1
Rank 1
Top pickDuke University
Law · Doctoral Degree · NC
- Median earnings, 1 yr
- $215,478
- Median debt
- n/a
- School completion
- 96%
- Net price
- $23,706
Christian Colleges
Best Christian Law School Programs of 2026
Duke University's law program has the highest median earnings on this list at $215,478 one year after graduation, among 44 Christian colleges with a law program. One program per school is shown, ordered by program earnings.
We may earn a fee from the schools on this page, which can affect how they are placed.
Partner placement can affect which schools appear in the featured offer. It does not change the editorial ranking order.
Updated Oct 15, 2026
We rechecked the figures on this page against the College Scorecard release dated Oct 15, 2026, confirmed each school is ordered only by the metric named in the ranking, and confirmed a sponsorship does not change that order.Featured schools
SponsoredThese schools paid to appear here. We may earn a fee if you click or request information. Paying never changes a school’s place in our rankings.
How we ranked these
Every program is listed with the same published figures from the u.s. department of education, college scorecard (most recent cohorts, 2025-26). One figure orders the list: median earnings one year after graduation. One program per school is shown. Sponsorship is labeled and never changes a program's place.
At a glance
Compare programs by median earnings one year after graduation
| # | Program | Median earnings one year after graduation | Median debt | School completion | Net price | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Duke UniversityLaw · Doctoral Degree | $215,478 | n/a | 96% | $23,706 | Visit |
| 2 | Fordham UniversityLaw · First Professional Degree | $205,946 | n/a | 81% | $42,760 | Visit |
| 3 | Georgetown UniversityLaw · First Professional Degree | $200,986 | n/a | 94% | $33,661 | Visit |
| 4 | Boston CollegeLaw · First Professional Degree | $175,620 | n/a | 90% | $38,930 | Visit |
| 5 | University of Notre DameLaw · First Professional Degree | $136,137 | n/a | 95% | $25,339 | Visit |
| 6 | Emory UniversityLaw · First Professional Degree | $116,347 | n/a | 91% | $16,754 | Visit |
| 7 | Southern Methodist UniversityLaw · First Professional Degree | $108,097 | n/a | 83% | $39,816 | Visit |
| 8 | Loyola Marymount UniversityLaw · First Professional Degree | $101,289 | n/a | 79% | $50,518 | Visit |
| 9 | Santa Clara UniversityLaw · First Professional Degree | $98,780 | n/a | 87% | $50,570 | Visit |
| 10 | Baylor UniversityLaw · Doctoral Degree | $96,639 | n/a | 82% | $44,441 | Visit |
Featured schools
SponsoredThese schools paid to appear here. We may earn a fee if you click or request information. Paying never changes a school’s place in our rankings.
The shortlist
The 10 programs, from the top
- 2
Rank 2
Fordham University
Law · First Professional Degree · NY
- Median earnings, 1 yr
- $205,946
- Median debt
- n/a
- School completion
- 81%
- Net price
- $42,760
- 3
Rank 3
Georgetown University
Law · First Professional Degree · DC
- Median earnings, 1 yr
- $200,986
- Median debt
- n/a
- School completion
- 94%
- Net price
- $33,661
- 4
Rank 4
Boston College
Law · First Professional Degree · MA
- Median earnings, 1 yr
- $175,620
- Median debt
- n/a
- School completion
- 90%
- Net price
- $38,930
- 5
Rank 5
University of Notre Dame
Law · First Professional Degree · IN
- Median earnings, 1 yr
- $136,137
- Median debt
- n/a
- School completion
- 95%
- Net price
- $25,339
- 6
Rank 6
Emory University
Law · First Professional Degree · GA
- Median earnings, 1 yr
- $116,347
- Median debt
- n/a
- School completion
- 91%
- Net price
- $16,754
- 7
Rank 7
Southern Methodist University
Law · First Professional Degree · TX
- Median earnings, 1 yr
- $108,097
- Median debt
- n/a
- School completion
- 83%
- Net price
- $39,816
- 8
Rank 8
Loyola Marymount University
Law · First Professional Degree · CA
- Median earnings, 1 yr
- $101,289
- Median debt
- n/a
- School completion
- 79%
- Net price
- $50,518
- 9
Rank 9
Santa Clara University
Law · First Professional Degree · CA
- Median earnings, 1 yr
- $98,780
- Median debt
- n/a
- School completion
- 87%
- Net price
- $50,570
- 10
Rank 10
Baylor University
Law · Doctoral Degree · TX
- Median earnings, 1 yr
- $96,639
- Median debt
- n/a
- School completion
- 82%
- Net price
- $44,441
Degree Finder
Find your program in about a minute
Answer a few quick questions and see schools that are enrolling and fit you. Free, no sign-up.
Get startedQuestions about this ranking
How is this ranking made?
One figure orders the list: median earnings one year after graduation for the named program. One program per school is shown, the school's highest-earning program that matches this list. Every rule is published in the method below.
Can a school pay to rank higher?
No. Sponsorship is a separate, labeled section, and paying never changes a program's place in the ranking.
What do the figures cover?
Earnings and median debt are program-level figures from the College Scorecard field-of-study file. Net price and completion describe the whole school, not the program.
How this ranking is made
Every line below is a rule. None of them can be bought.
If a rule is not written here, we did not apply it.
- 01
Programs in this list: Christian colleges that award a degree in law, at the doctoral and first professional level.
- 02
Ranked by one figure: median earnings one year after graduation (median earnings one year after graduation), from the College Scorecard field-of-study file. One program per school is shown: the school's highest-earning program that matches this list.
- 03
Programs with fewer than 20 graduates reporting earnings are left out because a median from a small group swings too much to compare.
- 04
Earnings and median debt are program-level. Net price and completion describe the whole school, not the program.
- 05
No school can pay to be included or to move up. Sponsored schools, where shown, appear in a separate, labeled section.
- 06
Religious affiliation is self-reported by the school to the U.S. Department of Education. Confirm program accreditation, licensure, and curriculum details with the school.
Sources: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (Most Recent Cohorts, 2025-26), retrieved 2026-10-15. Earnings and debt are program-level; net price and completion describe the whole school. Logos by Logo.dev.
The short answer
The best law program at a Christian college is Duke University.
Duke University's law program has the highest median earnings on this list at $215,478 one year after graduation, among 44 Christian colleges with a matching program. Median debt is n/a. One program per school is shown. No school can pay to appear here or to move up.
$215,478Duke University leads this list.Median earnings one year after graduation.
Schools on the list
44
Median program earnings
$77,411
Median program debt
n/a
Median school completion
76%
Highest program earnings
- 01Duke University$215,478 one year after graduation
- 02Fordham University$205,946 one year after graduation
- 03Georgetown University$200,986 one year after graduation
- 04Boston College$175,620 one year after graduation
Highest school completion
- 01Duke University96% completion
- 02University of Notre Dame95% completion
- 03Georgetown University94% completion
- 04Villanova University93% completion
Largest enrollment
- 01Baylor University14,785 students · $44,441 net price
- 02DePaul University14,090 students · $27,108 net price
- 03Loyola University Chicago11,737 students · $36,340 net price
- 04Fordham University10,512 students · $42,760 net price
01
Which law program is actually best?
Duke University tops this list because its law program has the highest median earnings one year after graduation among the programs that match this list. It reports $215,478 for graduates of that program, with 307 graduates reporting earnings. Median debt for the program is n/a.
The figures are program-level, not school-level. That matters here: a school's overall earnings can hide a strong program or lift a weak one. This list compares the program itself, then shows the school's net price and completion rate beside it so you can see the whole picture.
02
What this list measures
The list is built from the College Scorecard field-of-study file. It reports median earnings one year after graduation for graduates of a named program, plus median debt for that program. One program per school is shown: the school's highest-earning program that matches this list.
Net price and completion describe the whole school, not the program. A low net price is a school-level figure. A high completion rate is a school-level figure. Use them as context, not as a program guarantee.
03
How this list is ordered
One published figure orders the list: median earnings one year after graduation for the matching program. There is no composite score and no editorial adjustment. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates reporting earnings are left out because a median from a small group swings too much to compare.
For this law list, the matching programs are limited to law programs at Christian colleges. A school can have more than one matching program. The highest-earning one is the one shown. No school can pay to be included or to move up.
04
The top 8 programs on this list
These are the highest-ranked programs, ordered by median earnings one year after graduation.
- 01
Duke University
Law · Doctoral Degree
$215,478 median earnings one year after graduation. n/a median program debt. The school reports 96% completion and $23,706 average net price.
- Program earnings
- $215,478
- Program debt
- n/a
- School completion
- 96%
- Graduates reporting
- 307
- 02
Fordham University
Law · First Professional Degree
$205,946 median earnings one year after graduation. n/a median program debt. The school reports 81% completion and $42,760 average net price.
- Program earnings
- $205,946
- Program debt
- n/a
- School completion
- 81%
- Graduates reporting
- 511
- 03
Georgetown University
Law · First Professional Degree
$200,986 median earnings one year after graduation. n/a median program debt. The school reports 94% completion and $33,661 average net price.
- Program earnings
- $200,986
- Program debt
- n/a
- School completion
- 94%
- Graduates reporting
- 616
- 04
Boston College
Law · First Professional Degree
$175,620 median earnings one year after graduation. n/a median program debt. The school reports 90% completion and $38,930 average net price.
- Program earnings
- $175,620
- Program debt
- n/a
- School completion
- 90%
- Graduates reporting
- 327
- 05
University of Notre Dame
Law · First Professional Degree
$136,137 median earnings one year after graduation. n/a median program debt. The school reports 95% completion and $25,339 average net price.
- Program earnings
- $136,137
- Program debt
- n/a
- School completion
- 95%
- Graduates reporting
- 269
- 06
Emory University
Law · First Professional Degree
$116,347 median earnings one year after graduation. n/a median program debt. The school reports 91% completion and $16,754 average net price.
- Program earnings
- $116,347
- Program debt
- n/a
- School completion
- 91%
- Graduates reporting
- 306
- 07
Southern Methodist University
Law · First Professional Degree
$108,097 median earnings one year after graduation. n/a median program debt. The school reports 83% completion and $39,816 average net price.
- Program earnings
- $108,097
- Program debt
- n/a
- School completion
- 83%
- Graduates reporting
- 324
- 08
Loyola Marymount University
Law · First Professional Degree
$101,289 median earnings one year after graduation. n/a median program debt. The school reports 79% completion and $50,518 average net price.
- Program earnings
- $101,289
- Program debt
- n/a
- School completion
- 79%
- Graduates reporting
- 484
05
What does the program cost?
The federal data does not publish a median debt figure for enough programs on this list to compare. Ask the school for the debt of recent graduates in the program you want.
| School | Program | Program debt | School net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duke University | Law | n/a | $23,706 |
| Fordham University | Law | n/a | $42,760 |
| Georgetown University | Law | n/a | $33,661 |
| Boston College | Law | n/a | $38,930 |
| University of Notre Dame | Law | n/a | $25,339 |
| Emory University | Law | n/a | $16,754 |
| Southern Methodist University | Law | n/a | $39,816 |
| Loyola Marymount University | Law | n/a | $50,518 |
06
Does it pay off?
The median program on this list reports $77,411 one year after graduation. The top program reports $215,478. Earnings one year out are an early signal, not a lifetime total. They vary by field, by role, and by how many graduates go on to further study.
Read the program earnings next to the program debt and the school's completion rate. A high earnings number with very high debt is a different story from a moderate earnings number with low debt. The right comparison is the one that matches the career you actually want.
07
What makes a strong law school program?
Law programs at Christian colleges prepare students for the bar exam and for practice in a wide range of settings. The strongest programs combine rigorous doctrinal teaching with clinics, externships, and bar preparation.
- 01Is the law school accredited by the American Bar Association?
- 02What is the school's first-time bar passage rate?
- 03What clinics, externships, and public-interest placements are available?
08
Is it accredited?
Law schools should hold ABA accreditation if you plan to practice in most states. Ask about bar passage rates, scholarship conditions, and employment outcomes before you commit.
Institutional accreditation is the baseline. It is a review by an agency the U.S. Department of Education recognizes, and it is what makes a school eligible for federal student aid. The schools on this list are in the College Scorecard, which covers institutions that participate in that aid system. Ask the school which agency accredits the program you want, and check the agency at CHEA or the College Scorecard.
09
What should I check before I apply?
Once a program is accredited, these are the questions worth answering before you apply.
- 01Does the program lead to the credential, license, or next degree you actually want?
- 02What are the clinical, practicum, residency, or portfolio requirements, and can you complete them near you?
- 03What will you pay after grants, and how much debt do graduates of this program carry?
- 04What do graduates of this program earn, and how many graduates are behind that figure?
- 05Can you transfer credit, and how long will the program take?
10
Other Christian college rankings
This page ranks law programs by one published figure. The rest of the hub uses the same rule and the same federal data.
- Best Christian Colleges
- Best Online Christian Colleges
- Best Bible Colleges
- Best Online Bible Colleges
- Most Affordable Christian Colleges
- Best Christian Education Degree Programs
- Best Christian Colleges & Universities for Veterans
- Best Christian Colleges for Visual Art Programs
- Best Christian Colleges for Music Programs
- Best Nursing Programs at Christian Colleges
- Best Christian Psychology Degree Programs
- Best Christian Graduate School Programs
- Best Christian Biology Degree Programs
- Best Cybersecurity Degree Programs at Christian Colleges
- All Christian rankings
11
Common questions about law programs
Can I practice law in any state after this program?
You usually need to pass the bar exam in the state where you want to practice. Ask the school which states its graduates are admitted to and how it prepares students for those exams.
Are Christian law schools different from secular ones?
The core legal curriculum is similar. A Christian law school may add courses or clinics focused on faith and public life. Ask how those opportunities fit your goals.
12
Where do these numbers come from?
Order. The list is ordered only by median earnings one year after graduation for the named program. There is no composite score and no editorial adjustment.
Figures. Earnings and median debt are program-level figures from the College Scorecard field-of-study file. Net price and completion describe the whole school. One program per school is shown.
No pay to rank. No school can pay to be included or to move up. Sponsored schools appear in a separate, labeled section.
Data source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (Most Recent Cohorts, 2025-26), retrieved 2026-10-15.
We rechecked the figures on this page against the College Scorecard release dated the 2026-10-15 College Scorecard release, confirmed each school is ordered only by the metric named in the ranking, and confirmed a sponsorship does not change that order.
Written by Lena Okonkwo, Education editor. Checked by Marcus Hale, Data editor. Some of the schools featured on this page are from our advertising partners who compensate us when you take certain actions on our website or click to take an action on their website. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own.
Terms used on this ranking
Median earningsMedian earnings is the midpoint of the earnings distribution for a defined group of former students, most ofte...Median debtMedian debt is the midpoint of the cumulative federal student loan amounts borrowed by a defined group of stud...Gainful employmentGainful employment is the federal regulatory framework that evaluates whether certain Title IV-eligible progra...Graduation rateGraduation rate is the percentage of full-time, first-time degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduates who c...
Keep exploring
More rankings
Each list is ordered by one published figure, and the school shown leads that list.
96%
Finish rateBest Christian Colleges of 2026
Duke University, a United Methodist-affiliated research university, finishes 96% of its students and sends them to a median $113,937 ten years after enrolling. It leads our list of four-year Christian colleges and universities, ordered by completion rate and open to every Christian tradition.
No. 1 · Duke University519 schools85%
Finish rateBest Online Christian Colleges of 2026
Gonzaga University, a Jesuit Catholic university with 11 programs reported fully online, finishes 85% of its students and sends them to a median $89,110 ten years after enrolling. It leads the Christian colleges with a real online catalog, ordered by completion rate.
No. 1 · Gonzaga University97 schools86%
Finish rateBest Bible Colleges of 2026
College of Biblical Studies-Houston finishes 86% of its students and sends them to a median $44,156 ten years after enrolling. It leads our list of Bible colleges, where theology and religious vocations make up at least 30% of degrees and an undergraduate theology credential is offered.
No. 1 · College of Biblical Studies-Houston22 schools86%
Finish rateBest Online Bible Colleges of 2026
College of Biblical Studies-Houston offers theology online and finishes 86% of its students, with median earnings of $44,156 ten years after enrolling. It leads the Bible colleges with a program reported fully online and an online theology or ministry program.
No. 1 · College of Biblical Studies-Houston18 schools$2,534
Net priceMost Affordable Christian Colleges of 2026
Union Bible College has the lowest average net price on this list at $2,534, and 53% of its students finish. The list includes four-year Christian colleges and small Bible colleges with at least 200 students and a 40% completion rate, ordered by average net price.
No. 1 · Union Bible College475 schools$105,580
Program earningsBest Christian Education Degree Programs of 2026
Santa Clara University's educational administration program has the highest median earnings on this list at $105,580 one year after graduation, among 338 Christian colleges with a matching education program. One program per school is shown, ordered by program earnings.
No. 1 · Santa Clara University (Educational Administration and Supervision)338 schools
Also ranked
- Best Christian Colleges & Universities for Veterans of 2026
- Best Christian Colleges for Visual Art Programs of 2026
- Best Christian Colleges for Music Programs of 2026
- Best Nursing Programs at Christian Colleges of 2026
- Best Christian Psychology Degree Programs of 2026
- Best Christian Graduate School Programs of 2026
- Best Christian Biology Degree Programs of 2026
- Best Cybersecurity Degree Programs at Christian Colleges of 2026
Keep reading
Go deeper
Related rankings
From the encyclopedia
Advertising disclosure
The schools on this page are advertisers. They pay us when you click through or request information, and that payment affects which schools appear and in what order. Net price, graduation rate, earnings, and debt come from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and are the same figures we publish for every school.