A recent report published by U.S. News and World Report ranked the UALR William H. Bowen School of Law as one of the ten schools whose graduates leave law school with the lowest amount of debt.
According to the report, 183 ranked law schools submitted debt data. Among those schools, “the average debt for 2015 graduates who borrowed was $112,748.” The average debt for a Bowen alumnus was $68,960.
This news comes on the heels of Bowen receiving the American Bar Association’s Gambrell Professionalism Award for its innovative professionalism curriculum. In addition, Bowen has recently been recognized as a Best Practical Skills Law School and one of the best law schools for careers in government law or as public defenders or prosecutors.
“The faculty and educational staff at Bowen are committed to providing a quality education to our students,” said Michael Hunter Schwartz, Dean and Professor Law. “The fact that we can do so at a reasonable price is a reflection of our dedication as well as UALR’s commitment to supporting its law school.”
There are several factors that may play into graduates leaving law school with less debt. Bowen has a part-time/evening program, ranked in the top 30 in the nation by US News, that allows students to work full-time and still attend law school. In addition, the school’s location near Little Rock’s law firms and and governmental legal employers affords students wonderful clerkship opportunities throughout the year.
“Bowen students have the opportunity to learn hands-on and to graduate prepared for the legal job market. As US News has now made clear, Bowen graduates also are less burdened by debt than most of the peers around the country,” said Schwartz. “We hope that, as a result, Bowen graduates are more likely to choose and succeed in careers they love.”
