Pennsylvania vs. Pittsburgh: Cost, Bar Passage & Outcomes Compared

Both are Pennsylvania law schools. On the most recent ABA Standard 509 data, Pennsylvania is the more selective admit (median LSAT 173 vs 160); Pennsylvania posts the higher first-time bar passage (96.7% vs 86.33%); Pittsburgh is cheaper on sticker tuition ($39,936 vs $78,348); Pennsylvania places more graduates in full-time JD jobs (99.6% vs 89.3%).

Side by side (ABA Standard 509)

MetricPennsylvaniaPittsburghBetter
Admissions
Median LSAT173160Pennsylvania
Median undergraduate GPA3.953.54Pennsylvania
Acceptance rate8.1%34.9%Pennsylvania
Cost
Resident tuition$78,348$39,936Pittsburgh
Non-resident tuition$78,348$53,434Pittsburgh
Median grant$42,246$30,000Pennsylvania
Bar passage
First-time bar passage96.7%86.33%Pennsylvania
Two-year ultimate bar passage97.66%91.8%Pennsylvania
Bar passage vs. state average+13.8 pts+6.1 ptsPennsylvania
Employment
Full-time, long-term JD employment99.6%89.3%Pennsylvania
Large-firm (250+) employment70.7%20.5%Pennsylvania
Federal clerkships7.9%3.3%Pennsylvania

15-year trajectory

First-time bar passage: 94.46% in 2011 to 96.7% in 202590%92.5%95%97.5%100%111315182022242596.7%
First-time bar passage · 2011–2025
Pennsylvania — 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: $50,718 in 2011 to $78,348 in 2025$40,000$50,000$60,000$70,000$80,000$90,0001113151719212325$78,348
Resident tuition · 2011–2025
Pennsylvania — 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

Pennsylvania full profile · Pittsburgh full profile · All Pennsylvania law schools

FAQ

Is Pennsylvania or Pittsburgh harder to get into?

Pennsylvania is the tougher admit — its median LSAT is 173 against Pittsburgh's 160.

Which is cheaper, Pennsylvania or Pittsburgh?

Pittsburgh is cheaper on sticker: resident tuition of $39,936 versus Pennsylvania's $78,348.

Which has better bar passage, Pennsylvania or Pittsburgh?

Pennsylvania has the higher first-time bar passage, 96.7% against Pittsburgh's 86.33%.

Which has better job outcomes, Pennsylvania or Pittsburgh?

Pennsylvania places more graduates in full-time, long-term JD jobs (99.6% vs 89.3%).

Pennsylvania 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), Pennsylvania 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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