I've previously noted that there are significant regional differences in the cost of law school. Put simply, it's cheaper to go to law school in Philadelphia than in many other - and perhaps virtually all other - cities. And now, it's gotten even less expensive.
A month or two ago, Penn State announced that it would offer Pennsylvania residents a $20,000 annual tuition discount irrespective of credentials. And now, Villanova has levied a massive volley at all market competitors, offering three years of free tuition for applicants with a 157/3.6 GPA.
I know that my school, Drexel Law, works to match scholarship offers from Villanova, Penn State, Rutgers-Camden and Temple. Villanova's maneuver will put tremendous pressure on Temple, Penn State, and Rutgers-Camden to up their awards. Widener is going to get caught up in this as well. The price of law school in Philly is dropping fast.
A month ago I said that a person with a 161 could attend a very good law school for free in Philly. Now I'd have to make that a 157, with significant discounts available to folks with a 154 or 155.
You're right Observation. It's very unreasonable to equate the likes of Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Cooley, Charlotte, the countless Florida for-profits, New England, et al, with used car salesmen. After all, used car salesmen at least provide means of transportation at affordable prices (and with the help of Carfax, and other certification programs, many consumers can purchase used automobiles with assurances they aren't purchasing lemons). Maybe if the ABA actually had an accreditation process that had any teeth to it, it wouldn't be so insulting to used car salesmen to equate them with many of these pan-handling law deans with their open-admission policies these days.
Posted by: Cent Rieker | January 23, 2014 at 01:33 PM
"the countless Florida for-profits"
Not that it is really all that important but … uh, 1?
Is there more than 1 Florida for-profit? It's Florida Coastal, right?
"Maybe if the ABA actually had an accreditation process that had any teeth to it"
If you think the ABA accreditation process has no teeth, then you have no idea what for-profit schools would be like in the absence of ABA accreditation requirements.
I'm not saying the ABA accreditation standards are what they should be. But you do not appear to appreciate what for-profits would do in the actual absence of ABA teeth.
Posted by: ATLprof | January 24, 2014 at 10:58 AM
Just to follow up on the ABA point, check this out:
July 2013 CA Bar Results
CA ABA accredited first-time takers: 75% passed
CA accredited (non-ABA) first-time takers: 36% passed
http://admissions.calbar.ca.gov/Portals/4/documents/gbx/JULY2013STATS.012214_R.pdf
Posted by: Matt Bodie | January 24, 2014 at 12:50 PM