Virginia vs. William & Mary: 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 166); Virginia posts the higher first-time bar passage (95.0% vs 83.6%); William & Mary is cheaper on sticker tuition ($38,734 vs $74,078); Virginia places more graduates in full-time JD jobs (98.7% vs 93.5%).
Side by side (ABA Standard 509)
| Metric | Virginia | William & Mary | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Admissions | |||
| Median LSAT | 173 | 166 | Virginia |
| Median undergraduate GPA | 3.99 | 3.82 | Virginia |
| Acceptance rate | 10.2% | 22.0% | Virginia |
| Cost | |||
| Resident tuition | $74,078 | $38,734 | William & Mary |
| Non-resident tuition | $76,396 | $62,900 | William & Mary |
| Median grant | $35,000 | $29,302 | Virginia |
| Bar passage | |||
| First-time bar passage | 95.0% | 83.6% | Virginia |
| Two-year ultimate bar passage | 100.0% | 98.6% | Virginia |
| Bar passage vs. state average | +12.2 pts | +3.6 pts | Virginia |
| Employment | |||
| Full-time, long-term JD employment | 98.7% | 93.5% | Virginia |
| Large-firm (250+) employment | 67.6% | 23.6% | Virginia |
| Federal clerkships | 10.7% | 6.0% | Virginia |
trajectory since 2011
Full profiles & related
Virginia full profile · William & Mary full profile · Pin both on the interactive map → · All Virginia law schools
FAQ
Is Virginia or William & Mary harder to get into?
Virginia is the tougher admit — its median LSAT is 173 against William & Mary's 166.
Which is cheaper, Virginia or William & Mary?
William & Mary is cheaper on sticker: resident tuition of $38,734 versus Virginia's $74,078.
Which has better bar passage, Virginia or William & Mary?
Virginia has the higher first-time bar passage, 95.0% against William & Mary's 83.6%.
Which has better job outcomes, Virginia or William & Mary?
Virginia places more graduates in full-time, long-term JD jobs (98.7% vs 93.5%).
Virginia vs William & Mary: 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.