Georgia State University College of Law is ranked the No. 2 best law school for those looking to minimize and repay their student loan debt, according to Student Loan Hero, an online site that helps borrowers manage student loans for the second year in a row.
The ranking was based on a study, which compared the following factors: the average post-law school starting salary, annual tuition costs, average indebtedness at graduation, the percentage of graduates leaving law school with student debt, and employment rates of recent law school graduates.
“We are extremely proud to be named by Student Loan Hero as the No. 2 school for those looking to minimize and repay their student loan debt for the second year in a row,” said Wendy F. Hensel, dean and professor of law. “This recognition further confirms what we have always known—Georgia State Law is a leader in student-centered legal education.”
The study surveyed 116 law schools across the nation, using data from the U.S. News & World Report college rankings and employment data from the National Association for Law Placement (NALP).
Results showed that a typical law school student has annual tuition costs of $36,096 and an average of $111,752 in student debt. With an annual tuition of $16,858 for in-state students, Georgia State Law graduates have an average law school debt at graduation of $64,384, which is $47,368 less than the average.
Further, Georgia State Law students have an average starting salary of $83,427 — about $9,700 greater than the average of $73,710, according to the survey.
“Our students are not forced to choose between world-class programming and affordable tuition,” Hensel said. “Instead, they graduate as highly trained and competitive legal professionals who are able to choose personally satisfying careers uninfluenced by heavy debt.”
Brigham Young University’s J. Reuben Clark Law School topped the list with $58,133 in average debt and $75,872 as the average starting salary.