Albany Law School vs. Syracuse University: Cost, Bar Passage & Outcomes Compared
Both are New York law schools. On the most recent ABA Standard 509 data, Syracuse University posts the higher first-time bar passage (82.9% vs 74.27%); Albany Law School is cheaper on sticker tuition ($63,994 vs $64,650); Albany Law School places more graduates in full-time JD jobs (91.6% vs 90.9%).
Side by side (ABA Standard 509)
| Metric | Albany Law School | Syracuse University | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Admissions | |||
| Median LSAT | 158 | 158 | Tie |
| Median undergraduate GPA | 3.54 | 3.60 | Syracuse University |
| Acceptance rate | 37.5% | 34.6% | Syracuse University |
| Cost | |||
| Resident tuition | $63,994 | $64,650 | Albany Law School |
| Non-resident tuition | $63,994 | $64,650 | Albany Law School |
| Median grant | $38,000 | $24,351 | Albany Law School |
| Bar passage | |||
| First-time bar passage | 74.27% | 82.9% | Syracuse University |
| Two-year ultimate bar passage | 88.68% | 82.45% | Albany Law School |
| Bar passage vs. state average | -11.5 pts | +0.3 pts | Syracuse University |
| Employment | |||
| Full-time, long-term JD employment | 91.6% | 90.9% | Albany Law School |
| Large-firm (250+) employment | 8.9% | 10.1% | Syracuse University |
| Federal clerkships | 1.6% | 1.4% | Albany Law School |
15-year trajectory
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FAQ
Which is cheaper, Albany Law School or Syracuse University?
Albany Law School is cheaper on sticker: resident tuition of $63,994 versus Syracuse University's $64,650.
Which has better bar passage, Albany Law School or Syracuse University?
Syracuse University has the higher first-time bar passage, 82.9% against Albany Law School's 74.27%.
Which has better job outcomes, Albany Law School or Syracuse University?
Albany Law School places more graduates in full-time, long-term JD jobs (91.6% vs 90.9%).
Albany Law School vs Syracuse 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), Albany Law School 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.