Written by: Hannah Huston
As 2025 comes to a close, Iowa Law is reflecting on a year marked by national recognition, academic leadership, and meaningful engagement across our community. From top rankings showcasing value, to alumni awards, faculty distinctions, and stories of student leadership, these highlights capture the impact Iowa Law made throughout the year.
Top 10 most visited Iowa Law stories:
‘U.S. News & World Report’ ranks Iowa Law a top school for paying off debt
Iowa Law earned the No. 13 spot on the latest U.S. News & World Report list of the top 25 law schools with the highest salary-to-debt ratios—highlighting the exceptional value Iowa Law offers its students.
Celebrating the 2025 Iowa Law Alumni Award recipients
Iowa Law announced the recipients of its annual Alumni Awards. Tara Sutton (92JD) received the Alumni Achievement Award, Melvin Shaw (04JD) received the Alumni Service Award, Mackensie Graham (21JD) received the Emerging Leader Award, and Gretchen Wolf (02JD) received the Iowa Law Review Distinguished Alumni Award.
Iowa Law announces 2025 class profile
Iowa Law’s 2025 class is made up of 159 students who are poised to make significant contributions in the legal profession. The class has an average age of 24 and includes 56% male and 44% female students.
Iowa Law School Foundation welcomes new board members
The Iowa Law School Foundation (ILSF) elected two new alumni members and two student members to its membership. The ILSF Board works to support alumni relations, fundraising, endowment management, and programming.
Five Iowa Law professors named to endowed positions
Five faculty members at Iowa Law were named to endowed positions ahead of the 2025-2026 academic year. Endowed chairs and professorships are the highest level of distinction bestowed upon faculty members, recognizing their exceptional contributions to legal education and supporting their continued advancement in the field.
Iowa Law named a top 3 “best return on investment” law school
Iowa Law earned the No. 3 spot on a list of the top ten law schools for best return on investment (ROI) published recently by the American Bar Association Journal. The ROI score was determined by cost, employment outcomes, and bar passage rates.
Photo Recap: Iowa Law Reunion Weekend 2025
Reunion Weekend 2025 took place during the University of Iowa’s Homecoming weekend in September. The weekend featured several milestone reunions, a cookout at the Boyd Law Building, alumni awards, and much more.
2025–2026 editorial boards announced for Iowa Law's student-edited legal journals
The editorial boards for Iowa Law’s four student-edited journals for the 2025-2026 year were announced. Board members are commended for their dedication, leadership, and commitment to advancing legal scholarship.
Many distinguished Iowa Law alumni preside over federal courtrooms across the country. While each one followed a unique career path to get there, they have one thing in common: gratitude for their legal education.
Iowa Law announces faculty appointment of Katharine Baker
Iowa Law welcomed Katharine Baker, Aliber Family Chair in Law, who is a renowned expert in family law, Baker brings expertise on marriage, parenthood, and the law’s intersection with women’s intimate lives.
Read more of the latest from Iowa Law.