Arkansas at Little Rock vs. Arkansas: Cost, Bar Passage & Outcomes Compared
Both are Arkansas law schools. On the most recent ABA Standard 509 data, Arkansas is the more selective admit (median LSAT 158 vs 153); Arkansas posts the higher first-time bar passage (80% vs 73.53%); Arkansas at Little Rock is cheaper on sticker tuition ($13,770 vs $15,689); Arkansas places more graduates in full-time JD jobs (86.6% vs 84.1%).
Side by side (ABA Standard 509)
| Metric | Arkansas at Little Rock | Arkansas | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Admissions | |||
| Median LSAT | 153 | 158 | Arkansas |
| Median undergraduate GPA | 3.41 | 3.71 | Arkansas |
| Acceptance rate | 54.9% | 26.6% | Arkansas |
| Cost | |||
| Resident tuition | $13,770 | $15,689 | Arkansas at Little Rock |
| Non-resident tuition | $29,174 | $37,816 | Arkansas at Little Rock |
| Median grant | $7,461 | $9,000 | Arkansas |
| Bar passage | |||
| First-time bar passage | 73.53% | 80% | Arkansas |
| Two-year ultimate bar passage | 87.14% | 93.33% | Arkansas |
| Bar passage vs. state average | -3 pts | +2.9 pts | Arkansas |
| Employment | |||
| Full-time, long-term JD employment | 84.1% | 86.6% | Arkansas |
| Large-firm (250+) employment | 1.6% | 7.6% | Arkansas |
| Federal clerkships | 3% | 1.7% | Arkansas at Little Rock |
15-year trajectory
Full profiles & related
Arkansas at Little Rock full profile · Arkansas full profile · All Arkansas law schools
FAQ
Is Arkansas at Little Rock or Arkansas harder to get into?
Arkansas is the tougher admit — its median LSAT is 158 against Arkansas at Little Rock's 153.
Which is cheaper, Arkansas at Little Rock or Arkansas?
Arkansas at Little Rock is cheaper on sticker: resident tuition of $13,770 versus Arkansas's $15,689.
Which has better bar passage, Arkansas at Little Rock or Arkansas?
Arkansas has the higher first-time bar passage, 80% against Arkansas at Little Rock's 73.53%.
Which has better job outcomes, Arkansas at Little Rock or Arkansas?
Arkansas places more graduates in full-time, long-term JD jobs (86.6% vs 84.1%).
Arkansas at Little Rock vs Arkansas: 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), Arkansas 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.