Every year, US News and World Report releases their lists of college and university rankings in every field imaginable. One of the most important lists they reveal is the one that ranks law schools. The rankings are so comprehensive that they are broken down into different kinds of law, including international law. Let’s take a look at the US News and World Report ranking for the best international law schools in the United States.
At the top of the list is NYU, New York University, one of the most exclusive law schools in the world. What makes NYU so good is the tiny size of their law school. Enrollment is limited to under 1500 total students so you know that you’ll be getting incredible one on one mentoring from the legendary staff on hand there, and although it isn’t cheap (about $40 grand a year) it is considerably less than many other law schools with a similar reputation.
Next up is Columbia University, another school known around the world for having a legendary law program. Full time enrollment at Columbia’s law school is even smaller than NYU (1200) and the cost is similar as well ($43000 per year). Since Columbia is located right in the heart of New York City, just like NYU, you will often find that people who apply to one will apply to the other since there is very little drop off in prestige at either school.
Coming in third is Harvard Law. Located in beautiful Cambridge, Mass, Harvard offers a law school experience second to none and is even a slight bit cheaper per year ($39,000) than Columbia or NYU. The enrollment at Harvard Law is a bit higher than both Columbia or NYU (1700) but there really isn’t any law degree that will open more doors and impress more people than a degree from Harvard.
The first dark horse of the list comes in at number four. Georgetown University is known by more people as a basketball powerhouse than anything else, but the Washington D.C. based university also has one of the most respected international law programs in the world. With a competitive enrollment of only 1600 people and a full time tuition rate of just under $40,000, Georgetown is serious player in the world of high end law schools. Besides, what better place to examine international law than in Washington D.C.?
Coming in fifth is tie between Yale University in Connecticut and American University in Washington D.C. American offers a tantalizing combination of affordable tuition ($37,000) and low enrollment (1200) that helps it win over suitors who may wish for a better learning environment than other schools on the list, while Yale strictly appeals to those with money to burn thanks to a tuition over $43,000, but it can’t be beat when it comes to one on one interaction with your professor. The enrollment of Yale Law was only 586 in 2007.
As you can see, there are many fine international law school choices in the United States, but you had better bring your savings if you plan on attending.
