FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — U.S. News and World Report has ranked the University of Arkansas School of Law number six in the nation for law schools with lowest average student debt.

The list of law schools that have graduates with the least amount of debt is part of U.S. News’ “The Short List” series for higher education. These are separate from the publication’s overall rankings and highlight individual areas where institutions excel.

Average debt after graduation was measured using the 183 ranked law schools that submitted debt data to U.S. News and reflects the average amount of law school debt taken on by students who borrowed specifically for law school.

U of A School of Law 2015 graduates who borrowed had an average debt of $64,901, compared to an average of debt of $112,748 among all 183 schools submitting data. The school with the lowest reported debt was at $54,988 average and the highest was $172,726.

More than 21 percent of the 2015 graduating class did not take out loans to attend law school and were not included in calculations of the school’s average debt.

About University of Arkansas School of Law: The University of Arkansas School of Law prepares students for success through a challenging curriculum taught by nationally recognized faculty, unique service opportunities and a close-knit community that puts students first. With alumni in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, two territories and 20 countries, it has been ranked among the top 10 "Best Values in Legal Education" by the National Jurist magazine for three consecutive years and is among the top 46 public law schools, according to U.S. News and World Report.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among only 2 percent of universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.