Pepperdine Caruso School of Law Ranked 47 in U.S. News and World Report 2021 Best Law School Rankings
The Pepperdine University Rick J. Caruso School of Law has been ranked by U.S. News and World Report (USNWR) as number 47 in the country in its 2021 Best Law School rankings. The newly released rankings mark a continued rise for the Pepperdine Caruso School of Law, which advances into the top 50 from #51 last year, and up 25 places in just three years. This is the highest ranking in the 50-year history of Pepperdine Caruso School of Law.
The U.S. News rankings of 194 law schools fully accredited by the American Bar Association are based on a weighted average of 12 measures including student selectivity and job placement; quality assessments by academic peers, lawyers, and judges; and resources devoted to the school's academic program.
"This has been a fantastic year for our school," said Paul Caron, Duane and Kelly Roberts Dean of the Pepperdine Caruso School of Law. "First, one of our faculty members became president of Pepperdine University. In the fall, we received a historic $50 million naming gift that will equip us to attract more talented students who otherwise would not be able to afford a life-changing Pepperdine legal education, and to reduce our students' financial burden through expansion of our scholarship and loan forgiveness programs. We are wrapping up our 50th Anniversary celebration year with enormous pride in the daily work of our students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends that has enabled Pepperdine Caruso School of Law to affirm its place among the nation's leading law schools."
Pepperdine Caruso Law was also recognized for excellence in several peer-ranked specialty programs, receiving rankings in the top 50 for dispute resolution (#3), tax law (#37), clinical training (#39), constitutional law (#44), international law (#46), and trial advocacy (#50).
U.S. News and World Report ranked 194 law schools in the United States, based on data collected in fall 2019 and early 2020. Selectivity criteria include median undergraduate GPA, acceptance rate, bar passage rate, and job placement of graduates. Faculty resources include expenditures per student, student-faculty ratio, and library resources. Peer and legal professional assessment scores are based on data collected from voters who are asked to rate law programs on a scale of 1 to 5.