The cost of a law degree is steadily rising and in the midst of this is an uncertain job market. (Read more about the brutal job market law graduates are facing, HERE). Many graduates are entering the field with the burden of heavy debt and very little options for repaying them.
Among the 10 law schools that lead to the most debt per graduating student, the average debt burden was $145,095 in 2011.
However, there are students that are looking more into the financial status of law school, rather than focusing solely on the name. As a result, some students are graduating with less than $50,000 in debt, compared to over $100,000.
Based on school-reported data to U.S. News, the following are ten law schools (2011) that lead to the LEAST debt:
10. Brigham Young University (Clark) (UT)
Annual Tuition and fees*: $10,600
Average indebtedness: $54,766
9. University of Buffalo (SUNY)
Annual Tuition and fees*: $20,718
Average indebtedness: $52,447
8. University of Nebraska--Lincoln
Annual Tuition and fees*: $13,887
Average indebtedness: $52,396
7. University of Kansas
Annual Tuition and fees*: $16,460
Average indebtedness: $41,574
6. Barry University (FL)
Annual Tuition and fees*: $33,630
Average indebtedness: $41,190
5. Drexel University (Mack) (PA)
Annual Tuition and fees*: $36,051
Average indebtedness: $33,562
4. Texas Southern University (Marshall)
Annual Tuition and fees*: $16,262
Average indebtedness: $32,449
3. Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey--Camden
Annual Tuition and fees*: $25,464
Average indebtedness: $27,423
2. Southern University Law Center (LA)
Annual Tuition and fees*: $10,124
Average indebtedness: $22,138
1. Georgia State University
Annual Tuition and fees*: $14,770
Average indebtedness: $19,971
*Annual tuition and fees are for full-time, in-state programs.
Check out the top ten Business Schools that lead to the MOST debt HERE.
