Albany Law School vs. St. John's University: Cost, Bar Passage & Outcomes Compared
Both are New York law schools. On the most recent ABA Standard 509 data, St. John's University is the more selective admit (median LSAT 164 vs 158); St. John's University posts the higher first-time bar passage (87.7% vs 74.3%); Albany Law School is cheaper on sticker tuition ($63,994 vs $75,170); St. John's University places more graduates in full-time JD jobs (92.8% vs 91.6%).
Side by side (ABA Standard 509)
| Metric | Albany Law School | St. John's University | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Admissions | |||
| Median LSAT | 158 | 164 | St. John's University |
| Median undergraduate GPA | 3.54 | 3.81 | St. John's University |
| Acceptance rate | 37.5% | 23.1% | St. John's University |
| Cost | |||
| Resident tuition | $63,994 | $75,170 | Albany Law School |
| Non-resident tuition | $63,994 | $75,170 | Albany Law School |
| Median grant | $38,000 | $60,000 | St. John's University |
| Bar passage | |||
| First-time bar passage | 74.3% | 87.7% | St. John's University |
| Two-year ultimate bar passage | 88.7% | 94.8% | St. John's University |
| Bar passage vs. state average | -11.5 pts | +1.6 pts | St. John's University |
| Employment | |||
| Full-time, long-term JD employment | 91.6% | 92.8% | St. John's University |
| Large-firm (250+) employment | 8.9% | 25.3% | St. John's University |
| Federal clerkships | 1.6% | 3.2% | St. John's University |
trajectory since 2011
Full profiles & related
Albany Law School full profile · St. John's University full profile · Pin both on the interactive map → · All New York law schools
FAQ
Is Albany Law School or St. John's University harder to get into?
St. John's University is the tougher admit — its median LSAT is 164 against Albany Law School's 158.
Which is cheaper, Albany Law School or St. John's University?
Albany Law School is cheaper on sticker: resident tuition of $63,994 versus St. John's University's $75,170.
Which has better bar passage, Albany Law School or St. John's University?
St. John's University has the higher first-time bar passage, 87.7% against Albany Law School's 74.3%.
Which has better job outcomes, Albany Law School or St. John's University?
St. John's University places more graduates in full-time, long-term JD jobs (92.8% vs 91.6%).
Albany Law School vs St. John's University: which is better?
It depends on what you weigh — the table above shows where each wins. Across the four headline measures (selectivity, sticker cost, first-time bar passage, and JD employment), St. John's University leads on more of them, but read the row that matters most to you rather than the count.
Source: ABA Standard 509 Required Disclosures, most recent reported cycle. Last updated June 26, 2026.