Bar passage vs. state average: every U.S. law school, ranked
Across the 195 ABA-accredited U.S. law schools that report bar passage vs. state average, the median is +2.8 pts. Values span from +17 pts at Belmont University School of Law to -26.1 pts at Widener University Commonwealth Law School, drawn from the most recent ABA Standard 509 disclosure cycle.
- Schools reporting 195
- Median +2.8 pts
- 25th–75th -5 pts – +9.6 pts
- Range -26.1 pts – +17 pts
Definition
- What it is
- A school's first-time pass rate minus the average first-time rate for all takers of the same state's exam.
- Reported by
- The American Bar Association, in each school’s annual Standard 509 Required Disclosure.
- Unit
- Percentage points
How to read it
This isolates the school effect from exam difficulty — a positive number means the school beats its own state's average, the fairest one-line comparison.
Every school, ranked
At the extremes
Top: Belmont University School of Law (+17 pts) · University of Chicago Law School (+15.9 pts) · Jacksonville University School of Law (+15.8 pts) · UCLA School of Law (+15.4 pts) · Florida International University School of Law (+15.4 pts)
Bottom: Northern Illinois University School of Law (-21.6 pts) · Cooley Law School (-22.6 pts) · North Carolina Central University School of Law (-24 pts) · Touro University School of Law (-24.1 pts) · Widener University Commonwealth Law School (-26.1 pts)
Related metrics
First-time bar passage · Two-year ultimate bar passage
FAQ
What is bar passage vs. state average?
A school's first-time pass rate minus the average first-time rate for all takers of the same state's exam.
What is the median bar passage vs. state average across U.S. law schools?
+2.8 pts, across the 195 ABA-accredited schools that report it in the most recent ABA Standard 509 cycle.
Which law school has the highest bar passage vs. state average?
Belmont University School of Law, at +17 pts.
What counts as a strong bar passage vs. state average?
Schools above the median of +2.8 pts are above average; the top tenth begins around +13.02 pts.
How should I read bar passage vs. state average?
This isolates the school effect from exam difficulty — a positive number means the school beats its own state's average, the fairest one-line comparison.
Source: ABA Standard 509 Required Disclosures, most recent reported cycle. Last updated June 8, 2026.