Exterior view of a multi-story brick building with narrow horizontal windows and circular window details. A vertical glass section runs along the left side, partially framed by leafy tree branches in the foreground. The building name “O’Brian Hall” is visible on the brick facade under a clear blue sky.

UB Law on the rise

If UB School of Law were listed on the stock exchange, investors would be taking notice. A wave of national and global recognition is signaling that the law school is on a powerful upward trajectory fueled by its ongoing commitment to ensuring student success.

Across multiple independent evaluators, the law school is earning distinctions that highlight value, excellence, and impact:

  • National Jurist Magazine ranks UB Law No. 18 in the nation for Best Value—the only law school in the Northeast to appear in the top 20, and the only New York State law school to make the full list of 58 schools recognized for return on investment. The magazine notes that UB Law “goes beyond cost,” citing programs like Jump Start, embedded financial and wellness counseling, peer mentoring, and the Rally the Pass initiative, which provides free bar prep support, meals, and study spaces.

  • Times Higher Education—a major global influencer in higher education—ranks UB Law No. 56 among Best Law Schools in the U.S. Its methodology emphasizes faculty research and teaching excellence. UB Law’s teaching scores have risen every year since 2021, reflecting widespread recognition of our faculty’s innovative impact in the classroom.

  • preLaw Magazine awarded UB Law an “A” grade on its Justice and Opportunity Honor Roll, recognizing the school’s extensive supports that expand pathways to legal education. The magazine highlighted UB Law’s new Rural Justice Initiative as a model for widening access to the legal profession.

  • The recently released U.S. News & World Report rankings add to this momentum. The 2026 rankings place UB Law at No. 82 nationwide—a 12‑spot jump from last year and the school’s third year of steady ascent—a testament to the exceptional student performance recognized by other evaluators.

These outcomes are unmistakable. UB Law has achieved its highest first‑time New York State bar passage rates in its documented history—87.41 percent on the July 2024 exam and 87.39 percent on the July 2025 exam. Employment results also reached record-high levels: 95.63 percent of the Class of 2024 and 95.62 percent of the Class of 2025 were employed within 10 months of graduation.

Head and shoulders portrait of Brown wearing a dark suit jacket, white dress shirt, and red patterned tie, seated indoors with a framed picture and blue wall visible in the background.

Dean S. Todd Brown

Dean S. Todd Brown attributes this momentum to long‑term, intentional investment. “Over a decade ago, we launched a series of initiatives and expanded several of our support offices to ensure that our students are set up for success,” he says. “We consistently examined our results and refined our programs throughout this period.

“Our sustained commitment to these core objectives has yielded some of our highest employment rates, first‑time bar pass rates, and ultimate bar passage rates overall.”

That success is resonating with prospective students. As of April 3, applications for the current admissions cycle are up 25 percent overall, including a 59 percent increase from applicants outside New York State—far outpacing the national average increase of 11 percent.

“When our students succeed, we succeed as a law school,” says Brown.  “Our commitment to that simple principle is what continues to guide us.”