Arkansas vs. Maine: Cost, Bar Passage & Outcomes Compared
On the most recent ABA Standard 509 data, Maine posts the higher first-time bar passage (84.42% vs 80%); Arkansas is cheaper on sticker tuition ($15,689 vs $26,100); Arkansas places more graduates in full-time JD jobs (86.6% vs 83%).
Side by side (ABA Standard 509)
| Metric | Arkansas | Maine | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Admissions | |||
| Median LSAT | 158 | 158 | Tie |
| Median undergraduate GPA | 3.71 | 3.70 | Arkansas |
| Acceptance rate | 26.6% | 37.3% | Arkansas |
| Cost | |||
| Resident tuition | $15,689 | $26,100 | Arkansas |
| Non-resident tuition | $37,816 | $38,160 | Arkansas |
| Median grant | $9,000 | $23,535 | Maine |
| Bar passage | |||
| First-time bar passage | 80% | 84.42% | Maine |
| Two-year ultimate bar passage | 93.33% | 88.57% | Arkansas |
| Bar passage vs. state average | +2.9 pts | +9.3 pts | Maine |
| Employment | |||
| Full-time, long-term JD employment | 86.6% | 83% | Arkansas |
| Large-firm (250+) employment | 7.6% | 2.2% | Arkansas |
| Federal clerkships | 1.7% | 2.3% | Maine |
15-year trajectory
Full profiles & related
Arkansas full profile · Maine full profile
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Arkansas or Maine?
Arkansas is cheaper on sticker: resident tuition of $15,689 versus Maine's $26,100.
Which has better bar passage, Arkansas or Maine?
Maine has the higher first-time bar passage, 84.42% against Arkansas's 80%.
Which has better job outcomes, Arkansas or Maine?
Arkansas places more graduates in full-time, long-term JD jobs (86.6% vs 83%).
Arkansas vs Maine: 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.