U.S. News names 7 NJ institutions to top law, medical school lists

U.S. News & World Report released its 2023-2024 rankings for the best law and medical schools in the nation May 11, and seven higher education institutions in New Jersey made the cut. 

Two universities were named to the Best Law Schools list, and five made the Best Medical Schools lists, which were broken into listings for research and primary care: 

In January, U.S. News announced it would change its methodology after several schools boycotted the rankings, with Yale calling them “profoundly flawed” and that they “disincentivize programs that support public interest careers, champion need-based aid, and welcome working-class students into the profession.” 

In the May 11 release of the lists, U.S. News said, “This year’s rankings place greater emphasis on the results that these graduate schools can deliver. Accordingly, updates were made to the methodology to prioritize outcomes for prospective students.” 

Eric Gertler, U.S. News executive chairman and CEO, added, “It is vital for law and medical students to be equipped with the skills and experiences necessary to flourish in this ever-changing and complex world. By focusing on metrics that measure outcomes, our rankings and resources can provide a roadmap for the first step in those students’ journeys – their education.” 

The top three law schools for 2023-2024 are Stanford and Yale universities (tied for No. 1), and University of Chicago (No. 3). The top three medical schools were Harvard University (No. 1), Johns Hopkins University (No. 2) and University of Pennsylvania (Perelman) (No. 3). 

Seton Hall Law thanked its faculty for its ranking in a statement, with Dean Kip Cornwell saying, “My predecessor, Kathleen Boozang, and the entire law school faculty deserve an enormous amount of credit for today’s news. They focused on student improvement by pushing curricular reform, skills development, and excellence in the classroom. And of course, our graduates have done us proud by following through and passing the bar exam at very high rates.”

Cooper Medical School of Rowan University (CMSRU) – a partnership between Rowan University and Cooper University Health Care – celebrated its placement in a May 11 statement. 

“CMSRU takes great pride in its recognition as a leading institution in replenishing the physician workforce both in New Jersey and across the nation,” said Dr. Annette Reboli, dean of CMSRU. 

Ali Houshmand, president of Rowan University, added, “The well-being of our country depends on the front-line work of physicians in primary care fields. We are proud of our students and alumni whose work continues to be recognized and that has led to a nearly 50-point jump in the rankings in only one year.”