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.
KU Law graduates in the 2017 calendar year had an ultimate bar passage rate of 96.55%, the #26 highest ultimate bar pass rate in the country for that year.
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 2020 (PDF)
- ABA Bar Passage Report 2019 (PDF)
- ABA Bar Passage Report 2018 (PDF)
Bar exam passage rates for the 2020 calendar year will be reported to the ABA in spring 2021.
Kansas Bar Exam Detail
| KU First Time | State Average | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cal. Year | Taking | Passing | Pass Rate | Pass Rate | Percent Difference |
| 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 | 40 | 37 | 92.5% | 83.5% | 9% |
| 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 | ||
| 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 |