Arkansas vs. DePaul University: Cost, Bar Passage & Outcomes Compared

On the most recent ABA Standard 509 data, Arkansas posts the higher first-time bar passage (80% vs 76.02%); Arkansas is cheaper on sticker tuition ($15,689 vs $55,328); DePaul University places more graduates in full-time JD jobs (88.4% vs 86.6%).

Side by side (ABA Standard 509)

MetricArkansasDePaul UniversityBetter
Admissions
Median LSAT158158Tie
Median undergraduate GPA3.713.61Arkansas
Acceptance rate26.6%34.8%Arkansas
Cost
Resident tuition$15,689$55,328Arkansas
Non-resident tuition$37,816$55,328Arkansas
Median grant$9,000$34,950DePaul University
Bar passage
First-time bar passage80%76.02%Arkansas
Two-year ultimate bar passage93.33%87.15%Arkansas
Bar passage vs. state average+2.9 pts-2.5 ptsArkansas
Employment
Full-time, long-term JD employment86.6%88.4%DePaul University
Large-firm (250+) employment7.6%11%DePaul University
Federal clerkships1.7%0%Arkansas

15-year trajectory

First-time bar passage: 74.74% in 2011 to 80% in 202565%70%75%80%85%90%111315182022242580%
First-time bar passage · 2011–2025
Arkansas — First-time bar passage
First-time bar passage: 89.81% in 2011 to 76.02% in 202550%60%70%80%90%100%111315182022242576.02%
First-time bar passage · 2011–2025
DePaul University — First-time bar passage
Resident tuition: $11,933 in 2011 to $15,689 in 2025$10,000$12,000$14,000$16,000$18,0001113151719212325$15,689
Resident tuition · 2011–2025
Arkansas — Resident tuition
Resident tuition: $41,690 in 2011 to $55,328 in 2025$40,000$45,000$50,000$55,000$60,0001113151719212325$55,328
Resident tuition · 2011–2025
DePaul University — Resident tuition

Full profiles & related

FAQ

Which is cheaper, Arkansas or DePaul University?

Arkansas is cheaper on sticker: resident tuition of $15,689 versus DePaul University's $55,328.

Which has better bar passage, Arkansas or DePaul University?

Arkansas has the higher first-time bar passage, 80% against DePaul University's 76.02%.

Which has better job outcomes, Arkansas or DePaul University?

DePaul University places more graduates in full-time, long-term JD jobs (88.4% vs 86.6%).

Arkansas vs DePaul 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), 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.

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