Kaplan Survey: Law School Admissions Officers Increasingly Say the Rankings Have Lost Prestige
A recent Kaplan survey reveals growing skepticism towards U.S. News & World Report law school rankings, with 62% of law school admissions officers believing the rankings have lost prestige, up from 51% in 2023. Despite admissions officers' concerns about bias and limitations, only 26% of pre-law students support eliminating the rankings system completely.
The survey comes amid a significant surge in law school applications, with numbers up 20% compared to the 2023-2024 cycle and 25% compared to 2022-2023. The increase is attributed to concerns about a potential recession and growing interest in politics and public policy.
The study included responses from admissions officers at 93 of 197 ABA-accredited law schools, including 34 of the top 50 ranked institutions. While acknowledging the rankings' utility for comparing statistics like post-graduation employment and salaries, Kaplan advises applicants to prioritize schools that align with their personal and professional goals.
Un recente sondaggio di Kaplan rivela un crescente scetticismo nei confronti delle classifiche delle scuole di giurisprudenza di U.S. News & World Report, con il 62% degli ufficiali delle ammissioni delle scuole di giurisprudenza che ritiene che le classifiche abbiano perso prestigio, rispetto al 51% nel 2023. Nonostante le preoccupazioni degli ufficiali delle ammissioni riguardo ai pregiudizi e alle limitazioni, solo il 26% degli studenti pre-giurisprudenza sostiene di eliminare completamente il sistema di classifiche.
Il sondaggio arriva in un contesto di significativa crescita delle domande di ammissione alle scuole di giurisprudenza, con un aumento del 20% rispetto al ciclo 2023-2024 e 25% rispetto al 2022-2023. L'incremento è attribuito a preoccupazioni riguardo a una potenziale recessione e a un crescente interesse per la politica e le politiche pubbliche.
Lo studio ha incluso le risposte degli ufficiali delle ammissioni di 93 delle 197 scuole di giurisprudenza accreditate dall'ABA, comprese 34 delle prime 50 istituzioni classificate. Pur riconoscendo l'utilità delle classifiche per confrontare statistiche come l'occupazione post-laurea e gli stipendi, Kaplan consiglia ai candidati di dare priorità alle scuole che si allineano con i propri obiettivi personali e professionali.
Una reciente encuesta de Kaplan revela un creciente escepticismo hacia las clasificaciones de las escuelas de derecho de U.S. News & World Report, con el 62% de los oficiales de admisiones de las escuelas de derecho creyendo que las clasificaciones han perdido prestigio, frente al 51% en 2023. A pesar de las preocupaciones de los oficiales de admisiones sobre sesgos y limitaciones, solo el 26% de los estudiantes pre-jurídicos apoya eliminar completamente el sistema de clasificaciones.
La encuesta llega en medio de un aumento significativo en las solicitudes de las escuelas de derecho, con un incremento del 20% en comparación con el ciclo 2023-2024 y 25% en comparación con 2022-2023. Este aumento se atribuye a preocupaciones sobre una posible recesión y un creciente interés en la política y las políticas públicas.
El estudio incluyó respuestas de oficiales de admisiones de 93 de las 197 escuelas de derecho acreditadas por la ABA, incluidas 34 de las 50 instituciones mejor clasificadas. Si bien reconocen la utilidad de las clasificaciones para comparar estadísticas como el empleo y los salarios después de la graduación, Kaplan aconseja a los solicitantes que prioricen las escuelas que se alineen con sus objetivos personales y profesionales.
최근 캡란 조사에 따르면, U.S. News & World Report의 로스쿨 순위에 대한 회의감이 커지고 있으며, 로스쿨 입학 담당자의 62%가 순위의 위신이 떨어졌다고 믿고 있습니다. 이는 2023년의 51%에서 증가한 수치입니다. 입학 담당자들이 편견과 한계에 대한 우려를 가지고 있음에도 불구하고, 법대 진학 예정자의 26%만이 순위 시스템을 완전히 없애는 것을 지지합니다.
이 조사는 로스쿨 지원이 급증하는 가운데 이루어졌으며, 2023-2024 사이클에 비해 20% 증가했으며, 2022-2023과 비교하면 25% 증가했습니다. 이러한 증가는 잠재적인 경기 침체에 대한 우려와 정치 및 공공 정책에 대한 관심 증가에 기인합니다.
이 연구는 197개의 ABA 인증 로스쿨 중 93개의 입학 담당자의 응답을 포함하였으며, 상위 50개 기관 중 34개가 포함되었습니다. 순위가 졸업 후 취업 및 급여와 같은 통계를 비교하는 데 유용하다는 점을 인정하면서도, 캡란은 지원자들이 개인적 및 직업적 목표에 부합하는 학교를 우선적으로 고려할 것을 권장합니다.
Une récente enquête de Kaplan révèle un scepticisme croissant à l'égard des classements des écoles de droit de U.S. News & World Report, avec 62% des responsables des admissions des écoles de droit croyant que les classements ont perdu de leur prestige, contre 51% en 2023. Malgré les préoccupations des responsables des admissions concernant les biais et les limitations, seulement 26% des étudiants pré-juridiques soutiennent l'élimination complète du système de classement.
L'enquête intervient dans un contexte de forte augmentation des demandes d'admission aux écoles de droit, avec une hausse de 20% par rapport au cycle 2023-2024 et 25% par rapport à 2022-2023. Cette augmentation est attribuée à des préoccupations concernant une éventuelle récession et à un intérêt croissant pour la politique et les politiques publiques.
L'étude a inclus les réponses des responsables des admissions de 93 des 197 écoles de droit accréditées par l'ABA, y compris 34 des 50 institutions les mieux classées. Bien qu'il reconnaisse l'utilité des classements pour comparer des statistiques telles que l'emploi et les salaires après l'obtention du diplôme, Kaplan conseille aux candidats de privilégier les écoles qui correspondent à leurs objectifs personnels et professionnels.
Eine aktuelle Kaplan-Umfrage zeigt wachsenden Skeptizismus gegenüber den Rankings der Jurastudiengänge von U.S. News & World Report, wobei 62% der Zulassungsbeauftragten von Jurafakultäten glauben, dass die Rankings an Prestige verloren haben, im Vergleich zu 51% im Jahr 2023. Trotz der Bedenken der Zulassungsbeauftragten hinsichtlich Vorurteilen und Einschränkungen unterstützen nur 26% der Pre-Law-Studierenden die vollständige Abschaffung des Rankingsystems.
Die Umfrage erfolgt vor dem Hintergrund eines signifikanten Anstiegs der Bewerbungen für Jurastudiengänge, mit einem Anstieg von 20% im Vergleich zum Zyklus 2023-2024 und 25% im Vergleich zu 2022-2023. Der Anstieg wird auf Bedenken hinsichtlich einer möglichen Rezession und ein wachsendes Interesse an Politik und öffentlicher Ordnung zurückgeführt.
Die Studie umfasste Antworten von Zulassungsbeauftragten von 93 der 197 von der ABA akkreditierten Jurafakultäten, darunter 34 der 50 am besten bewerteten Institutionen. Während die Nützlichkeit der Rankings zum Vergleich von Statistiken wie Beschäftigung und Gehältern nach dem Abschluss anerkannt wird, rät Kaplan den Bewerbern, Schulen zu priorisieren, die mit ihren persönlichen und beruflichen Zielen übereinstimmen.
- None.
- None.
- “We play the game, but the reality of it is they are biased and don't take into consideration the ‘fit’ of a law school for students.”
- “It certainly should not be the only thing candidates look at and hopefully it will lose some of its magnetic pull.”
- “Law school rankings as a whole are pernicious, but I do value the information they provide. I just wish applicants understood exactly what the rankings assess.”
But in sharp contrast to law school admissions officers who think the rankings have lost standing in the court of credibility, only 26 percent of pre-law students said it would be a “positive development for both law schools and applicants to no longer have law school rankings at all.”** Prospective law school students who are pro-rankings said they are helpful in determining which schools to apply to. Those who object to the rankings say that they add too much pressure to an already competitive admissions process and cause feelings of "inadequacy," which could discourage pre-law students from applying at all.
Kaplan’s survey results come amid a law school applicant surge. According to the Law School Admission Council, the number of applicants this admissions cycle is up 20 percent compared to the 2023-2024 cycle and up 25 percent compared to the 2022-2023 cycle. And while explanations vary on the why, some attribute the steep increase to a potential recession on the horizon and an increased interest in politics and public policy.
Amit Schlesinger, executive director of legal and government programs, Kaplan, said:
“The pressure surrounding law school rankings can be intense for both law school leaders and applicants, alike. Law school leaders face high expectations to rank highly, as the rankings impact student recruitment and alumni donations—and, in some situations, their own job security. While some admissions officers acknowledge the rankings' flaws and a few schools have even withdrawn in protest, the majority still participate, highlighting the rankings' enduring power. The rankings can be a useful aggregate for important stats like post-graduation job numbers and starting salaries, but the risk is giving a school’s ranking too much weight in determining where to ultimately enroll. Our top piece of advice for applicants: Identify the law schools that best align with your personal and professional goals.”
Reporters who’d like more information can contact russell.schaffer@kaplan.com.
*Admissions officers from 93 of the nation’s 197 American Bar Association-accredited law schools were polled by email between July and September 2024. Among the 93 law schools that participated are 34 of the top 50, as ranked by
**Based on the results of a Kaplan survey of 306 of its LSAT® students and prospective students in February 2025.
LSAT® is a registered trademark of the Law School Admission Council, Inc, which does not review or endorse specific test preparation materials or services.
About Kaplan
Kaplan, Inc. is a global educational services company that helps individuals and institutions advance their goals in an ever-changing world. Our broad portfolio of solutions help students and professionals further their education and careers, universities and educational institutions attract and support students, and businesses maximize employee recruitment, retainment, and development. Stanley Kaplan founded our company in 1938 with a mission to expand educational opportunities for students of all backgrounds. Today, our thousands of employees working in 27 countries/regions continue Stanley’s mission as they serve about 1.2 million students and professionals, 15,000 corporate clients, and 3,300 schools, school districts, colleges, and universities worldwide. Kaplan is a subsidiary of the Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC). Learn more at kaplan.com.
Note to editors: Kaplan is a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC)
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250408588627/en/
Press: Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com
Source: Kaplan, Inc.
FAQ
What percentage of law school admissions officers believe U.S. News rankings have lost prestige?
How much has law school application volume increased in the current cycle?
What factors are driving the current surge in law school applications?
What percentage of pre-law students support eliminating law school rankings?
How many law schools participated in the Kaplan survey?
