Fordham Law School Ranking: One Of The Best Of Manhattan

Fordham Law School stands as one of Manhattan’s most respected academic institutions, renowned for its legacy of excellence and influence in legal education. Its reputation extends beyond academia, earning recognition in both professional and popular culture. Consistently ranked among the nation’s leading law schools, Fordham’s enduring prestige reflects a long-standing commitment to scholarship, integrity, and service.

The Fordham Law School ranking in 2025 highlights its exceptional standing among the best law schools in the country. It is ranked #38 nationally by U.S. News & World Report, #11 in the National Law Journal’s Go-To Law Schools list. These rankings reinforce Fordham’s reputation for academic excellence, professional achievement, and strong placement in major law firms.

Ultimately, ranking data serves as a helpful reference when selecting the right law school, but it should be weighed alongside other factors. Students should consider the school’s academic culture, mentoring opportunities, employment outcomes, cost, and overall campus environment. Fordham’s impressive record in Bar passage and job placement highlights its ability to prepare graduates for professional success in diverse legal fields.

Fordham Law School Ranking – The Data

Here is a table of Fordham Law School’s ranking information according to the U.S. News & World Report 2024-2025:

The data is produced based on the assessment of a wide variety of accepted indicators of excellence. The Fordham Law School ranking is 38th with respect to the assessment of the best law schools in the nation. With respect to part-time law, the School is ranked 3rd.

Ranking In The National Law Journal

In the National Law Journal’s Go-To Law School ranking, Fordham is #11 overall and #1 in alumni promoted from associates to partner in New York City law firms (May 30, 2022–May 30, 2025). The Fordham Law School ranking is still cited among the top-5 for music law. The school’s graduation rate is 87.8% in 2024.

Its educational know-how is evident in the following statistics. In 2025, the first-time Bar passage rate for Fordham Law graduates was 87.8%, surpassing the New York State average of 82.4% for ABA-approved law schools. Within the School, there is a student-to-faculty ratio of 6.4:1

Fordham Law School ensures that each student receives the space and attention he needs to grow in his studies. And the School’s teachers are unanimously considered among the very best in their fields. The system, quite simply, works effectively in training law students for the practicalities of their intended legal professions. It is geared toward offering the most practical and imperative kinds of training. More than this, Fordham Law is infused with an atmosphere of excellence, achievement, and positivity, which everyone on campus feels.

Ranking As Per US News And World Reports

The sheer quality of the School’s education informs the Fordham Law School ranking. In the 2025 edition of America’s Best Graduate Schools, Fordham Law was ranked 38th nationally. Its part-time program is the highest-ranked in New York State and ranked 3rd in the nation. Its specialty programs are all nationally ranked, with the relevant data given above.

Factors Contributing To Fordham’s Ranking

Fordham Law School ranks among the best in Manhattan. This shows its excellence in many areas. Its prestige comes from a mix of factors. They are academic rigor, faculty expertise, student success, and a commitment to producing top lawyers. Below are some key factors that contribute to Fordham’s high ranking:

Academic Reputation

Fordham Law is widely recognized for its strong academic curriculum and robust legal training programs. The school aims to foster critical thinking, ethics, and legal knowledge. This focus has earned it national and international respect. Alumni often credit their success to the school’s balance of theory and practice.

Bar Passage Rates

Fordham Law graduates consistently achieve impressive Bar passage rates, particularly in New York, one of the most challenging jurisdictions. The school offers students top-notch prep resources, including specialized courses and personal guidance. These resources ensure students excel on the Bar exam. In 2025, Fordham Law’s first-time Bar passage rate was 87.8%, well above the state average of 82.4%.

Faculty And Research Quality

Fordham Law’s faculty includes leading legal scholars and practitioners. They shape today’s legal discourse. Their cutting-edge research is often published in leading journals and cited by courts, enhancing the school’s academic prestige. Professors are also invested in mentoring students. This creates a supportive, dynamic learning environment.

Student Selectivity

Fordham Law maintains high admission standards, admitting only 22.2% of applicants, which reflects its competitive nature. The 25th–75th percentile LSAT range is 165–169, with a median score of 167, while the GPA range is 3.57–3.84 and a median GPA of 3.76. These figures demonstrate the strong academic profile of incoming students.

For part-time students, the median LSAT is 164 and GPA is 3.61, impressive for a non-traditional track. Fordham attracts individuals who excel academically and display leadership, ambition, and a commitment to the legal field. This selectivity fosters a dynamic and diverse community that drives academic excellence and enhances the school’s national reputation.

Unveiling Fordham Law School’s Ranking

Fordham Law School continues to uphold its reputation as one of the nation’s most respected institutions for legal education. Its enduring excellence is reflected in consistent recognition by leading publications.

Historical Trends In Fordham’s Rankings

Fordham Law School has consistently been ranked among the top law schools in the United States. In the 2024-2025 U.S. News & World Report rankings, Fordham was ranked 38 (tie). Fordham has also been ranked highly in other publications, such as The National Law Journal (11th) and Leiter Ranking (20th).

Recent Rankings In Various Publications

Here are Fordham Law School’s recent rankings in various publications:

• U.S. News & World Report (2024-2025): 38 (tie)
• The National Law Journal (2025): 11
• Leiter Ranking (2024): 20
• New York Law Journal (2024): 18

Comparison With Peer Institutions

Fordham Law School is often compared to other top law schools in the Northeast, such as Columbia Law School, NYU School of Law, and Cornell Law School. These schools are all ranked higher than Fordham in the U.S. News & World Report rankings. However, Fordham is more affordable than these schools, and it has a strong alumni network. Overall, Fordham Law School is a highly-ranked law school with a strong academic reputation and a commitment to public service. It is a good option for students who are looking for a high-quality legal education at an affordable price.

Behind The Numbers: What Contributes To Fordham’s Rank

Fordham’s ranking reflects academic quality, employment outcomes, and national reputation. Its graduates achieve strong Bar passage rates and top law firm placements, while faculty expertise and specialized programs sustain its leadership.

Academic Excellence And Faculty Credentials

Fordham Law School has a strong academic reputation. The school’s faculty are highly accomplished scholars and practitioners. Many of the faculty members have written books and articles in their areas of expertise, and they are frequently cited by other scholars. The school also offers a wide range of courses, including courses in traditional legal subjects, as well as interdisciplinary courses that combine law with other disciplines, such as business, economics, and public policy.

Student Satisfaction And Career Placement

Fordham Law School students are generally satisfied with their education. The school has a strong alumni network that can help students find jobs after graduation. The school’s career services office also provides students with resources and assistance in finding jobs.

Research Output And Contributions To Legal Scholarship

Fordham Law School faculty members are active researchers and scholars. The school publishes a number of journals, including the Fordham Law Review and the Fordham Urban Law Journal. The school also hosts a number of conferences and workshops on legal issues.

In addition to these factors, Fordham Law School is also located in New York City, which is a major legal market. This gives students the opportunity to work with and learn from some of the best lawyers in the country.

Overall, Fordham Law School is a highly-ranked law school with a strong academic reputation, a commitment to public service, and a strong alumni network. The school offers a variety of academic programs and opportunities, and it is a good option for students who are looking for a high-quality legal education.

Fordham Law Outcomes

For many students, quite justifiably, the most vital pieces of information when choosing a law school have to do with the prospects awaiting them upon graduation. Fordham Law School’s ranking does help students get some idea of what their futures beyond the School might look like.

The School’s high ranking is determined by analysis of the data surrounding its actual alumni, and it should be considered in conjunction with statistics like these. In 2024-2025, 93.2% of graduates were employed full-time within ten months of graduation.

Additionally, the Class of 2024 contributed 168,741 hours of public interest work during their time at Fordham Law. These figures highlight the school’s dedication to fostering a culture of service and continuous learning among its students.

Fordham takes an active part in its students’ engagement with career paths. The Career Planning Center at the School is filled with resources and staff devoted to this crucial task. Students are guided in the confusing process of identifying and following their career and life paths.

Ethos And Nature Of The School

As we mentioned, the Fordham Law School ranking represents one indicator of a potentially beneficial law school for you. But other characteristics of the School may be equally significant in informing your decision.

Fordham Law proudly bears an ethic of the public good. Its Leitner Centre offers instruction in international law and justice, as well as the advocacy of human rights. The School’s Crowley Program in International Human Rights, founded in 1997, is one of the badges of distinction it wears most proudly.

Fordham’s mission is to provide a complete education, one that helps individuals shape and train themselves for their real purposes in life, as well as approach the initial task of identifying the path that will suit them best. All the School’s students leave its walls with the skills of intellectual rigor in legality. They receive a thorough education in these, which is incomparable and which they will carry with them for the rest of their lives.

Fordham students are trained in the arts of persuasive communication, legal judgment, and negotiation. The doctrine and theory they are taught are integrated into a rounded understanding of legal practice and ethics. No lesson taught is left hanging in the arena of the theoretical.

Fordham was established in 1905 and is located on the west side of Manhattan, New York. It is one of eight ABA-approved law schools in New York. Fordham has more than fifteen centers and institutes, including the world’s first Fashion Law Institute.

Fordham counts many highly successful people among its alumni. Geraldine Ferraro, the first female vice-presidential candidate, is one. John Mara, CEO of the New York Giants, is another. Heroes like Ruth Whitehead Whaley and Eunice Carter were graduates of Fordham. Whaley was the first black woman to practice law in New York State. Carter was the first black woman district attorney in New York State.

The well-rounded vocational training of Fordham ensures that the students receive hands-on legal experience through fifteen legal clinics, for example, the Queens DA Prosecution Clinic. Students are given the invaluable experience of working alongside public defenders and police officers. The School is also a big promoter of Pro bono work for its students. This forms part of its ethos of public responsibility and interpersonal morality, which is expressed in its motto, ‘In the service of others.’

Many graduates of Fordham choose to devote themselves to public service through careers in government, nonprofit organizations, public interest organizations, and Pro bono work. In many different ways, the School’s students are encouraged to view their careers as opportunities to meet the challenges of our times and introduce more fairness, justice, and goodwill into the world. In every way, Fordham views itself as part of the dynamic society and world surrounding it.

What Else Is Behind Fordham Law School Ranking?

Fordham Law School’s high ranking proves its strong programs and faculty. Its unique location in Manhattan adds to its appeal. But what specifically contributes to this distinction? Let’s explore the key factors behind Fordham Law School’s success. We’ll examine the truths behind its reputation.

Ranking And Realities

Fordham’s ranking isn’t just about numbers; it reflects a combination of prestige, performance, and perception. The school is well-known in the legal community. Its high academic standards and contributions to legal scholarship earned it this reputation. Rankings are a benchmark. But, they don’t show all the school’s strengths, like its focus on inclusivity and diversity.

BigLaw Placement Success

One of the standout features of Fordham Law is its exceptional placement rate in BigLaw—large, prestigious law firms. The school is consistently ranked among the top institutions for alumni employed in BigLaw positions. Fordham’s NYC location offers students top networking and internship opportunities. They can access some of the world’s most influential law firms.

Graduate Employability

Fordham Law graduates are in high demand in many sectors. These include corporate law, government, and non-profits. The school’s career services and extensive alumni network play a crucial role in facilitating job placements. Their clinics and externships ensure students are ready for a tough legal job market.

Public Service And Ethical Foundations

Fordham Law’s commitment to public service is another cornerstone of its ranking. The school supports careers in public interest law. It offers loan forgiveness programs to help. Its Jesuit tradition stresses ethical leadership and social justice. It also emphasizes serving the wider community.

Historical Ideals And Modern Relevance

Founded in 1905, Fordham Law has a rich history rooted in the ideals of integrity and justice. The school has evolved to meet modern legal challenges. It now offers specialized programs in technology, environmental, and international law. Its blend of history and modern relevance makes its graduates ready to tackle today’s complex legal issues.

Legacy And Ideals

Fordham Law’s legacy is based on academic excellence, ethics, and community. Its long-standing reputation as a leader in legal education shows its commitment to these ideals. Alumni often cite the school’s supportive, collaborative environment as a key part of their experience.

Distinctive Identity

Fordham Law is unique. It blends tradition with innovation as a dynamic institution. Its Manhattan location and focus on hands-on learning make it ideal for aspiring lawyers. They seek a well-rounded education. Fordham Law’s culture of excellence, diversity, and social responsibility continues to shape the legal leaders of tomorrow.

Frequently Asked Questions About Fordham Law School

1. Is Fordham Law School Ranked For Student Satisfaction?

Yes, Fordham Law School is generally well-regarded for student satisfaction. It is recognized for its strong academic programs, diverse student body, and supportive environment. It fosters a positive atmosphere, has a strong alumni network, and provides excellent career services.

2. What Is The Ranking Of Fordham Law For International Law Programs?

Fordham Law School is ranked #19 in International Law by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers a comprehensive International, Comparative, and Foreign Law concentration, providing courses in international law, human rights, and international business transactions.

3. What Is The Ranking Of Fordham Law For Dispute Resolution Programs?

Fordham Law School is ranked 12th nationally for its Dispute Resolution program by U.S. News & World Report. The program is well-regarded for its comprehensive curriculum and experiential learning opportunities, including mediation and arbitration training.

Conclusion

Any student would be wise to pick up a list of law school rankings when deciding on a school for themselves. It offers a meaningful, if incomplete, representation of what a given law school could do for you. The other element that must be analyzed is you. How important is school ethos for you? How do you define success? Is a moral career an essential part of your life path?

Do you view your life responsibilities as extending beyond yourself and encompassing the world around you, or do you simply seek to get ahead? These questions should be held in mind when choosing a law school.

But Fordham’s wholesome, human, optimistic attitude to careers and life should also be taken as a guide to what students’ goals, perhaps, should be. The law school ranking has raised your eyebrow, but now it is time to align yourself for one of life’s big choices: What should your path in life actually be?

Did you find this article helpful? You can also explore the top law schools in New York.