Georgia State University College of Law has been ranked the best value law school in the United States.
The University of Georgia School of Law has been ranked second-best. So among the "Top 20 Best Value Law Schools" ranked by The National Jurist's, Georgia law schools dominate?!
What are they feeding those students in the deep South?
How to Spot a Bargain
If we were talking college football, top-ranking would be a natural for Georgia. But what's up with the law schools? What makes them such a bargain?
The Atlanta Business Journal says the rankings are based on a number of factors: tuition; student debt; bar pass rates; employment opportunities. Georgia State "rocked the house across the board" with an average student debt below $65,000, an 88 percent bar pass rate and an employment rate of more than 82 percent.
"This recognition confirms what we have always known -- Georgia State Law is a leader in student-centered legal education," said Wendy F. Hensel, interim dean and professor of law.
We're No. 2!
The University of Georgia is right behind its in-state rival with comparable stats. However, it edges Georgia State in cost-of-living.
And that factor sets the southern law schools -- along with other top 20 --apart from the rest this year. With the University of Florida coming in third best value, the top three offer a lower cost-of-living than most.
When it comes to law school values, cost-of-living is always a factor. The most expensive schools often are located in the most expensive states, such as California and New York.
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