Penn State Dickinson Law vs. Widener University Commonwealth Law School: Cost, Bar Passage & Outcomes Compared
Both are Pennsylvania law schools. On the most recent ABA Standard 509 data, Penn State Dickinson Law is the more selective admit (median LSAT 159 vs 150); Penn State Dickinson Law posts the higher first-time bar passage (87.04% vs 54%); Widener University Commonwealth Law School is cheaper on sticker tuition ($54,375 vs $60,048); Penn State Dickinson Law places more graduates in full-time JD jobs (87% vs 84.8%).
Side by side (ABA Standard 509)
| Metric | Penn State Dickinson Law | Widener University Commonwealth Law School | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Admissions | |||
| Median LSAT | 159 | 150 | Penn State Dickinson Law |
| Median undergraduate GPA | 3.71 | 3.33 | Penn State Dickinson Law |
| Acceptance rate | 43% | 60.4% | Penn State Dickinson Law |
| Cost | |||
| Resident tuition | $60,048 | $54,375 | Widener University Commonwealth Law School |
| Non-resident tuition | $60,048 | $54,375 | Widener University Commonwealth Law School |
| Median grant | $36,000 | $25,000 | Penn State Dickinson Law |
| Bar passage | |||
| First-time bar passage | 87.04% | 54% | Penn State Dickinson Law |
| Two-year ultimate bar passage | 96.7% | 75.56% | Penn State Dickinson Law |
| Bar passage vs. state average | +7.4 pts | -26.1 pts | Penn State Dickinson Law |
| Employment | |||
| Full-time, long-term JD employment | 87% | 84.8% | Penn State Dickinson Law |
| Large-firm (250+) employment | 8.5% | 1.9% | Penn State Dickinson Law |
| Federal clerkships | 1.8% | 0% | Penn State Dickinson Law |
15-year trajectory
Full profiles & related
Penn State Dickinson Law full profile · Widener University Commonwealth Law School full profile · All Pennsylvania law schools
FAQ
Is Penn State Dickinson Law or Widener University Commonwealth Law School harder to get into?
Penn State Dickinson Law is the tougher admit — its median LSAT is 159 against Widener University Commonwealth Law School's 150.
Which is cheaper, Penn State Dickinson Law or Widener University Commonwealth Law School?
Widener University Commonwealth Law School is cheaper on sticker: resident tuition of $54,375 versus Penn State Dickinson Law's $60,048.
Which has better bar passage, Penn State Dickinson Law or Widener University Commonwealth Law School?
Penn State Dickinson Law has the higher first-time bar passage, 87.04% against Widener University Commonwealth Law School's 54%.
Which has better job outcomes, Penn State Dickinson Law or Widener University Commonwealth Law School?
Penn State Dickinson Law places more graduates in full-time, long-term JD jobs (87% vs 84.8%).
Penn State Dickinson Law vs Widener University Commonwealth 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), Penn State Dickinson Law 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.