What percentage of law students have debt?
Asked by: Pablo Bogisich | Last update: August 10, 2025Score: 4.1/5 (63 votes)
The average law school graduate owes $130,000 in student loan debt. 71% of law school students graduate in debt. $119,292 is the average amount students borrow just to attend law school.
How much debt do law students have?
Law school can be a path to a lucrative career—but it can also lead to significant debts. The average law school graduate debt is $160,000, while the starting annual salary is much less.
What is the debt to income ratio for law school?
The ratios cluster around the median school (1.63 ratio), with 86.3% of law schools within the range of 0.63 to 2.63 and a long tail that extends all the way to 5.02.
How long does it take to pay off law school debt?
The Education Data Initiative compared average debt to average salaries and found private-sector employees can pay off their loans in 9.9 years if they put 25 percent of their income toward their debts. For those in the public sector, it would take 19.1 years — almost double the time it takes private-sector employees.
What percentage of law students fail out?
How race and ethnicity play a role in law school attrition. The 2023 law school attrition rate was 3.8 percent, varying across demographics and institutions. This article delves into the types of attrition, the schools with the highest rates, and the impact of these rates on student choices and institutional policies.
Should I Take Out a Student Loan for Law School?
Is law school worth it financially?
Earn More Money Over Your Lifetime
Starting salaries may dissuade you from investing in law school. Nevertheless, research shows that "law degree holders' earnings grow rapidly and peak late in life," suggesting better financial outcomes than forgoing a JD degree.
Is being a lawyer worth it financially?
Lawyers have the opportunity to earn a lucrative income. The average annual income for an attorney in the United States is $127,990 per year as of 2021 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor.
Is it possible to go to law school without debt?
Tips To Go To Law School For Free. Getting a full scholarship to law school is possible with careful planning and a strategic approach. To improve your odds of law school acceptance, focus on strong academics, compelling application materials, and leveraging opportunities like merit-based scholarships or fellowships.
How do you survive financially in law school?
Financial aid is available. The primary funding options are Scholarships and grants—the “free” money this is either funded by your law school or funded by private organizations, civic groups, etc.; Loans which can be federal loans or private/alternative/institutional loans.
How much do Harvard Law graduates make after 10 years?
At mid-career, Harvard law graduates earn $234,000, on average. Stanford and University of Virginia follow closely, with recent grads earning $133,000 and $130,000, respectively. About 10 years into their careers, those grads earn upwards of $220,000.
Which law schools pay the most?
- Northwestern University. ...
- University of Pennsylvania. ...
- University of Virginia. ...
- Cornell University. ...
- Harvard University. ...
- University of Chicago. ...
- Georgetown University. Median Alumni Salary: $165,914. ...
- University of California - Berkeley. Median Alumni Salary: $160,390.
Who has the highest student debt?
A large cadre of research now shows that student debt disproportionately burdens Black borrowers. Not only are Black students more likely to borrow, and to need to borrow more, but they struggle much more with paying back their loans.
What lawyer makes the most?
Patent Attorney Salary
Patent attorneys are the highest-paid type of lawyers, with an average salary of $185,351, ranging from $119,88 to $285,530. Various factors contribute to a patent attorney's average salary, including experience, firm, location, and subject matter expertise.
What is the average debt for law students?
The average law school graduate owes $130,000 in student loan debt. 71% of law school students graduate in debt. $119,292 is the average amount students borrow just to attend law school. $92,267 is the average amount borrowed to attend one of the top 10 law schools in terms of salary-to-debt ratio.
Is $40,000 in student loans a lot?
Right now, the average student loan debt in the U.S. is nearly $40,000 but many students borrow much more. Depending on your field of study and career prospects, borrowing upwards of $100,000 to fund your higher education could either be a smart investment or a big mistake.
What LSAT score do I need for a full scholarship?
What LSAT Score Do I Need for a Full Scholarship? It depends on what type of scholarship you're hoping to be granted. Needs-based scholarships don't require a high LSAT score. However, to be considered for a merit-based scholarship, it's wise to have a score close to 170.
Do law firms care where you went to law school?
Your Previous (On-the-Job) Training
Certain firms have the reputation for training people very well—and everyone knows that they have high expectations for the people there. If you get a good job right out of school or thereafter (with a major law firm), firms no longer really care about where you went to law school.
Does the FBI pay for law school?
The FBI has a program called UEP, University Education Program, where the FBI will help pay for your grad school but they will not pay for law school.
How rich is the average lawyer?
In general, the five highest-paying states for lawyers are as follows: California ($201,530) Massachusetts ($196,230) New York ($188,900)
What is the failure rate for law school?
The decision to attend law school shouldn't just be financially driven. You'll also want to consider the high dropout rates of law school, particularly among minorities. Overall, dropout rates are over 6% for first-year students. For American Indian, Hawaiian native, and Black students, the dropout rate is 11% to 13%.
Is law an oversaturated field?
Law School Myth 5:
The job market for lawyers is oversaturated. While it is true that there are more law school graduates than there are jobs available in some markets, the job market for lawyers is actually quite strong overall.