TALLAHASSEE-- The National Jurist’s 2016 issue of preLaw Magazine has named the Florida State University College of Law one of the top 15 Best Value law schools in the country.
Florida State rose to No. 9 in the latest ranking by the National Jurist, marking the school’s eight consecutive year in the Top 15. In determining the institutions to be honored, preLaw magazine looked into the debt and employment success rates of the schools. The criteria also includes tuition fee costs of the schools. The list of Best Value Schools are based on the bar passage success rates and the cost of living in the surrounding communities. In a nutshell, the schools named in the list are offering low student debt while also guaranteeing high employment success rate.
“We are thrilled to be ranked among the nation’s top 10 best law schools in terms of value, especially because employment rate is the highest weighted factor in this ranking,” s Dean Erin O’Connor in a press release following the announcement of Florida State’s standing. “Providing students with a world-class legal education at a relatively low cost is a central mission of FSU Law, and it plays an important role in facilitating students’ career options.”
For the 2016 issue, only 58 schools made it to the magazine’s list compared to 64 institutions recognized in 2014. Some schools from the previous lists that failed to make the 2016 issue, included Michigan Statey, Boston College, Southern Illinois University, UC-Irvine, UC-Davis School of Law, Emory University School of Law, University of Illinois and Notre Dame Law School. However, there were also newcomers in the group including the University of Idaho, University of Nevada Las Vegas, University of Tennessee and West Virginia University. Florida State rose four spots this year.
Meanwhile, the University of Nebraska once again landed the top spot for the second year in a row. The University of Kentucky College of Law, which finished fourth last year, is second. Third and fourth are the University of Florida and Georgia State University, respectively. The University of Arkansas ranked fifth while the University of Alabama slid to sixth. Rounding out the top 10 were University of New Mexico, University of Idaho, FSU and University of Georgia.
The Best Value Methodology of the magazine allocates 15 percent for the percentage of graduates who pass the bar exam, 35 percent for the employment rate, 25 percent for the tuition costs, 10 percent for the cost of living and 15 percent for the average indebtedness upon graduation.
Florida State University achieved 83.7 percent in employment rate while the debt incurred by its students reached $82,102. The living expenses in the community amounted to an estimated $18,200. The tuition costs totaled $20,683.