Florida State University College of Law Named Best Value School

Summary: Florida State University College of Law is an affordable option for quality legal education.

We’ve learned recently from the July 2016 bar exam results that Florida isn’t doing too hot overall with candidates passing. This year, 68.2% of applicants passed, which is down from last year’s rate of 68.9%. However, despite the state problem, a few schools have managed to rise out of their colleagues’ swamp.

Florida State University College of Law had 151 graduates attempt the July 2016 bar exam, and 119 of them passed, giving FSU a passage rate of 78.8%. The only state schools with a better percentage were Florida International University College of Law (87.5%) and Stetson University College of Law (80.5%).

This wasn’t the only bright spot for Florida State. According to FSUNews.com, the school was recently named the ninth best value law school in the nation by The National Jurist. This is a four spot leap from its previous ranking.

“I came to Florida State in part because I was so impressed by our incredibly high-quality legal education at comparatively low costs to our students,” Dean Erin O’Connor said to FSUNews.com. “That combination, coupled with our impressive array of skills, training, and externship opportunities, makes Florida State University a very special place to study law.”

Florida State was also ranked 44th on Business Insider’s list of best law schools. Both lists focus on the quality of education and the opportunity for graduates to land jobs.

Florida State is located in Tallahassee, and it offers students an affordable way to get a quality education. Recent data published by U.S. News and World Report show that 84% of its students graduate with an average debt of $82,102, which is on the low end for law school grads. In contrast, the school with the most student debt, Thomas Jefferson School of Law, leaves students scrambling to pay back on average of $172,726, which is over double Florida State’s costs.

“It means a lot that FSU law is rated among the top in best value law schools,” second-year law student Farah Behbahani said to FSUNews.com. “I feel that I am getting the best education without breaking the bank. Our professors come from the top schools in the nation and are very well versed in their particular fields. I don’t feel as though I am losing out on my education because I go to a public law school because of the amazing professors and the sense of camaraderie among the students here.”