Total Federal Investment in U.S. Law Schools

Law students borrow from the U.S. Department of Education Direct Loan Program for school. These loans are income-generating assets for the government. The government is investing in not only law students, who will repay loans (in theory) with interest, but also law schools.

Some (or many) law schools would close without federal investment because schools depend on tuition revenue to stay open and students depend on federal student loans to pay tuition and cover living expenses. Federal student loan policy dictates that the government will lend the full cost of attendance to anyone who attends an ABA-approved law school. If the government changes this lending policy, for example by limiting or eliminating Graduate Plus loans, private lenders may fill some of the lending market, though presumably not all of it.

The size of the federal investment has declined substantially in recent years—by more than $1.1 billion between 2013 and 2016 and an additional $350 million in 2017 alone. This was a function of falling demand for law school, rather than a change in federal student loan policy. The amount in nominal dollars has leveled out since then, but has declined in real dollars

Total Federal Investment for 2022 Graduates

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Excluded schools (included in adjusted figures): Appalachian School of Law (Private, 40 grads), Barry University (Private, 175 grads), Cleveland-Marshall College of Law (Public, 132 grads), Inter American University (Private, 189 grads), John Marshall Law School - Atlanta (For-Profit, 56 grads), North Carolina Central University (Public, 130 grads), Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico (Private, 103 grads), Southern Illinois University (Public, 78 grads), Southern University Law Center (Public, 199 grads), Texas Southern University (Public, 164 grads), Touro College (Private, 158 grads), University of Puerto Rico (Public, 148 grads)

Total Federal Investment for 2021 Graduates

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Excluded schools (included in adjusted figures): Albany Law School (Private, 164 grads), Appalachian School of Law (Private, 55 grads), Ave Maria School of Law (Private, 68 grads), Barry University (Private, 183 grads), Cleveland-Marshall College of Law (Public, 128 grads), Inter American University (Private, 172 grads), John Marshall Law School - Atlanta (For-Profit, 78 grads), North Carolina Central University (Public, 88 grads), Oklahoma City University (Private, 130 grads), Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico (Private, 84 grads), Quinnipiac University (Private, 101 grads), Seattle University (Private, 198 grads), Southern Illinois University (Public, 63 grads), Southern University Law Center (Public, 193 grads), Stetson University (Private, 262 grads), Texas Southern University (Public, 171 grads), Touro College (Private, 133 grads), University of North Texas Dallas College of Law (Public, 109 grads), University of Oregon (Public, 128 grads), University of Puerto Rico (Public, 146 grads), University of St. Thomas - Minneapolis (Private, 142 grads), Western State College of Law at Westcliff University (For-Profit, 85 grads)

Total Federal Investment for 2020 Graduates

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Excluded schools (included in adjusted figures): Appalachian School of Law (Private, 52 grads), Barry University (Private, 183 grads), Inter American University (Private, 183 grads), John Marshall Law School - Atlanta (For-Profit, 119 grads), New England School of Law (Private, 153 grads), North Carolina Central University (Public, 118 grads), Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico (Private, 134 grads), Southern University Law Center (Public, 150 grads), Texas Southern University (Public, 209 grads), Thomas M. Cooley Law School (Private, 317 grads), Touro College (Private, 134 grads), University of North Texas Dallas College of Law (Public, 88 grads), University of Puerto Rico (Public, 177 grads), Widener University - Delaware (Private, 154 grads)

Total Federal Investment for 2019 Graduates

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Excluded schools (included in adjusted figures): Appalachian School of Law (Private, 31 grads), Arizona State University (Public, 282 grads), Barry University (Private, 184 grads), Chapman University (Private, 171 grads), Georgia State University (Public, 201 grads), Inter American University (Private, 182 grads), John Marshall Law School - Atlanta (For-Profit, 143 grads), Mercer University (Private, 129 grads), Michigan State University (Public, 232 grads), New England School of Law (Private, 146 grads), Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico (Private, 142 grads), Southern University Law Center (Public, 155 grads), St. Thomas University - Florida (Private, 176 grads), Syracuse University (Private, 183 grads), Texas Southern University (Public, 173 grads), Thomas M. Cooley Law School (Private, 283 grads), Touro College (Private, 113 grads), University of New Mexico (Public, 114 grads), University of North Texas Dallas College of Law (Public, 113 grads), University of Oregon (Public, 96 grads), University of Puerto Rico (Public, 168 grads), University of The District of Columbia (Public, 65 grads), University of Washington (Public, 157 grads), Western New England University School of Law (Private, 54 grads)

Total Federal Investment for 2018 Graduates

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Excluded schools (included in adjusted figures): Appalachian School of Law (Private, 29 grads), Arizona Summit Law School (For-Profit, 118 grads), Barry University (Private, 190 grads), Inter American University (Private, 207 grads), John Marshall Law School - Atlanta (For-Profit, 125 grads), New England School of Law (Private, 183 grads), Northern Kentucky University (Public, 135 grads), Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico (Private, 137 grads), Texas Southern University (Public, 181 grads), Thomas M. Cooley Law School (Private, 377 grads), Touro College (Private, 141 grads), University of La Verne (Private, 58 grads), University of North Texas Dallas College of Law (Public, 145 grads), University of Puerto Rico (Public, 188 grads), University of The District of Columbia (Public, 67 grads)

Total Federal Investment for 2017 Graduates

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Excluded schools (included in adjusted figures): Appalachian School of Law (Private, 42 grads), Arizona Summit Law School (For-Profit, 151 grads), Ave Maria School of Law (Private, 81 grads), Baylor University (Private, 130 grads), Florida Coastal School of Law (For-Profit, 238 grads), Howard University (Private, 103 grads), Inter American University (Private, 228 grads), John Marshall Law School - Atlanta (For-Profit, 135 grads), New England School of Law (Private, 212 grads), Northern Kentucky University (Public, 93 grads), Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico (Private, 137 grads), Rutgers University (Public, 380 grads), Southwestern Law School (Private, 285 grads), St. Thomas University - Florida (Private, 181 grads), Texas Southern University (Public, 128 grads), Thomas M. Cooley Law School (Private, 352 grads), Touro College (Private, 153 grads), University of La Verne (Private, 38 grads), University of North Texas Dallas College of Law (Public, 33 grads), University of Puerto Rico (Public, 166 grads), University of The District of Columbia (Public, 71 grads), Whittier Law School (Private, 149 grads)

Total Federal Investment for 2016 Graduates

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Excluded schools (included in adjusted figures): Appalachian School of Law (Private, 42 grads), Arizona Summit Law School (For-Profit, 221 grads), Charlotte School of Law (For-Profit, 340 grads), Concordia University School of Law (Private, 38 grads), Faulkner University (Private, 74 grads), Florida A&M University (Public, 120 grads), Gonzaga University (Private, 112 grads), Howard University (Private, 136 grads), John Marshall Law School - Atlanta (For-Profit, 179 grads), Lincoln Memorial University (Private, 17 grads), Loyola University New Orleans (Private, 216 grads), Mitchell Hamline School of Law (Private, 297 grads), Northern Kentucky University (Public, 120 grads), Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico (Private, 153 grads), Rutgers University (Public, 334 grads), Southwestern Law School (Private, 321 grads), St. Thomas University - Florida (Private, 202 grads), Texas Southern University (Public, 151 grads), Thomas M. Cooley Law School (Private, 462 grads), Touro College (Private, 139 grads), University of La Verne (Private, 51 grads), University of Puerto Rico (Public, 191 grads)

Total Federal Investment for 2015 Graduates

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Excluded schools (included in adjusted figures): Appalachian School of Law (Private, 60 grads), Arizona Summit Law School (For-Profit, 334 grads), Charlotte School of Law (For-Profit, 456 grads), Concordia University School of Law (Private, 12 grads), Faulkner University (Private, 95 grads), Florida A&M University (Public, 147 grads), Howard University (Private, 116 grads), Inter American University (Private, 198 grads), John Marshall Law School - Atlanta (For-Profit, 116 grads), Mitchell Hamline School of Law (Private, 340 grads), New England School of Law (Private, 334 grads), Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico (Private, 199 grads), Southwestern Law School (Private, 311 grads), St. Thomas University - Florida (Private, 165 grads), Texas Southern University (Public, 147 grads), Thomas M. Cooley Law School (Private, 688 grads), Touro College (Private, 187 grads), University of La Verne (Private, 39 grads), University of Puerto Rico (Public, 164 grads), Western New England University School of Law (Private, 90 grads)

Total Federal Investment for 2014 Graduates

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Excluded schools (included in adjusted figures): Appalachian School of Law (Private, 95 grads), Arizona Summit Law School (For-Profit, 326 grads), Belmont University (Private, 119 grads), Faulkner University (Private, 83 grads), Florida A&M University (Public, 174 grads), Inter American University (Private, 216 grads), John Marshall Law School - Atlanta (For-Profit, 190 grads), Lincoln Memorial University (Private, 45 grads), New England School of Law (Private, 299 grads), Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico (Private, 220 grads), Rutgers State University - Camden (Public, 296 grads), Southern Illinois University (Public, 105 grads), Southwestern Law School (Private, 313 grads), Texas Southern University (Public, 140 grads), Thomas M. Cooley Law School (Private, 871 grads), University of La Verne (Private, 44 grads), University of Missouri - Kansas City (Public, 143 grads), University of Puerto Rico (Public, 201 grads)

Total Federal Investment for 2013 Graduates

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Excluded schools (included in adjusted figures): Appalachian School of Law (Private, 88 grads), Arizona Summit Law School (For-Profit, 279 grads), Campbell University (Private, 135 grads), Cornell University (Private, 193 grads), Florida A&M University (Public, 221 grads), Inter American University (Private, 223 grads), John Marshall Law School - Atlanta (For-Profit, 234 grads), Loyola University New Orleans (Private, 256 grads), Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico (Private, 240 grads), Rutgers State University - Camden (Public, 276 grads), Santa Clara University (Private, 322 grads), Southwestern Law School (Private, 300 grads), Texas Southern University (Public, 159 grads), Thomas M. Cooley Law School (Private, 1143 grads), Touro College (Private, 230 grads), University of La Verne (Private, 86 grads), University of Puerto Rico (Public, 197 grads), University of The District of Columbia (Public, 80 grads), Widener University - Delaware (Private, 279 grads), Widener University - Pennsylvania (Private, 121 grads)

Total Federal Investment for 2012 Graduates

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Excluded schools (included in adjusted figures): Barry University (Private, 200 grads), Florida A&M University (Public, 160 grads), Indiana University - Indianapolis (Public, 295 grads), Inter American University (Private, 234 grads), Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico (Private, 217 grads), University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (Public, 44 grads), University of Puerto Rico (Public, 202 grads), University of The District of Columbia (Public, 93 grads), Widener University - Delaware (Private, 269 grads), Widener University - Pennsylvania (Private, 122 grads)

Total Federal Investment for 2011 Graduates

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Excluded schools (included in adjusted figures): Appalachian School of Law (Private, 91 grads), Indiana University - Indianapolis (Public, 252 grads), Inter American University (Private, 248 grads), Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico (Private, 196 grads), University of La Verne (Private, 116 grads), University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (Public, 51 grads), University of Puerto Rico (Public, 244 grads), University of The District of Columbia (Public, 78 grads), Widener University - Delaware (Private, 252 grads), Widener University - Pennsylvania (Private, 124 grads)

Total Federal Investment for 2010 Graduates

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Excluded schools (included in adjusted figures): Appalachian School of Law (Private, 108 grads), Arizona Summit Law School (For-Profit, 69 grads), Florida International University (Public, 151 grads), Harvard University (Private, 589 grads), Indiana University - Indianapolis (Public, 299 grads), Inter American University (Private, 1 grads), Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico (Private, 1 grads), University of Puerto Rico (Public, 179 grads)