Northern Illinois University College of Law has again been named as one of the top law schools in the nation based on value by preLaw Magazine. As part of its 2020 Best Value Law Schools study, preLaw assessed schools based on bar passage, employment, tuition, cost of living, and indebtedness upon graduation as the most important factors. The publication highlighted that “many of the nation’s law schools continue to put an emphasis on providing a quality education without hammering students financially.”
“NIU College of Law remains committed to its mission of offering a high-quality education at affordable costs,” said NIU Law Dean Cassandra L. Hill. Tuition and fees for the law school are the same for both Illinois and out-of-state U.S. residents. “More importantly, our students graduate with a debt load substantially below national and state averages,” she added.
NIU College of Law is particularly proud to be routinely named a top law school nationally for diversity, value, and careers in public interest and government service. Most recently, the College of Law ranked No. 2 in the country for outperforming all expectations when it comes to placing graduates in legal jobs, and previously ranked No. 5 for graduates going into government or public interest jobs. The law school also was named one of the Top 30 law schools in the nation for African American students by preLaw magazine.
“Our diversity enriches the classroom learning experience and strengthens our curriculum,” said Dean Hill. Students are prepared for practice in a richly diverse region and nation through in-depth core classes and extensive hands-on training in legal clinics, externship placements, and specialized upper-level courses.
NIU Law graduates enter a range of legal and public service careers, and include over 120 alumni who are active or retired judges. In addition to practicing law, many graduates also choose careers as leaders in government and business where the JD degree is a recognized advantage.
