Arkansas vs. Marquette University: Cost, Bar Passage & Outcomes Compared
On the most recent ABA Standard 509 data, Arkansas posts the higher first-time bar passage (80% vs 50%); Arkansas is cheaper on sticker tuition ($15,689 vs $51,970); Marquette University places more graduates in full-time JD jobs (95.4% vs 86.6%).
Side by side (ABA Standard 509)
| Metric | Arkansas | Marquette University | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Admissions | |||
| Median LSAT | 158 | 158 | Tie |
| Median undergraduate GPA | 3.71 | 3.70 | Arkansas |
| Acceptance rate | 26.6% | 22.1% | Marquette University |
| Cost | |||
| Resident tuition | $15,689 | $51,970 | Arkansas |
| Non-resident tuition | $37,816 | $51,970 | Arkansas |
| Median grant | $9,000 | $23,000 | Marquette University |
| Bar passage | |||
| First-time bar passage | 80% | 50% | Arkansas |
| Two-year ultimate bar passage | 93.33% | 100% | Marquette University |
| Bar passage vs. state average | +2.9 pts | -20.9 pts | Arkansas |
| Employment | |||
| Full-time, long-term JD employment | 86.6% | 95.4% | Marquette University |
| Large-firm (250+) employment | 7.6% | 9.7% | Marquette University |
| Federal clerkships | 1.7% | 0.6% | Arkansas |
15-year trajectory
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FAQ
Which is cheaper, Arkansas or Marquette University?
Arkansas is cheaper on sticker: resident tuition of $15,689 versus Marquette University's $51,970.
Which has better bar passage, Arkansas or Marquette University?
Arkansas has the higher first-time bar passage, 80% against Marquette University's 50%.
Which has better job outcomes, Arkansas or Marquette University?
Marquette University places more graduates in full-time, long-term JD jobs (95.4% vs 86.6%).
Arkansas vs Marquette 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.