Richmond vs. Virginia: Cost, Bar Passage & Outcomes Compared
Both are Virginia law schools. On the most recent ABA Standard 509 data, Virginia is the more selective admit (median LSAT 173 vs 164); Virginia posts the higher first-time bar passage (95.0% vs 80.1%); Richmond is cheaper on sticker tuition ($57,700 vs $74,078); Virginia places more graduates in full-time JD jobs (98.7% vs 92.3%).
Side by side (ABA Standard 509)
| Metric | Richmond | Virginia | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Admissions | |||
| Median LSAT | 164 | 173 | Virginia |
| Median undergraduate GPA | 3.81 | 3.99 | Virginia |
| Acceptance rate | 39.6% | 10.2% | Virginia |
| Cost | |||
| Resident tuition | $57,700 | $74,078 | Richmond |
| Non-resident tuition | $57,700 | $76,396 | Richmond |
| Median grant | $40,000 | $35,000 | Richmond |
| Bar passage | |||
| First-time bar passage | 80.1% | 95.0% | Virginia |
| Two-year ultimate bar passage | 93.5% | 100.0% | Virginia |
| Bar passage vs. state average | +2.8 pts | +12.2 pts | Virginia |
| Employment | |||
| Full-time, long-term JD employment | 92.3% | 98.7% | Virginia |
| Large-firm (250+) employment | 10.2% | 67.6% | Virginia |
| Federal clerkships | 2.6% | 10.7% | Virginia |
trajectory since 2011
Full profiles & related
Richmond full profile · Virginia full profile · Pin both on the interactive map → · All Virginia law schools
FAQ
Is Richmond or Virginia harder to get into?
Virginia is the tougher admit — its median LSAT is 173 against Richmond's 164.
Which is cheaper, Richmond or Virginia?
Richmond is cheaper on sticker: resident tuition of $57,700 versus Virginia's $74,078.
Which has better bar passage, Richmond or Virginia?
Virginia has the higher first-time bar passage, 95.0% against Richmond's 80.1%.
Which has better job outcomes, Richmond or Virginia?
Virginia places more graduates in full-time, long-term JD jobs (98.7% vs 92.3%).
Richmond vs Virginia: 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), Virginia 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.