Connecticut vs. South Carolina: Cost, Bar Passage & Outcomes Compared
On the most recent ABA Standard 509 data, Connecticut posts the higher first-time bar passage (84% vs 83.25%); South Carolina is cheaper on sticker tuition ($20,322 vs $30,354); South Carolina places more graduates in full-time JD jobs (93.7% vs 90.1%).
Side by side (ABA Standard 509)
| Metric | Connecticut | South Carolina | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Admissions | |||
| Median LSAT | 162 | 162 | Tie |
| Median undergraduate GPA | 3.78 | 3.67 | Connecticut |
| Acceptance rate | 20.1% | 29.9% | Connecticut |
| Cost | |||
| Resident tuition | $30,354 | $20,322 | South Carolina |
| Non-resident tuition | $61,396 | $38,100 | South Carolina |
| Median grant | $15,177 | $12,562 | Connecticut |
| Bar passage | |||
| First-time bar passage | 84% | 83.25% | Connecticut |
| Two-year ultimate bar passage | 91.37% | 86.67% | Connecticut |
| Bar passage vs. state average | +8.2 pts | +7.4 pts | Connecticut |
| Employment | |||
| Full-time, long-term JD employment | 90.1% | 93.7% | South Carolina |
| Large-firm (250+) employment | 18.3% | 14.7% | Connecticut |
| Federal clerkships | 0.7% | 1.6% | South Carolina |
15-year trajectory
Full profiles & related
Connecticut full profile · South Carolina full profile
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Connecticut or South Carolina?
South Carolina is cheaper on sticker: resident tuition of $20,322 versus Connecticut's $30,354.
Which has better bar passage, Connecticut or South Carolina?
Connecticut has the higher first-time bar passage, 84% against South Carolina's 83.25%.
Which has better job outcomes, Connecticut or South Carolina?
South Carolina places more graduates in full-time, long-term JD jobs (93.7% vs 90.1%).
Connecticut vs South Carolina: 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), South Carolina 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.