Massachusetts/Dartmouth vs. Vermont Law School: Cost, Bar Passage & Outcomes Compared

On the most recent ABA Standard 509 data, Vermont Law School posts the higher first-time bar passage (64.93% vs 58.33%); Massachusetts/Dartmouth is cheaper on sticker tuition ($31,766 vs $55,382); Massachusetts/Dartmouth places more graduates in full-time JD jobs (78.6% vs 77.7%).

Side by side (ABA Standard 509)

MetricMassachusetts/DartmouthVermont Law SchoolBetter
Admissions
Median LSAT152152Tie
Median undergraduate GPA3.363.25Massachusetts/Dartmouth
Acceptance rate52.2%58.5%Massachusetts/Dartmouth
Cost
Resident tuition$31,766$55,382Massachusetts/Dartmouth
Non-resident tuition$41,565$55,382Massachusetts/Dartmouth
Median grant$15,000$28,000Vermont Law School
Bar passage
First-time bar passage58.33%64.93%Vermont Law School
Two-year ultimate bar passage84.34%76.3%Massachusetts/Dartmouth
Bar passage vs. state average-20.5 pts-11.5 ptsVermont Law School
Employment
Full-time, long-term JD employment78.6%77.7%Massachusetts/Dartmouth
Large-firm (250+) employment1%2.3%Vermont Law School
Federal clerkships0%0%Tie

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: 79.82% in 2011 to 64.93% in 202540%50%60%70%80%90%111315182022242564.93%
First-time bar passage · 2011–2025
Vermont Law School — 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: $43,993 in 2011 to $55,382 in 2025$40,000$45,000$50,000$55,000$60,0001113151719212325$55,382
Resident tuition · 2011–2025
Vermont Law School — Resident tuition

Full profiles & related

Massachusetts/Dartmouth full profile · Vermont Law School full profile

FAQ

Which is cheaper, Massachusetts/Dartmouth or Vermont Law School?

Massachusetts/Dartmouth is cheaper on sticker: resident tuition of $31,766 versus Vermont Law School's $55,382.

Which has better bar passage, Massachusetts/Dartmouth or Vermont Law School?

Vermont Law School has the higher first-time bar passage, 64.93% against Massachusetts/Dartmouth's 58.33%.

Which has better job outcomes, Massachusetts/Dartmouth or Vermont Law School?

Massachusetts/Dartmouth places more graduates in full-time, long-term JD jobs (78.6% vs 77.7%).

Massachusetts/Dartmouth vs Vermont Law School: 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), Massachusetts/Dartmouth 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