lawyer

Since "U.S. News and World Report" first published its annual law school rankings in 1987, Yale University's law school has monopolized the top spot. According to "Top Law Schools"--a free, online tool dedicated to helping students research law schools--Yale is "one of the preeminent centers of legal studies in the world."

Founded in 1824, Yale (YLS) offers law students several degree options, including the three-year J.D. program, the LL.M. the doctoral J.S.D. and the M.S.L. YLS receives in excess of 3,000 applications annually competing for 200 coveted spots. The median grade point average of applicants is 3.9, and 75 percent record a median LSAT score of 177. Less than 7 percent of applicants are accepted into the J.D. program. The student body at YLS comprises 659 students who hail from more than 45 states and 30 countries. Classes boast fewer students than many other law schools, with an average of 20 students who enjoy a student to teacher ratio of 6.8 to 1.

The YLS campus is located in New Haven, Connecticut. More than 200 courses are offered; and students, though required to complete some prerequisite classes during their first year, decide their own course of study during years 2 and 3. YLS does not issue grades.

Annual tuition is $46,000.