District of Columbia vs. North Dakota: Cost, Bar Passage & Outcomes Compared
On the most recent ABA Standard 509 data, North Dakota posts the higher first-time bar passage (68.35% vs 65.57%); District of Columbia is cheaper on sticker tuition ($12,438 vs $17,139); North Dakota places more graduates in full-time JD jobs (83.6% vs 71.2%).
Side by side (ABA Standard 509)
| Metric | District of Columbia | North Dakota | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Admissions | |||
| Median LSAT | 151 | 151 | Tie |
| Median undergraduate GPA | 3.28 | 3.48 | North Dakota |
| Acceptance rate | 37% | 63.1% | District of Columbia |
| Cost | |||
| Resident tuition | $12,438 | $17,139 | District of Columbia |
| Non-resident tuition | $28,874 | $34,249 | District of Columbia |
| Median grant | $8,292 | $3,875 | District of Columbia |
| Bar passage | |||
| First-time bar passage | 65.57% | 68.35% | North Dakota |
| Two-year ultimate bar passage | 75% | 81.01% | North Dakota |
| Bar passage vs. state average | -15.1 pts | -5 pts | North Dakota |
| Employment | |||
| Full-time, long-term JD employment | 71.2% | 83.6% | North Dakota |
| Large-firm (250+) employment | 2.4% | 0% | District of Columbia |
| Federal clerkships | 0% | 5.5% | North Dakota |
15-year trajectory
Full profiles & related
District of Columbia full profile · North Dakota full profile
FAQ
Which is cheaper, District of Columbia or North Dakota?
District of Columbia is cheaper on sticker: resident tuition of $12,438 versus North Dakota's $17,139.
Which has better bar passage, District of Columbia or North Dakota?
North Dakota has the higher first-time bar passage, 68.35% against District of Columbia's 65.57%.
Which has better job outcomes, District of Columbia or North Dakota?
North Dakota places more graduates in full-time, long-term JD jobs (83.6% vs 71.2%).
District of Columbia vs North Dakota: 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), North Dakota 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.