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508 Best Law Universities in the United States

University of Chicago tops our list of 508 Law universities in the United States at #13 in the QS World University Rankings 2026. It is followed by Rice University (QS World #119) and University of Southern California (QS World #146). Across the whole list there are 777 courses to choose from.

508 universities · ranked best first

how we rank

By university type

How these universities are ranked

24 of these universities hold a QS World position, from #13 (University of Chicago) to #545 (CUNY School of Law); they are listed first, in that order. Below them, universities follow their research output: University of Minnesota - Crookston is cited most (37,546,689 citations). 17 universities have neither a QS position nor a research record yet and appear at the end, marked "Not yet ranked".

Public, private and where they are

505 are public and 3 private (99% public). By location, New York (5), Florida (2) and Texas (2) account for the most of those we can place. Ohio State University-Main Campus is the largest, with 45,638 students.

What the courses look like

By level: 409 bachelor's, 72 diploma, 62 master's and 45 professional. Within the subject, the largest areas are Law (754), Law (JD) (12), Criminal Law (8) and Human Rights Law (3). The usual length is 4 years and 2 years. 91% are full-time and 58 can be studied online. Start dates lean to Fall (100% of courses with a stated intake) and Spring (95% of courses with a stated intake). Pepperdine University offers the widest choice, with 15 of these courses.

What it costs

We hold indicative fees for 16 of these universities. The University of Arizona Global Campus is the least expensive at USD 11,960 a year and Quinnipiac University the most at USD 55,480; the middle of the range is about USD 19,203. Check each university's own fee page before you budget — figures change every year.

Frequently asked questions

Which is the best university in the United States for Law?

University of Chicago (QS World #13), Rice University (QS World #119) and University of Southern California (QS World #146) lead this list. QS World positions come first; the rest are ranked by research impact.

Which is the cheapest university for Law in the United States?

Of those with published fees, The University of Arizona Global Campus is the least expensive at about USD 11,960 a year. Fees are indicative — confirm on the university's site.

How many public universities offer Law in the United States?

505 public and 3 private universities are on this list.

How long does a Law course take in the United States?

Most listed courses run 4 years, with 2 years the next most common.

When do Law courses start in the United States?

Fall is the main intake — 100% of courses with a stated start date begin then, and Spring is the second.

Can I study Law online with a university in the United States?

58 of these courses are listed as online.

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