Published on July 24, 2025 by Morgan Black  
Bailey Fisher with group
Bailey Fisher, co-lead admission ambassador for 2025-26, collaborates with fellow students.

The Princeton Review released its Best Law Schools 2025 list, which includes Samford University Cumberland School of Law.

Cumberland School of Law is ranked among the best in the nation in two specialized categories: No. 5 for Best Quality of Life, up one spot from the previous year, and No. 9 for Greatest Resources for Women. 

Cumberland School of Law has consecutively ranked in the top 10 in the Best Quality of Life category. Rankings are based on students’ responses to surveys about the school’s community, location, quality of social life and research resources. 

"I was looking for a law school that would challenge me but also support me through my academic career,” said Bailey Fisher, a rising third-year law student and co-lead admission ambassador for 2025-26. “I chose Cumberland School of Law because I immediately knew I could thrive and be successful in its environment. The faculty and staff genuinely care about student success, and the students support and encourage one another in and out of the classroom. Being in a supportive environment is crucial for success in law school."

In addition to student organizations and opportunities for students to connect at a social level, an integral component of the Cumberland School of Law environment is the integration of the Academic and Bar Success programming. These efforts, led by assistant dean Lynn Hogewood, support students at every stage of their legal education, from the first-year summer program all the way through bar exam preparation and into their careers. Through workshops, events, individualized support and mentoring groups, the program fosters academic achievement, professional development and personal well-being. 

“From faculty, staff and the student body on campus to alumni and community colleagues off campus, Cumberland encourages and prioritizes academic success, practical lawyering skills and overall well-being for the holistic success of our students,” Hogewood said. “Being recognized as a law school that consistently offers the best quality of life validates the care and consideration Cumberland offers for its students.”

For the third year in a row, Cumberland School of Law ranks among the top 10 in the Greatest Resources for Women category. This list factors in the percentage of women enrolled and student responses to a survey on whether all students are afforded equal treatment by peers and faculty regardless of their gender. 

In addition to these top rankings, Cumberland School of Law continues to be recognized by The Princeton Review for the Best Online Master of Studies in Law Programs. The asynchronous degree offers legal training to nonlawyers whose careers involve compliance fields such as financial services, health law, higher education and legal operations.

“These national recognitions affirm the values we prioritize every day—student well-being and practical legal education,” said Dean Blake Hudson. “Being ranked No. 5 for Best Quality of Life and No. 9 for Greatest Resources for Women reflects our supportive, student-centered community, which has become a hallmark of a Cumberland School of Law education. We’re also proud to see continued recognition for our innovative online Master of Studies in Law program, which extends the Cumberland experience to working professionals across the country.”
 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 6,101 students from 45 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks with the second highest score in the nation for its 98% Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.