The call

University of Arizona vs. Houston: Cost, Bar Passage & Outcomes Compared

On the most recent ABA Standard 509 data, Houston posts the higher first-time bar passage (88.6% vs 72.2%); University of Arizona is cheaper on sticker tuition ($26,490 vs $31,326); University of Arizona places more graduates in full-time JD jobs (93.1% vs 92.4%).

Side by side (ABA Standard 509)

MetricUniversity of ArizonaHoustonBetter
Admissions
Median LSAT163163Tie
Median undergraduate GPA3.783.79Houston
Acceptance rate27.9%23.0%Houston
Cost
Resident tuition$26,490$31,326University of Arizona
Non-resident tuition$31,360$46,051University of Arizona
Median grant$25,235$11,500University of Arizona
Bar passage
First-time bar passage72.2%88.6%Houston
Two-year ultimate bar passage93.0%92.7%University of Arizona
Bar passage vs. state average-3.1 pts+7.3 ptsHouston
Employment
Full-time, long-term JD employment93.1%92.4%University of Arizona
Large-firm (250+) employment18.4%27.3%Houston
Federal clerkships4.6%1.7%University of Arizona

trajectory since 2011

First-time bar passage: 93.9% in 2011 to 72.2% in 202560.0%70.0%80.0%90.0%100.0%111315182022242572.2%
First-time bar passage · 2011–2025
University of Arizona — First-time bar passage
First-time bar passage: 89.4% in 2011 to 88.6% in 202570.0%80.0%90.0%100.0%111315182022242588.6%
First-time bar passage · 2011–2025
Houston — First-time bar passage
Resident tuition: $26,089 in 2011 to $26,490 in 2025$24,000$25,000$26,000$27,000$28,0001113151719212325$26,490
Resident tuition · 2011–2025
University of Arizona — Resident tuition
Resident tuition: $28,130 in 2011 to $31,326 in 2025$26,000$28,000$30,000$32,000$34,0001113151719212325$31,326
Resident tuition · 2011–2025
Houston — Resident tuition

Full profiles & related

FAQ

Which is cheaper, University of Arizona or Houston?

University of Arizona is cheaper on sticker: resident tuition of $26,490 versus Houston's $31,326.

Which has better bar passage, University of Arizona or Houston?

Houston has the higher first-time bar passage, 88.6% against University of Arizona's 72.2%.

Which has better job outcomes, University of Arizona or Houston?

University of Arizona places more graduates in full-time, long-term JD jobs (93.1% vs 92.4%).

University of Arizona vs Houston: 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), University of Arizona 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.

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