New England Law/Boston vs. Western New England University: Cost, Bar Passage & Outcomes Compared
Both are Massachusetts law schools. On the most recent ABA Standard 509 data, New England Law/Boston posts the higher first-time bar passage (79.2% vs 77.2%); Western New England University is cheaper on sticker tuition ($50,320 vs $62,896); Western New England University places more graduates in full-time JD jobs (69.0% vs 67.6%).
Side by side (ABA Standard 509)
| Metric | New England Law/Boston | Western New England University | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Admissions | |||
| Median LSAT | 153 | 153 | Tie |
| Median undergraduate GPA | 3.37 | 3.27 | New England Law/Boston |
| Acceptance rate | 61.3% | 51.9% | Western New England University |
| Cost | |||
| Resident tuition | $62,896 | $50,320 | Western New England University |
| Non-resident tuition | $62,896 | $50,320 | Western New England University |
| Median grant | $40,000 | $30,000 | New England Law/Boston |
| Bar passage | |||
| First-time bar passage | 79.2% | 77.2% | New England Law/Boston |
| Two-year ultimate bar passage | 90.0% | 86.4% | New England Law/Boston |
| Bar passage vs. state average | -4.1 pts | -3.6 pts | Western New England University |
| Employment | |||
| Full-time, long-term JD employment | 67.6% | 69.0% | Western New England University |
| Large-firm (250+) employment | 3.0% | 1.2% | New England Law/Boston |
| Federal clerkships | 0.3% | 0.0% | New England Law/Boston |
trajectory since 2011
Full profiles & related
New England Law/Boston full profile · Western New England University full profile · Pin both on the interactive map → · All Massachusetts law schools
FAQ
Which is cheaper, New England Law/Boston or Western New England University?
Western New England University is cheaper on sticker: resident tuition of $50,320 versus New England Law/Boston's $62,896.
Which has better bar passage, New England Law/Boston or Western New England University?
New England Law/Boston has the higher first-time bar passage, 79.2% against Western New England University's 77.2%.
Which has better job outcomes, New England Law/Boston or Western New England University?
Western New England University places more graduates in full-time, long-term JD jobs (69.0% vs 67.6%).
New England Law/Boston vs Western New England University: 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), Western New England University 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.