What Are T14 Law Schools? The Complete List and Why Rankings Just Changed
You searched “T14 law schools” because you need to know which schools qualify, why T14 status matters for your legal career, and what the massive 2025 ranking shake-up means for your application strategy.
Here’s the truth: The 2025 rankings dropped and Cornell fell to #18 while Vanderbilt, UT Austin, and WashU crashed the party, creating a four-way tie at #14. The legal education world hasn’t stopped talking since April 2025.
The “T14” now technically includes 17 schools. Employment outcomes matter more than ever. And traditional prestige doesn’t guarantee BigLaw placement anymore.
What You Came to Know: T14 Law Schools Explained
What “T14” Actually Means
There exists an informal and unofficial category known as the Top Fourteen, Top 14, or T14, which has historically referred to the institutions that most frequently claim the top 14 spots in the yearly U.S. News & World Report ranking of American law schools.
For the past three decades, the 14 spots were held by the current schools ranked 1-13 and Georgetown, with the exception of a couple of years where another school edged into that elusive 14th spot temporarily. The number 14 isn’t arbitrary—it emerged from remarkable ranking stability from 1990 through 2024.
The Complete 2025-2026 T14 List (Now 17 Schools)
The 2025 U.S. News & World Report law school rankings have arrived with minimal changes in methodology but major implications for the industry, with the top three—Stanford, Yale, and Chicago—remaining unchanged.
Schools #1-#13:
- Stanford Law School (tied)
- Yale Law School (tied)
- University of Chicago Law School
- University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School
- Duke University School of Law (tied)
- Harvard Law School (tied)
- New York University School of Law
- Columbia Law School
- University of Virginia School of Law
- Northwestern Pritzker School of Law
- University of California Berkeley School of Law
- University of Michigan Law School
- Georgetown University Law Center
The Four-Way Tie at #14: Vanderbilt Law jumped from #19 to #14—its first-ever T14 appearance, UT Austin climbed from #16 to #14, and WashU rose from #16 to #14.
- Vanderbilt Law School (NEW to T14)
- University of Texas at Austin School of Law (tied)
- Washington University in St. Louis School of Law (tied)
- UCLA School of Law (tied, previously appeared in 2022)
Dropped Out: Cornell dropped to #18, ending its decades-long T14 membership.
Why T14 Rankings Matter for Your Career
T14 schools place 70-80% of graduates into BigLaw firms starting at $215,000, while lower-ranked schools see under 30% BigLaw placement with median starting salaries below $70,000.
Employment outcomes create the real difference. Top law schools, particularly Ivy League law schools, feed into the top corporate, government, and nonprofit job markets in the country, with their reputations for churning out high-performing lawyers forged by generations of precedent.
Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia famously told an American University Law student in 2009: “By and large I’m going to be picking from the law schools that basically are the hardest to get into. They admit the best and the brightest, and they may not teach very well, but you can’t make a sow’s ear out of a silk purse”.
What You Must Know About T14 Status
Rankings Don’t Tell the Whole Employment Story
Leopard Solutions’ proprietary data shows that the number of students a school places in Am Law 200 firms often doesn’t align with U.S. News rankings, with Stanford ranked just 20th in actual Am Law 200 associate hires in 2024 while Fordham and George Washington University broke into the top 10 in new associate placements.
Volume matters. Georgetown places more graduates in BigLaw than several higher-ranked schools because its larger class size creates more total placements.
T14 Admission Requirements Are Brutal
In 2025, acceptance rates at these schools are as low as 5.6%. Yale accepts just 6.28% of applicants with a median LSAT of 174 and median GPA of 3.93, while Stanford is equally selective at 6.8% acceptance with a 173 LSAT median.
Most T14 schools require LSAT scores above 170 and GPAs near 4.0. But holistic admissions mean work experience, diversity factors, and compelling personal statements can offset slightly lower numbers.
Understanding best law schools in the US 2025 rankings admission requirements and selection strategy helps you build a competitive application even with imperfect stats.
Public Universities Are Reshaping T14
Public universities saw significant gains this year, continuing a trend that suggests prestige may be evolving in a more regional, outcomes-driven direction.
UT Austin offers exceptional value at in-state tuition below $36,000 versus private schools charging $70,000+. Berkeley, Michigan, and Virginia provide elite education at lower cost for in-state residents.
What to Do Next
Evaluate Whether T14 Fits Your Goals
There is a growing consensus that a prospective law student should consider each school’s fit and appropriateness for their individual needs and career goals, as a one-size-fits-all ranking may not accurately reflect these considerations.
Not every legal career requires T14 credentials. Public interest lawyers, regional practitioners, and government attorneys often succeed from strong regional schools with better scholarship offers.
Check the best law schools T14 shattered 4 schools tied at 14 2026 analysis to understand employment outcomes and ROI beyond rankings.
Build a Competitive Application Strategy
Among T-14 law schools, the average LSAT score is 171.9, but law school admissions are holistic, meaning schools look at your whole application rather than just your LSAT score.
Focus on: exceptional undergraduate GPA, LSAT/GRE scores at or above medians, meaningful work experience, compelling personal statements showing unique perspectives, and strong letters of recommendation from professors or employers.
Research Official Law School Data
Access ABA-required disclosures at the American Bar Association website (www.americanbar.org) for employment statistics, bar passage rates, and tuition information. Review the Law School Admission Council resources at www.lsac.org for official admissions data.
Each T14 school publishes Section 509 Required Disclosures showing employment outcomes, debt levels, and demographics—data U.S. News doesn’t fully capture.
💡 Pro Tip
U.S. News rankings are always one year behind current data, using employment outcomes from Classes of 2022-2023 and bar passage from Classes of 2020-2021. Schools know this—watch for sudden jumps in school-funded positions that artificially inflate employment statistics. Always check ABA-required disclosures directly at each law school’s website for the most current data.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does T14 mean in law school?
T14 refers to the top 14 law schools according to U.S. News rankings, though the 2025 rankings created a four-way tie at #14, technically making it 17 schools. These institutions historically dominated the top spots and produce graduates with the best employment outcomes.
Is Georgetown still T14 in 2026?
Yes. Georgetown ranks #13 in the 2025-2026 rankings and remains firmly in T14 territory despite ranking volatility among schools in the 12-15 range.
What LSAT score do you need for T14?
Most T14 schools have median LSAT scores between 168-174. Yale’s median is 174, Stanford’s is 173, and schools like Duke and Northwestern have medians around 170. Competitive applicants typically score at or above these medians.
Are T14 law schools worth the cost?
For graduates aiming for BigLaw, Supreme Court clerkships, or prestigious government positions, yes. T14 schools place 70-80% of graduates into $215,000 starting salary positions. For public interest or regional practice, strong regional schools with scholarship money often provide better ROI.
Which T14 schools dropped in 2025?
Cornell fell from T14 to #18. Harvard and Columbia each dropped two spots. The biggest surprise was Vanderbilt, UT Austin, and WashU all reaching #14 for the first time.
Do employers care about T14 status?
BigLaw firms, federal clerkships, and elite legal employers strongly prefer T14 graduates. However, regional firms and government offices increasingly hire based on specific school reputation in their market rather than strict T14 status.
Can you get into T14 with a 3.5 GPA?
Possible but difficult. You’d need an LSAT score well above the median (173+) and compelling “softs” like unique work experience, diversity factors, or exceptional achievements. Most admitted students have GPAs above 3.75.
Disclaimer: This article provides general educational information about T14 law schools, law school rankings, and legal education in the United States as of January 2026. T14 law schools rankings, admission requirements, employment outcomes, and educational value vary significantly and evolve year to year. AllAboutLawyer.com does not provide legal advice, admissions consulting, or personal recommendations regarding law school selection. For specific guidance on law school admissions, consult with law school advisors or admissions consultants, and review official law school and American Bar Association accreditation resources directly for the most current information.
Choosing the right law school shapes your entire legal career. Explore more legal education guidance at AllAboutLawyer.com to make informed decisions about your future.
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Last Updated: Feb 2, 2026 — We keep this current with the latest legal developments
About the Author
Sarah Klein, JD, is a licensed attorney and legal content strategist with over 12 years of experience across civil, criminal, family, and regulatory law. At All About Lawyer, she covers a wide range of legal topics — from high-profile lawsuits and courtroom stories to state traffic laws and everyday legal questions — all with a focus on accuracy, clarity, and public understanding.
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