Bar Exam Performance
Our graduates routinely exceed the state average for first-time test takers. The key is careful preparation for the exam, aided by KU Law's bar prep program.
Below are links to recent ABA bar passage reports and historical data for the bar exam in Kansas and Missouri. Kansas is the primary jurisdiction for the bar exam in most years, followed closely by Missouri. Additional information about bar passage is available on the ABA Required Disclosures page.
- ABA Bar Passage Report 2021 (PDF)
- ABA Bar Passage Report 2020 (PDF)
- ABA Bar Passage Report 2019 (PDF)
Kansas Bar Exam Detail
| KU First Time | State Average | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cal. Year | Taking | Passing | Pass Rate | Pass Rate | Percent Difference |
| 2020 | 45 | 41 | 91.11% | 89.4% | 1.71% |
| 2019 | 32 | 28 | 87.5% | 87.12% | 0.38% |
| 2018 | 33 | 30 | 90.91% | 74.78% | 16.13% |
| 2017 | 50 | 43 | 86% | 81.51% | 4.49% |
| 2016 | 60 | 48 | 80% | 77.4% | 2.6% |
| 2015 | 22 | 20 | 90.91% | 82.01% | 8.9% |
| 2014 | 53 | 44 | 83.02% | 86.36% | -3.34% |
| 2013 | 66 | 58 | 87.88% | 89.16% | -1.28% |
| 2012 | 63 | 57 | 90.48% | 88.57% | 1.91% |
Missouri Bar Exam Detail
| KU First Time | State Average | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cal. Year | Taking | Passing | Pass Rate | Pass Rate | Percent Difference |
| 2020 | 36 | 34 | 94.44% | 85.25% | 9.19% |
| 2019 | 47 | 41 | 87.23% | 82.41% | 4.82% |
| 2018 | 54 | 46 | 85.19% | 82.1% | 3.09% |
| 2017 | 36 | 31 | 86.11% | 86.3% | -0.19% |
| 2016 | 28 | 26 | 92.86% | 83.48% | 9.38% |
| 2015 | 75 | 72 | 96% | 87.34% | 8.66% |
| 2014 | 37 | 33 | 89.19% | 87.59% | 1.6% |
| 2013 | 48 | 44 | 91.67% | 90.44% | 1.23% |
| 2012 | 42 | 40 | 95.24% | 92.11% | 3.13% |
KU Law graduates have also consistently performed well on bar exams in other states including California, Arizona, Texas, Colorado, Nevada, New York and Pennsylvania.
Ultimate Bar Passage
| Graduates | KU - Bar Exam Within Two Years | National Average | No Information | Did Not Take Bar | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cal. Year | Taking | Passing | Pass Rate | Pass Rate | Percent Difference | Within Two Years | ||
| 2018 | 120 | 117 | 108 | 92.31% | -- | -- | 0 | 3 |
| 2017 | 121 | 116 | 112 | 96.55% | 89.47% | 7.08% | 5 | 0 |
| 2016 | 113 | 106 | 93 | 87.74% | 88.7% | -0.96% | 4 | 3 |
| 2015 | 134 | 129 | 126 | 97.67% | 88.32% | 9.35% | 2 | 3 |