Charleston vs. Mitchell/Hamline: Cost, Bar Passage & Outcomes Compared

On the most recent ABA Standard 509 data, Charleston posts the higher first-time bar passage (74.07% vs 70.98%); Charleston is cheaper on sticker tuition ($48,600 vs $55,300); Mitchell/Hamline places more graduates in full-time JD jobs (83.7% vs 81.4%).

Side by side (ABA Standard 509)

MetricCharlestonMitchell/HamlineBetter
Admissions
Median LSAT154154Tie
Median undergraduate GPA3.513.29Charleston
Acceptance rate50.2%51.4%Charleston
Cost
Resident tuition$48,600$55,300Charleston
Non-resident tuition$48,600$55,300Charleston
Median grant$20,000$34,730Mitchell/Hamline
Bar passage
First-time bar passage74.07%70.98%Charleston
Two-year ultimate bar passage84.91%85.02%Mitchell/Hamline
Bar passage vs. state average-2.8 pts-10.6 ptsCharleston
Employment
Full-time, long-term JD employment81.4%83.7%Mitchell/Hamline
Large-firm (250+) employment2%1.5%Charleston
Federal clerkships0.5%0.6%Mitchell/Hamline

15-year trajectory

First-time bar passage: 77.46% in 2011 to 74.07% in 202540%50%60%70%80%111315182022242574.07%
First-time bar passage · 2011–2025
Charleston — First-time bar passage
First-time bar passage: 80% in 2016 to 70.98% in 202550%60%70%80%90%161921232570.98%
First-time bar passage · 2016–2025
Mitchell/Hamline — First-time bar passage
Resident tuition: $36,774 in 2011 to $48,600 in 2025$35,000$40,000$45,000$50,0001113151719212325$48,600
Resident tuition · 2011–2025
Charleston — Resident tuition
Resident tuition: $40,570 in 2016 to $55,300 in 2025$35,000$40,000$45,000$50,000$55,000$60,000161820222425$55,300
Resident tuition · 2016–2025
Mitchell/Hamline — Resident tuition

Full profiles & related

Charleston full profile · Mitchell/Hamline full profile

FAQ

Which is cheaper, Charleston or Mitchell/Hamline?

Charleston is cheaper on sticker: resident tuition of $48,600 versus Mitchell/Hamline's $55,300.

Which has better bar passage, Charleston or Mitchell/Hamline?

Charleston has the higher first-time bar passage, 74.07% against Mitchell/Hamline's 70.98%.

Which has better job outcomes, Charleston or Mitchell/Hamline?

Mitchell/Hamline places more graduates in full-time, long-term JD jobs (83.7% vs 81.4%).

Charleston vs Mitchell/Hamline: 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), Charleston 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.

Exhibit 509 by 509αNewsletterTermsPrivacyAccessibilitySitemap● Sourced from ABA Standard 509 · Last synced June 26, 2026