Bar Exam Performance
Overview
The University of Kansas School of Law Class of 2024 posted a 92.2% first-time bar passage rate — the 28th best in the nation.
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.
Kansas Bar Exam Detail
| KU First Time | State Average | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calendar Year | Taking | Passing | KU Pass Rate | State Pass Rate | Percent Difference |
| 2025 | 60 | 57 | 95% | 84.07% | 10.93% |
| 2024 | 55 | 53 | 96.36% | 79.64% | 16.72% |
| 2023 | 42 | 38 | 90.48% | 77.16% | 13.32% |
| 2022 | 53 | 49 | 92.45% | 80.37% | 12.08% |
| 2021 | 54 | 53 | 98.15% | 77.78% | 20.37% |
| 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 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calendar Year | Taking | Passing | KU Pass Rate | State Pass Rate | Percent Difference |
| 2025 | 34 | 33 | 97.06% | 86.44% | 10.62% |
| 2024 | 32 | 27 | 84.38% | 82.74% | 1.64% |
| 2023 | 25 | 25 | 100% | 84.37% | 15.63% |
| 2022 | 28 | 24 | 85.71% | 79.16% | 6.55% |
| 2021 | 27 | 27 | 100% | 82.22% | 17.78% |
| 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 Exam Passage
| KU - Bar Exam Within 2 Years of Graduation | National Average | Addtl. Details | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calendar Year | Graduates | Taking | Passing | KU Pass Rate | Natl. Pass Rate | Percent Difference | No Info (KU) | Did Not Take Exam (KU) |
| 2023 | 93 | 89 | 88 | 98.88% | -- | -- | 1 | 3 |
| 2022 | 95 | 94 | 91 | 96.81% | -- | -- | 0 | 1 |
| 2021 | 98 | 97 | 97 | 100% | -- | -- | 0 | 1 |
| 2020 | 101 | 98 | 94 | 95.92% | -- | -- | 3 | 0 |
| 2019 | 98 | 94 | 90 | 95.74% | -- | -- | 2 | 2 |
| 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 |