It's not exactly new news, but it has just hit the press. The U of A is cutting out-of-state tuition. Last year, non-residents paid $38,841 to attend Arizona Law. Next year, they'll pay $29,000. And residents will pay about $24,000.
At Arizona State Law, non-residents were paying over $41,000 this year. Given that the two schools are pursuing substantially similar applicants, it looks like a bit of a tuition war is heating up in the desert. Will this change the actual tuition flowing in to the University of Arizona law school or will money simply move from merit aid to across-the-board cuts? Will ASU match the cut?
Will this maneuver affect the one other ABA accredited law school in Arizona: Arizona Summit (the artist formerly known as Phoenix Law School)? Seems hard to imagine, given that Arizona Summit's median LSAT last year was 144, while Arizona's was 160 and ASU's was 162. But there seems to be a yawning gap for a middle tier law school.
I wonder if a mid-market out-of-state law school will pull up stakes and make like the St. Louis Cardinals.
Median 160 and 162 are middle-tier, Dan. There doesn't need to be another law school in Arizona.
Posted by: anonanon | May 27, 2014 at 02:19 PM
Anonanon, that is simply not correct. LSAT scores around the mid-150s will put you in the middle of the pack. Actually, with slumping admissions, a low 150s median may qualify a school for the top-100 status (or the 200 ABA law schools).
Posted by: Tom B | May 27, 2014 at 02:43 PM
don't worry dan. I'm sure that U of A and ASU will have LSAT scores in the mid-150s this year.
With only circa 37,000 matrics, everyone save the T-13 will see either dramatic class reduction or dramatic quality erosion.
Posted by: Jojo | May 27, 2014 at 05:15 PM