Dayton vs. Louisville: Cost, Bar Passage & Outcomes Compared
On the most recent ABA Standard 509 data, Dayton posts the higher first-time bar passage (87.96% vs 75.61%); Louisville is cheaper on sticker tuition ($27,000 vs $40,020); Louisville places more graduates in full-time JD jobs (93.3% vs 88%).
Side by side (ABA Standard 509)
| Metric | Dayton | Louisville | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Admissions | |||
| Median LSAT | 157 | 157 | Tie |
| Median undergraduate GPA | 3.60 | 3.67 | Louisville |
| Acceptance rate | 30.7% | 63.4% | Dayton |
| Cost | |||
| Resident tuition | $40,020 | $27,000 | Louisville |
| Non-resident tuition | $40,020 | $32,000 | Louisville |
| Median grant | $33,000 | $12,000 | Dayton |
| Bar passage | |||
| First-time bar passage | 87.96% | 75.61% | Dayton |
| Two-year ultimate bar passage | 88.1% | 86.75% | Dayton |
| Bar passage vs. state average | +7.9 pts | -2.9 pts | Dayton |
| Employment | |||
| Full-time, long-term JD employment | 88% | 93.3% | Louisville |
| Large-firm (250+) employment | 15.2% | 15.1% | Dayton |
| Federal clerkships | 0% | 0.8% | Louisville |
15-year trajectory
Full profiles & related
Dayton full profile · Louisville full profile
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Dayton or Louisville?
Louisville is cheaper on sticker: resident tuition of $27,000 versus Dayton's $40,020.
Which has better bar passage, Dayton or Louisville?
Dayton has the higher first-time bar passage, 87.96% against Louisville's 75.61%.
Which has better job outcomes, Dayton or Louisville?
Louisville places more graduates in full-time, long-term JD jobs (93.3% vs 88%).
Dayton vs Louisville: 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), Louisville 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.