The call

Dayton vs. University of Mississippi: Cost, Bar Passage & Outcomes Compared

On the most recent ABA Standard 509 data, Dayton posts the higher first-time bar passage (88.0% vs 73.2%); University of Mississippi is cheaper on sticker tuition ($19,797 vs $40,020); University of Mississippi places more graduates in full-time JD jobs (88.1% vs 88.0%).

Side by side (ABA Standard 509)

MetricDaytonUniversity of MississippiBetter
Admissions
Median LSAT157157Tie
Median undergraduate GPA3.603.68University of Mississippi
Acceptance rate30.7%42.0%Dayton
Cost
Resident tuition$40,020$19,797University of Mississippi
Non-resident tuition$40,020$26,797University of Mississippi
Median grant$33,000$7,000Dayton
Bar passage
First-time bar passage88.0%73.2%Dayton
Two-year ultimate bar passage88.1%85.8%Dayton
Bar passage vs. state average+7.9 pts-6.6 ptsDayton
Employment
Full-time, long-term JD employment88.0%88.1%University of Mississippi
Large-firm (250+) employment15.2%9.1%Dayton
Federal clerkships0.0%5.7%University of Mississippi

trajectory since 2011

First-time bar passage: 80.7% in 2011 to 88.0% in 202550.0%60.0%70.0%80.0%90.0%100.0%111315182022242588.0%
First-time bar passage · 2011–2025
Dayton — First-time bar passage
First-time bar passage: 92.8% in 2011 to 73.2% in 202560.0%70.0%80.0%90.0%100.0%111315182022242573.2%
First-time bar passage · 2011–2025
University of Mississippi — First-time bar passage
Resident tuition: $31,598 in 2011 to $40,020 in 2025$30,000$32,500$35,000$37,500$40,000$42,5001113151719212325$40,020
Resident tuition · 2011–2025
Dayton — Resident tuition
Resident tuition: $11,293 in 2011 to $19,797 in 2025$10,000$12,500$15,000$17,500$20,000$22,5001113151719212325$19,797
Resident tuition · 2011–2025
University of Mississippi — Resident tuition

Full profiles & related

FAQ

Which is cheaper, Dayton or University of Mississippi?

University of Mississippi is cheaper on sticker: resident tuition of $19,797 versus Dayton's $40,020.

Which has better bar passage, Dayton or University of Mississippi?

Dayton has the higher first-time bar passage, 88.0% against University of Mississippi's 73.2%.

Which has better job outcomes, Dayton or University of Mississippi?

University of Mississippi places more graduates in full-time, long-term JD jobs (88.1% vs 88.0%).

Dayton vs University of Mississippi: 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), University of Mississippi 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.

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