not be confused with a prediction about the forthcoming 2027 subject ranking. QS may change positions when its next Law & Legal Studies edition is released. Ranking movement can result from changes in institutional performance, methodology, data, peer perceptions, employer perceptions, or other factors. QS’s 2026 law ranking evaluated more than 400 universities. The table therefore gives you a snapshot of the latest published subject-specific landscape. It does not establish a permanent hierarchy.
US Law School Acceptance Rates: 2024 vs 2025
Acceptance rates provide another useful historical lens. The 2025 ABA data shows that several leading schools became more selective compared with the previous reporting year. Yale fell from 5.25% to 4.06%. Stanford fell from 8.85% to 6.10%. NYU fell from 16.67% to 13.39%. Berkeley fell from 17.30% to 14.84%. Chicago fell from 12.73% to 9.74%. Georgetown fell from 20.13% to 15.75%. Cornell fell from 23.11% to 18.19%. Penn fell from 9.95% to 8.05%. Columbia was nearly unchanged at 11.75% and 11.84%.
| Law School | 2024 Rate | 2025 Rate | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yale | 5.25% | 4.06% | -1.19 pts |
| Stanford | 8.85% | 6.10% | -2.75 pts |
| NYU | 16.67% | 13.39% | -3.28 pts |
| Columbia | 11.75% | 11.84% | +0.09 pts |
| Berkeley | 17.30% | 14.84% | -2.46 pts |
| Chicago | 12.73% | 9.74% | -2.99 pts |
| Georgetown | 20.13% | 15.75% | -4.38 pts |
| Penn | 9.95% | 8.05% | -1.90 pts |
| Cornell | 23.11% | 18.19% | -4.92 pts |
The ABA’s standardized reporting system is valuable because it gives applicants a consistent framework. Each report identifies completed applications, offers, enrollment, LSAT percentiles, GPA percentiles, tuition, grants, and other information. That makes it possible to compare schools without depending entirely on commercial ranking websites. The ABA states that these disclosures are required consumer information. Schools must provide complete and accurate information under Standard 509.
Still, acceptance rate is only one number. A 10% acceptance rate does not mean every applicant has a 10% chance of admission. The applicant pool contains students with different academic records, professional histories, recommendations, essays, and circumstances. The enrolled-class median also does not create an automatic cutoff. The 509 report describes students who enrolled rather than publishing a minimum score that guarantees admission. That distinction can save applicants from chasing a mythical “required” LSAT number.
What LSAT and GPA Do You Need for the Best US Law Schools?
The latest 2025 ABA data shows that the leading schools have exceptionally high academic medians. Yale, Harvard, and Chicago report LSAT medians of 174. Stanford reports 173. Penn reports 173. Cornell reports 173. NYU reports 172. Columbia’s 2025 entering class had a high LSAT profile as well. Berkeley’s median was 170. Georgetown’s median was 171. These figures describe the entering classes and should not be treated as hard admissions thresholds.
| Law School | 2025 Median LSAT | 2025 Median GPA |
|---|---|---|
| Yale | 174 | 3.96 |
| Harvard | 174 | 3.96 |
| Chicago | 174 | 3.97 |
| Stanford | 173 | Reported in 509 profile |
| Penn | 173 | 3.95 |
| Cornell | 173 | 3.92 |
| NYU | 172 | 3.92 |
| Georgetown | 171 | 3.93 |
| Berkeley | 170 | 3.92 |
| Columbia | 173 | 3.92 |
These numbers show why law-school preparation should begin well before the application deadline. LSAC describes the LSAT as an integral part of the US law-school admissions process. It also operates the Credential Assembly Service, which helps applicants organize transcripts, recommendations, and other materials. International applicants have additional transcript requirements when their undergraduate education occurred outside the United States or Canada.
Your undergraduate major does not have to be political science or pre-law. US law schools admit students from many academic backgrounds. History, economics, engineering, business, computer science, philosophy, journalism, biology, and other disciplines can all provide useful preparation. The better question is whether you can demonstrate strong academic performance and the ability to read, reason, write, and analyze complex material. A technical background can even become an advantage for specialized areas such as intellectual property, technology regulation, privacy, or patent law.
International students should also remember that GPA comparisons can be imperfect. LSAC may evaluate international academic records differently from American transcripts. Some law schools also report students whose undergraduate education was completed partly or entirely outside the United States. The ABA notes that such students may not have directly comparable UGPAs in the standard reporting system. This is why you should not mechanically convert a foreign percentage into a US GPA and assume the result is official.
The safest approach is to build your academic strategy around the actual requirements of each school. Check the school’s current admissions page. Review whether it accepts the LSAT, GRE, or another approved test. Understand the transcript process. Prepare recommendations early. Write a personal statement that sounds like you rather than a collection of admissions clichés. Then submit applications through the appropriate LSAC process. The numbers matter greatly, but they form only one part of the application.
Which Law Degree Should International Students Choose?
A major mistake in international law-school research is treating the JD and LLM as interchangeable. They are not. LSAC explains that the JD is the principal US professional law degree and that admission normally requires a bachelor’s degree. Most JD programs last three years full time. The LSAT is a major part of the admissions process and is accepted by ABA-approved law schools.
The LLM is a graduate law degree. LSAC explains that international applicants generally need a first professional law degree such as an LLB or equivalent. The degree can allow lawyers to specialize in areas such as international law, taxation, intellectual property, business law, or other fields. Some US jurisdictions may allow qualifying foreign-trained lawyers to pursue bar eligibility after completing an LLM. However, the rules vary by state.
This difference is particularly important for students from countries where law is an undergraduate degree. Someone who already completed an LLB should not automatically apply for a US JD simply because the JD is the standard American law degree. The correct path depends on the person’s career objective. If the goal is to become fully trained as a US lawyer, the JD may be relevant. If the goal is to specialize after foreign legal education, an LLM may be more appropriate.
Bar eligibility deserves special attention. The ABA states that individual jurisdictions establish the rules for bar admission. Most jurisdictions rely heavily on the educational standards associated with ABA-approved JD programs. Foreign-trained lawyers can face different rules. Some states permit qualifying foreign law graduates to use an LLM pathway while others impose additional requirements. You should therefore choose the state before assuming the degree will lead to a particular licensing outcome.
The distinction also matters for immigration planning. Completing a law degree and becoming eligible to practice law are separate issues. Visa status, employment authorization, state bar rules, and employer requirements all operate within different systems. International students should therefore plan the entire pathway rather than focusing only on university admission. A strong school name can open doors, but professional licensing still follows the rules of the relevant jurisdiction.
Career Outcomes and the US Legal Job Market
Employment data gives another layer of context to law-school research. The ABA reported that 87.7% of 2025 law graduates from Council-accredited law schools were employed in full-time, long-term Bar Admission Required/Anticipated or J.D. Advantage jobs about ten months after graduation. The comparable figure for the Class of 2024 was 87.1%. The ABA also reported that the number of such jobs declined because the graduating class was smaller.
Bar outcomes have also improved nationally. The ABA reported that first-time takers achieved an 84.10% aggregate bar-admission pass rate in 2025, compared with 83.02% in 2024. The two-year ultimate rate for 2023 graduates was 92.15%, compared with 90.52% for 2022 graduates. These figures cover ABA-approved schools nationally. They do not predict the result of any particular student.
For international students, employment can involve additional considerations. A foreign-trained LLM graduate may have a different professional pathway from a US JD graduate. The ABA has noted that foreign-trained lawyers often face additional challenges when preparing for US bar examinations. It reported that in 2023 foreign-educated lawyers with an LLM passed the New York bar at a 41% rate and the California bar at a 23% rate. The comparable rates for US JD graduates were higher in those jurisdictions.
This doesn’t mean an LLM has little value. It means you need a realistic plan. An LLM can be valuable for international transactions, arbitration, tax, compliance, intellectual property, comparative law, and cross-border work. Some graduates return home with an internationally recognized qualification. Others pursue US licensing where the jurisdiction permits it. Your intended career should therefore determine the degree rather than the other way around.
Location can also influence career opportunities. New York offers access to major commercial firms and financial institutions. Washington, D.C. offers extensive government and policy opportunities. California has deep technology and entertainment industries. Chicago has a major corporate and litigation market. Philadelphia provides access to regional firms, courts, healthcare institutions, and business organizations. Your preferred legal field and target market should therefore appear on your shortlist alongside QS ranking.
How to Choose the Best Law School in the US
Start with the subject ranking. QS Law & Legal Studies is useful because it gives you a global picture of law-specific academic reputation, employer reputation, and research influence. Then move to the school’s official admissions information. Check the degree you need. Review the testing policy. Examine the latest ABA 509 report. Finally, investigate employment and bar outcomes. This process takes longer than reading a ranking table, but it produces a far more useful answer.
Next, compare the academic environment. Some students want a small, highly research-focused school. Others want a large course catalog and numerous clinics. Some want New York or Washington. Others prefer California, Chicago, Philadelphia, or a quieter university town. Legal education is demanding enough without ignoring your preferred environment. You will spend several years reading cases, writing papers, attending seminars, preparing for exams, and building professional relationships.
Cost should also sit near the top of your checklist. Law-school tuition can exceed $70,000 per year at many elite private institutions. Public schools may have different resident and nonresident tuition structures. Living costs can vary dramatically by city. New York and Washington can produce very different budgets from smaller college towns. Scholarships can also change the final amount substantially. Use the current ABA 509 report rather than an old tuition article when estimating your budget.
For international students, bar eligibility deserves a separate column in your comparison spreadsheet. Don’t assume that an LLM automatically qualifies you to practice throughout the United States. The ABA explicitly states that bar-admission rules belong to individual jurisdictions. Check the relevant state board before committing to a program. This step can prevent an expensive mistake later.
Finally, think about the kind of lawyer you want to become. A student interested in technology may care about intellectual-property courses and a location near technology companies. Someone interested in public policy may value Washington. A student targeting international commercial work may prioritize New York. Someone planning to return to another country may care heavily about global reputation. QS can help you understand that final factor. Your career plan should determine the rest.
Best Law Schools in the US for International Students
The United States remains one of the world’s major destinations for legal education. The country’s law schools attract students from many legal systems and professional backgrounds. International applicants can pursue JD programs, LLM programs, research degrees, certificates, and other specialized legal programs. LSAC maintains separate resources for international students and directs applicants toward appropriate JD and LLM pathways.
For a student coming from an LLB system, the LLM route may initially appear more natural. It can provide exposure to US legal concepts without requiring another three-year professional degree. However, the decision should depend on the intended career. If you want to become a fully US-trained attorney, the JD route deserves serious consideration. If you want specialization or international legal exposure after your existing law degree, an LLM may be more suitable.
English proficiency can also become part of the process. LSAC notes that many law schools require applicants whose native language is not English to provide TOEFL or IELTS scores. Each school sets its own policy. That means you should not assume one universal English-score requirement applies to all ten universities. Check each school’s current graduate admissions page before booking a test.
International transcripts require careful handling as well. LSAC may require international academic records to be sent directly from the issuing institution. Documents not issued in English may require translations. The exact process depends on the program and school. Starting this process early can prevent delays during the application season.
The most important lesson is simple. Don’t choose a law school because its name sounds impressive. Choose it because the degree, curriculum, location, licensing pathway, cost, and career direction make sense together. Rankings can open the door to research. They shouldn’t close your thinking.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best law school in the US according to QS?
Harvard University ranks No. 1 globally in the latest QS Law & Legal Studies ranking, which is the 2026 edition. QS has not yet published its 2027 Law & Legal Studies ranking as of October 3, 2026. Harvard also ranks No. 5 overall in the QS World University Rankings 2027.
What are the top 10 law schools in the US according to QS?
The top ten US institutions in the QS 2026 Law & Legal Studies table are Harvard, Yale, Stanford, NYU, Columbia, UC Berkeley, the University of Chicago, Georgetown, the University of Pennsylvania, and Cornell. Their global positions are 1, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12, 21, 22, and =26 respectively.
Is there a QS Law ranking for 2027?
Not yet. QS released its overall World University Rankings 2027 in June 2026. The latest available QS subject-specific Law & Legal Studies ranking is 2026. The 2027 subject edition should be added once QS officially publishes it.
What is Harvard Law School’s acceptance rate?
Harvard Law School’s 2025 ABA Standard 509 report recorded an acceptance rate of 9.20%. It received 8,872 completed applications and made 816 offers of admission.
What is Yale Law School’s acceptance rate?
Yale Law School’s 2025 ABA Standard 509 report recorded a 4.06% acceptance rate. The school received 5,562 completed applications and made 226 offers. Its 2024 rate was 5.25%.
What is Stanford Law School’s acceptance rate?
Stanford Law School recorded a 6.10% acceptance rate for the 2025 entering class. The previous year’s rate was 8.85%.
What is NYU Law’s acceptance rate?
NYU Law reported a 13.39% acceptance rate for its 2025 entering class. Its 2024 acceptance rate was 16.67%.
What is Columbia Law School’s acceptance rate?
Columbia Law School reported an 11.84% acceptance rate for the 2025 entering class. Its 2024 rate was 11.75%.
What is Berkeley Law’s acceptance rate?
Berkeley Law reported a 14.84% acceptance rate for the 2025 entering class. The rate was 17.30% in 2024.
What is Chicago Law School’s acceptance rate?
The University of Chicago Law School reported a 9.74% acceptance rate for the 2025 entering class. Its 2024 rate was 12.73%.
What is Georgetown Law’s acceptance rate?
Georgetown Law reported a 15.75% acceptance rate for the 2025 entering class. Its 2024 rate was 20.13%.
What is Penn Carey Law’s acceptance rate?
Penn Carey Law reported an 8.05% acceptance rate for the 2025 entering class. The previous year’s rate was 9.95%.
What is Cornell Law School’s acceptance rate?
Cornell Law School reported an 18.19% acceptance rate for the 2025 entering class. Its 2024 rate was 23.11%.
Do you need an LLB to study law in the US?
Not for a JD. LSAC states that admission to a US JD program requires a bachelor’s degree. An LLB or equivalent first professional law degree is generally relevant to international applicants seeking an LLM.
Can an international student study for a JD in the US?
Yes. LSAC provides specific resources for international students seeking US legal education. International applicants need to meet each school’s academic, testing, transcript, and application requirements.
Can an international LLB graduate study for an LLM in the US?
Yes. LSAC explains that international LLM applicants generally need a first professional law degree such as an LLB or equivalent credential. Individual programs can impose additional requirements.
Does an LLM automatically qualify you to practice law in America?
No. Bar eligibility depends on the jurisdiction. The ABA states that each jurisdiction establishes its own requirements. Some states provide pathways for qualifying foreign-trained lawyers while others have different restrictions.
Which US law schools are highly ranked by QS?
Harvard, Yale, Stanford, NYU, Columbia, Berkeley, Chicago, Georgetown, Penn, and Cornell all appear among the leading US institutions in QS Law & Legal Studies 2026. Harvard is No. 1 globally.
Is QS the only ranking international students should use?
No. QS provides one useful international comparison. Students should also examine ABA disclosures, LSAC information, school-specific curriculum, bar eligibility, employment outcomes, tuition, financial aid, location, and career goals. No single ranking measures every factor that matters to a law student.
Final Takeaway
Harvard leads the best law schools in the US at No. 1 globally, followed by Yale at No. 4 and Stanford at No. 5. NYU ranks No. 7. Columbia ranks No. 8. Berkeley ranks No. 10. Chicago ranks No. 12. Georgetown ranks No. 21. Penn ranks No. 22. Cornell ranks =26. These are the latest verified QS subject positions available as of October 3, 2026.
The QS 2027 overall ranking adds another layer. Stanford ranks =2 overall. Harvard ranks No. 5. Penn ranks No. 15. Cornell and Yale rank =16. Berkeley ranks =20. Chicago ranks No. 24. Columbia ranks =43. NYU ranks No. 58. Those figures demonstrate the difference between institutional rankings and subject rankings. Your search for the “best law school” should therefore focus on the law table rather than borrowing positions from the overall QS ranking.
Admissions have also become more competitive across several of these schools. Yale’s rate fell from 5.25% to 4.06%. Stanford moved from 8.85% to 6.10%. Chicago moved from 12.73% to 9.74%. Penn moved from 9.95% to 8.05%. Cornell moved from 23.11% to 18.19%. Georgetown recorded the largest percentage-point decline among the schools compared here.
For international students, the degree choice may matter even more than the ranking. A US JD normally requires a bachelor’s degree and provides the principal professional legal education route. An LLM is generally designed for lawyers who already hold a first professional law degree. Bar eligibility then depends on state-specific rules. Understanding that difference before applying can save years of unnecessary study and considerable money.
The ranking is only the first chapter. Your final comparison should include academic specialization, LSAT or GRE requirements, GPA profile, acceptance trends, tuition, scholarships, location, clinics, employment outcomes, bar passage, and licensing plans. Use QS to understand global subject reputation. Use ABA disclosures to examine standardized law-school data. Use LSAC to navigate the application process. Then use each law school’s official website for the final word on requirements. That combination gives you a sturdier foundation than any ranking table alone.
Authoritative External Sources
- QS World University Rankings 2027
- QS World University Rankings 2027 Results
- QS Law & Legal Studies 2026
- QS Law & Legal Studies 2025
- ABA Legal Education Statistics
- ABA Required Disclosures and Law School Data
- LSAC International Students Guide
- LSAC JD Degree Programs
- LSAC LLM Degree Programs
- ABA Bar Admission Requirements for Foreign Law Graduates
- Harvard Law School
- Yale Law School
- Stanford Law School
- NYU School of Law
- Columbia Law School
- Berkeley Law
- University of Chicago Law School
- Georgetown Law
- Penn Carey Law
- Cornell Law School