Kansas University’s Law School has been ranked the fifth “best value” law school in the nation by preLaw magazine.

KU rose 16 spots from its 21st-best ranking last year.

Law schools are listed if they meet four criteria: 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.

Total tuition and fees for a first-year Kansas resident are about $15,500.

The magazine’s fall issue ranks the top 20 schools and assigns a letter grade to the other 40 honorees.