Denver vs. Nevada-Las Vegas: Cost, Bar Passage & Outcomes Compared

On the most recent ABA Standard 509 data, Denver posts the higher first-time bar passage (84.89% vs 77.16%); Nevada-Las Vegas is cheaper on sticker tuition ($31,518 vs $63,390); Nevada-Las Vegas places more graduates in full-time JD jobs (94% vs 84.6%).

Side by side (ABA Standard 509)

MetricDenverNevada-Las VegasBetter
Admissions
Median LSAT160160Tie
Median undergraduate GPA3.663.76Nevada-Las Vegas
Acceptance rate41.3%30.8%Nevada-Las Vegas
Cost
Resident tuition$63,390$31,518Nevada-Las Vegas
Non-resident tuition$63,390$46,040Nevada-Las Vegas
Median grant$30,000$22,998Denver
Bar passage
First-time bar passage84.89%77.16%Denver
Two-year ultimate bar passage89.18%89.15%Denver
Bar passage vs. state average-0.2 pts+6.2 ptsNevada-Las Vegas
Employment
Full-time, long-term JD employment84.6%94%Nevada-Las Vegas
Large-firm (250+) employment12%12%Tie
Federal clerkships0.4%2.6%Nevada-Las Vegas

15-year trajectory

First-time bar passage: 86.16% in 2011 to 84.89% in 202575%80%85%90%111315182022242584.89%
First-time bar passage · 2011–2025
Denver — First-time bar passage
First-time bar passage: 71.76% in 2011 to 77.16% in 202560%65%70%75%80%111921232577.16%
First-time bar passage · 2011–2025
Nevada-Las Vegas — First-time bar passage
Resident tuition: $38,502 in 2011 to $63,390 in 2025$30,000$40,000$50,000$60,000$70,0001113151719212325$63,390
Resident tuition · 2011–2025
Denver — Resident tuition
Resident tuition: $24,752 in 2011 to $31,518 in 2025$24,000$26,000$28,000$30,000$32,0001114161820222425$31,518
Resident tuition · 2011–2025
Nevada-Las Vegas — Resident tuition

Full profiles & related

Denver full profile · Nevada-Las Vegas full profile

FAQ

Which is cheaper, Denver or Nevada-Las Vegas?

Nevada-Las Vegas is cheaper on sticker: resident tuition of $31,518 versus Denver's $63,390.

Which has better bar passage, Denver or Nevada-Las Vegas?

Denver has the higher first-time bar passage, 84.89% against Nevada-Las Vegas's 77.16%.

Which has better job outcomes, Denver or Nevada-Las Vegas?

Nevada-Las Vegas places more graduates in full-time, long-term JD jobs (94% vs 84.6%).

Denver vs Nevada-Las Vegas: 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), Nevada-Las Vegas 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