The Kansas University School of Law made the top 20 as a “best value” law school, according to National Jurist magazine.

KU weighed in at No. 18. Last year, it didn’t make the top 20 list.

“We are proud of this ranking because it reflects our broader definition of value – one that goes beyond our affordable tuition to consider how well our graduates are prepared to excel in their careers,” said Stephen Mazza, dean of the law school.

KU was one of only four schools on the “best value” list to also rank in the top 25 percent of law schools whose 2013 graduates were hired by the nation’s largest law firms, according to the National Law Journal.

In calculating the “best value” ranking, National Jurist considers employment success, price of tuition, student debt accumulation and bar passage rate.