Arkansas at Little Rock vs. Illinois-Chicago: Cost, Bar Passage & Outcomes Compared
On the most recent ABA Standard 509 data, Arkansas at Little Rock posts the higher first-time bar passage (73.53% vs 60.14%); Arkansas at Little Rock is cheaper on sticker tuition ($13,770 vs $36,192); Arkansas at Little Rock places more graduates in full-time JD jobs (84.1% vs 80.3%).
Side by side (ABA Standard 509)
| Metric | Arkansas at Little Rock | Illinois-Chicago | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Admissions | |||
| Median LSAT | 153 | 153 | Tie |
| Median undergraduate GPA | 3.41 | 3.40 | Arkansas at Little Rock |
| Acceptance rate | 54.9% | 52.6% | Illinois-Chicago |
| Cost | |||
| Resident tuition | $13,770 | $36,192 | Arkansas at Little Rock |
| Non-resident tuition | $29,174 | $45,240 | Arkansas at Little Rock |
| Median grant | $7,461 | $23,250 | Illinois-Chicago |
| Bar passage | |||
| First-time bar passage | 73.53% | 60.14% | Arkansas at Little Rock |
| Two-year ultimate bar passage | 87.14% | 77.78% | Arkansas at Little Rock |
| Bar passage vs. state average | -3 pts | -18.7 pts | Arkansas at Little Rock |
| Employment | |||
| Full-time, long-term JD employment | 84.1% | 80.3% | Arkansas at Little Rock |
| Large-firm (250+) employment | 1.6% | 5.4% | Illinois-Chicago |
| Federal clerkships | 3% | 0.4% | Arkansas at Little Rock |
15-year trajectory
Full profiles & related
Arkansas at Little Rock full profile · Illinois-Chicago full profile
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Arkansas at Little Rock or Illinois-Chicago?
Arkansas at Little Rock is cheaper on sticker: resident tuition of $13,770 versus Illinois-Chicago's $36,192.
Which has better bar passage, Arkansas at Little Rock or Illinois-Chicago?
Arkansas at Little Rock has the higher first-time bar passage, 73.53% against Illinois-Chicago's 60.14%.
Which has better job outcomes, Arkansas at Little Rock or Illinois-Chicago?
Arkansas at Little Rock places more graduates in full-time, long-term JD jobs (84.1% vs 80.3%).
Arkansas at Little Rock vs Illinois-Chicago: 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 at Little Rock 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.