Despite the largest number of applicants, the class is 3 percent smaller than the current second-year class, and about 25 percent smaller than fall 2007 class, Charles Roboski, assistant dean of admissions and financial aid for the College of Law, said in an email.

In 2012, MSU College of Law was ranked at 82 of 195 law schools in the nation in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Law Schools — a 13-spot jump from its place as number 95 in 2011.

The list ranked law schools based on data from fall 2011 and early 2012.

Law professor David Thronson said he has seen strong law students graduate from the college, and the degree is becoming more and more valuable to students.

But Thronson said the lack of jobs remains a major concern students, faculty and administrators must keep in mind.

“(We try to) make sure we have a program that maximizes the opportunities our graduates will have,” Thronson said.

Megen Miller, second-year law student, said she was given a full ride to the MSU College of Law and accepted the offer rather than attending another school where she would be left with debt after graduation.

Miller said her choice also was based on the college’s increasing rankings and opportunities for financial aid.

“It has to do with that (the college) is more up and coming,” Miller said. “They offer a lot of scholarships.”

Roboski said the MSU College of Law has made improvements in the past four years that could be the cause of this year’s large pool of applicants, including more than a dozen new faculty members, a larger scholarship program and an expanded clinical program, where students can practice law outside of the classroom.