Kansas University’s School of Law has been named as a top 20 “Best Value” school by preLaw magazine.

Law schools must meet four criteria to be honored: their bar pass rate is higher than the state average; their average indebtedness is below $100,000; their employment rate nine months after graduation is 85 percent or higher; and tuition is less than $35,000 a year for in-state residents.

Tuition and fees for the 2010-11 academic year for a first-year Kansas resident are about $15,500.

Last year, the School of Law was ranked No. 21 on the Best Value list. An upcoming issue of preLaw magazine will rank the top 20 schools and assign letter grades to the other 40 honorees.