FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The National Jurist and preLaw magazines ranked the University of Arkansas School of Law fifth “Best Value” in the nation. This marks the sixth consecutive year the school has been ranked among the “Top 20 Best Value Law Schools” and the fourth consecutive year it has been in the top 10.

“The Best Value rankings focus on many of the factors that are most important to students as they narrow down their options for law school,” said Stacy Leeds, dean of the school. “Our commitment to excellence while also focusing on students’ overall cost, bar passage, job placement and debt load are among many reasons students choose the University of Arkansas School of Law.”

According to preLaw’s Fall 2016 issue, “Best Value seeks to honor schools that do what law schools are meant to do: provide a good education at an affordable cost, with graduates being well prepared to land jobs … as lawyers.” The full issue is available here.

The yearly study ranks schools based on five categories: percentage of graduates who pass the bar exam, which counts for 15 percent; employment rate after graduation, 35 percent; tuition, 25 percent; cost of living, 10 percent; and average indebtedness upon graduation, 15 percent.

The magazines are published four times per year and are among the nation’s leading news sources in legal education. The National Jurist reaches an estimated 100,000 law students. preLaw is read by more than 45,000 prospective law students. The magazines are also read by professors and law school administrators.