Regent Law Continues Historic Rise in U.S. News Rankings

April 7, 2026

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (April 7, 2026) — Regent University School of Law has climbed to No. 91 (tie) in the latest U.S. News & World Report Best Law Schools rankings, continuing one of the most remarkable upward trajectories in American legal education.

Regent Law emerged from the unranked grouping in 2021 and has improved its ranking every year since, rising three spots from last year and 56 places overall. Over that five-year span, Regent Law stands as the fastest-rising law school in the nation and one of only a handful of schools to achieve consecutive annual improvement.

“This trajectory is simply a manifestation of God’s favor and the faithful work of my colleagues across so many years,” said S. Ernie Walton, Dean of Regent University School of Law. “Rankings don’t happen overnight. They are the fruit of deans who came before me, faculty who poured themselves into their students, and an institution that never wavered in its mission. We stayed true to who we are — a Christian law school committed to training practice-ready, purpose-driven lawyers — and I believe that faithfulness is now bearing fruit for the whole country to see.”

That commitment to excellence is evident in the remarkable success of Regent Law’s Moot Court Program, which recently won the top-16 invitational Hicks-Thomas National Moot Court Championship, the William B. Spong Jr. Moot Court Tournament, the John J. Gibbons Criminal Procedure Moot Court Competition, and the Touro Law and Religion Moot Court Competition, among other competition successes this season. These achievements underscore the school’s growing national reputation for excellence in practical legal training and advocacy.

Regent Law is also investing in the future of that tradition through the newly established Singer Center for Advocacy, which will soon occupy refurbished campus space dedicated to student mentorship, hands-on training, and preparation for national competitions.

This milestone arrives as Regent Law celebrates its 40th anniversary. What began as a small Christian law school has grown into a nationally recognized institution with an enduring purpose: preparing lawyers who love God and serve their clients with excellence and integrity.

“Forty years ago, our Founder dared to believe that a Christian law school could be excellent — not in spite of its convictions, but because of them,” said Dean Walton. “We are living proof of that vision. As we look to the future, I believe the best days of Regent Law are still ahead. Our students are among the most talented and mission-driven in the country, our faculty are doing work that matters for the law and for the nation, and this institution is positioned to have an extraordinary impact on the legal profession for decades to come.”

About Regent Law

Regent Law equips students to serve as purpose-driven, practice-ready attorneys grounded in timeless legal principles. More than 3,800 alumni practice in all 50 states and over 20 countries, including 38 currently serving as judges. In 2026, Regent ranked No. 91 in the nation in U.S. News & World Report — the fastest-rising law school in the nation from 2021 to 2026. Regent Law also achieved the highest first-time bar passage rate in Virginia on the 2024 exam and ranked 39th in the nation for first-time bar passage overall. Additional honors include a tie for second in the nation for professor accessibility and ninth for teaching quality according to Princeton Review. It offers a Juris Doctor (J.D.) in three-year and part-time formats, an online M.A. in Law, an online M.A. in Financial Planning & Law, an on-campus and online LL.M. in Human Rights, an on-campus and online LL.M. in American Legal Studies, and an online B.A. in Law.

About Regent University

Founded in 1977, Regent University is America’s premier Christian university, with nearly 14,000 students studying on its 100-acre campus in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and online worldwide. The university offers associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in more than 150 areas of study, including business, communication and the arts, counseling, cybersecurity, divinity, education, government, law, leadership, nursing, healthcare, and psychology. Regent University has been ranked the No. 1 Best Online Bachelor’s Program in Virginia for 14 years in a row (U.S. News & World Report, 2026) and the No.1 Best Christian College in America (Bible College Online, 2025).

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