Massachusetts/Dartmouth vs. Mississippi College: Cost, Bar Passage & Outcomes Compared

On the most recent ABA Standard 509 data, Mississippi College posts the higher first-time bar passage (63.41% vs 58.33%); Massachusetts/Dartmouth is cheaper on sticker tuition ($31,766 vs $37,980); Mississippi College places more graduates in full-time JD jobs (92.2% vs 78.6%).

Side by side (ABA Standard 509)

MetricMassachusetts/DartmouthMississippi CollegeBetter
Admissions
Median LSAT152152Tie
Median undergraduate GPA3.363.37Mississippi College
Acceptance rate52.2%59.8%Massachusetts/Dartmouth
Cost
Resident tuition$31,766$37,980Massachusetts/Dartmouth
Non-resident tuition$41,565$37,980Mississippi College
Median grant$15,000$22,000Mississippi College
Bar passage
First-time bar passage58.33%63.41%Mississippi College
Two-year ultimate bar passage84.34%82.52%Massachusetts/Dartmouth
Bar passage vs. state average-20.5 pts-16.2 ptsMississippi College
Employment
Full-time, long-term JD employment78.6%92.2%Mississippi College
Large-firm (250+) employment1%1%Tie
Federal clerkships0%7.8%Mississippi College

15-year trajectory

First-time bar passage: 61.11% in 2018 to 58.33% in 202550%60%70%80%90%181920212223242558.33%
First-time bar passage · 2018–2025
Massachusetts/Dartmouth — First-time bar passage
First-time bar passage: 71.64% in 2011 to 63.41% in 202540%60%80%100%111315182022242563.41%
First-time bar passage · 2011–2025
Mississippi College — First-time bar passage
Resident tuition: $24,016 in 2011 to $31,766 in 2025$22,500$25,000$27,500$30,000$32,5001113151719212325$31,766
Resident tuition · 2011–2025
Massachusetts/Dartmouth — Resident tuition
Resident tuition: $29,150 in 2011 to $37,980 in 2025$25,000$30,000$35,000$40,0001113151719212325$37,980
Resident tuition · 2011–2025
Mississippi College — Resident tuition

Full profiles & related

FAQ

Which is cheaper, Massachusetts/Dartmouth or Mississippi College?

Massachusetts/Dartmouth is cheaper on sticker: resident tuition of $31,766 versus Mississippi College's $37,980.

Which has better bar passage, Massachusetts/Dartmouth or Mississippi College?

Mississippi College has the higher first-time bar passage, 63.41% against Massachusetts/Dartmouth's 58.33%.

Which has better job outcomes, Massachusetts/Dartmouth or Mississippi College?

Mississippi College places more graduates in full-time, long-term JD jobs (92.2% vs 78.6%).

Massachusetts/Dartmouth vs Mississippi College: 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), Mississippi College 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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