Hawaii vs. Maine: Cost, Bar Passage & Outcomes Compared
On the most recent ABA Standard 509 data, Maine posts the higher first-time bar passage (84.4% vs 76.9%); Hawaii is cheaper on sticker tuition ($23,304 vs $26,100); Hawaii places more graduates in full-time JD jobs (91.8% vs 83.0%).
Side by side (ABA Standard 509)
| Metric | Hawaii | Maine | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Admissions | |||
| Median LSAT | 158 | 158 | Tie |
| Median undergraduate GPA | 3.62 | 3.70 | Maine |
| Acceptance rate | 26.2% | 37.3% | Hawaii |
| Cost | |||
| Resident tuition | $23,304 | $26,100 | Hawaii |
| Non-resident tuition | $46,728 | $38,160 | Maine |
| Median grant | $7,000 | $23,535 | Maine |
| Bar passage | |||
| First-time bar passage | 76.9% | 84.4% | Maine |
| Two-year ultimate bar passage | 79.4% | 88.6% | Maine |
| Bar passage vs. state average | +2 pts | +9.3 pts | Maine |
| Employment | |||
| Full-time, long-term JD employment | 91.8% | 83.0% | Hawaii |
| Large-firm (250+) employment | 0.0% | 2.2% | Maine |
| Federal clerkships | 3.1% | 2.3% | Hawaii |
trajectory since 2011
Full profiles & related
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FAQ
Which is cheaper, Hawaii or Maine?
Hawaii is cheaper on sticker: resident tuition of $23,304 versus Maine's $26,100.
Which has better bar passage, Hawaii or Maine?
Maine has the higher first-time bar passage, 84.4% against Hawaii's 76.9%.
Which has better job outcomes, Hawaii or Maine?
Hawaii places more graduates in full-time, long-term JD jobs (91.8% vs 83.0%).
Hawaii vs Maine: 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), Hawaii 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.