Arkansas vs. Hawaii: Cost, Bar Passage & Outcomes Compared
On the most recent ABA Standard 509 data, Arkansas posts the higher first-time bar passage (80.0% vs 76.9%); Arkansas is cheaper on sticker tuition ($15,689 vs $23,304); Hawaii places more graduates in full-time JD jobs (91.8% vs 86.6%).
Side by side (ABA Standard 509)
| Metric | Arkansas | Hawaii | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Admissions | |||
| Median LSAT | 158 | 158 | Tie |
| Median undergraduate GPA | 3.71 | 3.62 | Arkansas |
| Acceptance rate | 26.6% | 26.2% | Hawaii |
| Cost | |||
| Resident tuition | $15,689 | $23,304 | Arkansas |
| Non-resident tuition | $37,816 | $46,728 | Arkansas |
| Median grant | $9,000 | $7,000 | Arkansas |
| Bar passage | |||
| First-time bar passage | 80.0% | 76.9% | Arkansas |
| Two-year ultimate bar passage | 93.3% | 79.4% | Arkansas |
| Bar passage vs. state average | +2.9 pts | +2 pts | Arkansas |
| Employment | |||
| Full-time, long-term JD employment | 86.6% | 91.8% | Hawaii |
| Large-firm (250+) employment | 7.6% | 0.0% | Arkansas |
| Federal clerkships | 1.7% | 3.1% | Hawaii |
trajectory since 2011
Full profiles & related
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FAQ
Which is cheaper, Arkansas or Hawaii?
Arkansas is cheaper on sticker: resident tuition of $15,689 versus Hawaii's $23,304.
Which has better bar passage, Arkansas or Hawaii?
Arkansas has the higher first-time bar passage, 80.0% against Hawaii's 76.9%.
Which has better job outcomes, Arkansas or Hawaii?
Hawaii places more graduates in full-time, long-term JD jobs (91.8% vs 86.6%).
Arkansas vs Hawaii: 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.