Penn State Dickinson Law vs. Pittsburgh: Cost, Bar Passage & Outcomes Compared

Both are Pennsylvania law schools. On the most recent ABA Standard 509 data, Pittsburgh is the more selective admit (median LSAT 160 vs 159); Penn State Dickinson Law posts the higher first-time bar passage (87.04% vs 86.33%); Pittsburgh is cheaper on sticker tuition ($39,936 vs $60,048); Pittsburgh places more graduates in full-time JD jobs (89.3% vs 87%).

Side by side (ABA Standard 509)

MetricPenn State Dickinson LawPittsburghBetter
Admissions
Median LSAT159160Pittsburgh
Median undergraduate GPA3.713.54Penn State Dickinson Law
Acceptance rate43%34.9%Pittsburgh
Cost
Resident tuition$60,048$39,936Pittsburgh
Non-resident tuition$60,048$53,434Pittsburgh
Median grant$36,000$30,000Penn State Dickinson Law
Bar passage
First-time bar passage87.04%86.33%Penn State Dickinson Law
Two-year ultimate bar passage96.7%91.8%Penn State Dickinson Law
Bar passage vs. state average+7.4 pts+6.1 ptsPenn State Dickinson Law
Employment
Full-time, long-term JD employment87%89.3%Pittsburgh
Large-firm (250+) employment8.5%20.5%Pittsburgh
Federal clerkships1.8%3.3%Pittsburgh

15-year trajectory

First-time bar passage: 87.04% in 2016 to 87.04% in 202575%80%85%90%95%161921232587.04%
First-time bar passage · 2016–2025
Penn State Dickinson Law — First-time bar passage
First-time bar passage: 86.5% in 2011 to 86.33% in 202575%80%85%90%95%111315182022242586.33%
First-time bar passage · 2011–2025
Pittsburgh — First-time bar passage
Resident tuition: $45,078 in 2015 to $60,048 in 2025$40,000$45,000$50,000$55,000$60,000$65,000151719212325$60,048
Resident tuition · 2015–2025
Penn State Dickinson Law — Resident tuition
Resident tuition: $28,734 in 2011 to $39,936 in 2025$25,000$30,000$35,000$40,000$45,0001113151719212325$39,936
Resident tuition · 2011–2025
Pittsburgh — Resident tuition

Full profiles & related

Penn State Dickinson Law full profile · Pittsburgh full profile · All Pennsylvania law schools

FAQ

Is Penn State Dickinson Law or Pittsburgh harder to get into?

Pittsburgh is the tougher admit — its median LSAT is 160 against Penn State Dickinson Law's 159.

Which is cheaper, Penn State Dickinson Law or Pittsburgh?

Pittsburgh is cheaper on sticker: resident tuition of $39,936 versus Penn State Dickinson Law's $60,048.

Which has better bar passage, Penn State Dickinson Law or Pittsburgh?

Penn State Dickinson Law has the higher first-time bar passage, 87.04% against Pittsburgh's 86.33%.

Which has better job outcomes, Penn State Dickinson Law or Pittsburgh?

Pittsburgh places more graduates in full-time, long-term JD jobs (89.3% vs 87%).

Penn State Dickinson Law vs Pittsburgh: 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), Pittsburgh 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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