U.S. News & World Report released its 2026 Best Law School rankings April 7, and Vanderbilt Law School ranked No. 12, a two-place increase from its 2025 ranking of No. 14. This year’s ranking marks the second year in a row that VLS has placed in the top 14 for law schools.
VLS scored 93 overall across a cumulation of graduation rates, Pell grant rates, standardized tests, faculty-to-student ratio and other aspects. VLS also received a peer assessment score of 4.1/5 and a lawyer and judge assessment score of 4.1/5. In the U.S. News & World Report Law School Specialty Rankings, VLS ranked in the top 14 across four categories: criminal law (No. 7), environmental law (No. 8), business and corporate law (No. 13) and law schools with the most graduates in federal clerkships (No. 14).
In a message to The Hustler, Faith Pilkington, second-year law student and Vanderbilt Bar Association president, said that the rise in ranking reflects the student body of VLS and its collaborative culture…