Ave Maria vs. Baltimore: Cost, Bar Passage & Outcomes Compared
On the most recent ABA Standard 509 data, Baltimore posts the higher first-time bar passage (70.7% vs 65.9%); Baltimore is cheaper on sticker tuition ($33,944 vs $49,500); Baltimore places more graduates in full-time JD jobs (85.8% vs 84.0%).
Side by side (ABA Standard 509)
| Metric | Ave Maria | Baltimore | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Admissions | |||
| Median LSAT | 155 | 155 | Tie |
| Median undergraduate GPA | 3.36 | 3.45 | Baltimore |
| Acceptance rate | 47.0% | 49.5% | Ave Maria |
| Cost | |||
| Resident tuition | $49,500 | $33,944 | Baltimore |
| Non-resident tuition | $49,500 | $50,624 | Ave Maria |
| Median grant | $30,000 | $15,000 | Ave Maria |
| Bar passage | |||
| First-time bar passage | 65.9% | 70.7% | Baltimore |
| Two-year ultimate bar passage | 85.2% | 78.4% | Ave Maria |
| Bar passage vs. state average | -7.9 pts | +0.1 pts | Baltimore |
| Employment | |||
| Full-time, long-term JD employment | 84.0% | 85.8% | Baltimore |
| Large-firm (250+) employment | 4.9% | 3.5% | Ave Maria |
| Federal clerkships | 0.0% | 0.5% | Baltimore |
trajectory since 2011
Full profiles & related
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FAQ
Which is cheaper, Ave Maria or Baltimore?
Baltimore is cheaper on sticker: resident tuition of $33,944 versus Ave Maria's $49,500.
Which has better bar passage, Ave Maria or Baltimore?
Baltimore has the higher first-time bar passage, 70.7% against Ave Maria's 65.9%.
Which has better job outcomes, Ave Maria or Baltimore?
Baltimore places more graduates in full-time, long-term JD jobs (85.8% vs 84.0%).
Ave Maria vs Baltimore: 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), Baltimore 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.