University of Massachusetts School of Law-Dartmouth
North Dartmouth, Massachusetts · Public · ABA-approved since 2012 · Data updated November 2, 2026
University of Massachusetts School of Law-Dartmouth is a public law school in North Dartmouth, Massachusetts, approved by the American Bar Association since 2012. It admitted a fall 2025 class with a median LSAT of 152, higher than 10% of ABA-approved schools, saw 62.6% of its first-time bar takers pass in 2025 and placed 68.4% of its 2025 graduates in full-time lawyer jobs.
What stands out
- First-time bar passage 20.7 points below the average for the states where its graduates sat.
- 68.4% of 2025 graduates in full-time lawyer jobs, fewer than at 91% of schools.
- A median LSAT of 152, lower than 85% of ABA-approved schools.
Admissions: LSAT, GPA and acceptance rate
For the class that entered in fall 2025, the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth received 1,311 completed applications and made 684 offers, an acceptance rate of 52.2%. 141 students enrolled in the first-year class (120 full-time, 21 part-time). The typical ABA school accepted 35.8%.
| Entering class, fall 2025 | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| LSAT | 149 | 152 | 155 |
| Undergraduate GPA | 3.10 | 3.36 | 3.69 |
A quarter of the class scored 149 or lower on the LSAT and a quarter scored 155 or higher. An applicant at or above the median, 152, is in the stronger half of this class; one below the 25th percentile is a long shot unless something else in the file stands out.
10 of the entering students were admitted on a GRE score instead of the LSAT.
Where would your numbers fall in this class?
Enter an LSAT score and undergraduate GPA. We compare them with the class that entered in fall 2025. This shows where your numbers sit, not your chances: admissions offices read the whole file.
Tuition, living costs and scholarships
Full-time tuition and fees for 2025-26 are $33,456 a year for Massachusetts residents and $43,255 for everyone else. That is less than 69% of ABA schools charge. The school estimates living costs of $34,626 a year off campus.
| Annual cost, 2025-26 | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition, full-time, resident | $31,766 |
| Fees, full-time, resident | $1,690 |
| Tuition, full-time, nonresident | $41,565 |
| Fees, full-time, nonresident | $1,690 |
| Living costs, on campus | $22,292 |
| Living costs, off campus | $34,626 |
| Living costs, at home | $23,710 |
In 2024-25, 85% of full-time students received a grant or scholarship from the school. The median award was $15,000, and the middle half of awards ran from $8,000 to $20,787. Subtract the median award from the full-time tuition and fees above and a typical recipient pays about $18,456 a year in tuition and fees, before living costs. That is a rough guide, since awards vary and some students get nothing.
| Size of grant, all students | Share of students |
|---|---|
| Less than half tuition | 60% |
| Half to full tuition | 17% |
| Full tuition | 8% |
| More than full tuition | 0% |
Scholarships that can be cut. The school reports that it does not award scholarships that are reduced or ended because of grades, other than for failing to stay in good academic standing.
Three years, roughly. At 2025-26 prices, three years of full-time tuition and fees at the in-state rate plus off-campus living costs come to about $204,246. With the median scholarship every year, about $159,246. Tuition usually rises each year, so treat this as a floor.
Bar passage
Of 99 graduates who took a bar exam for the first time in 2025, 62 passed: 62.6%. The average for the same exams, weighted by where its graduates sat, was 83.3%, so the school finished a full 20.7 points below that average.
| Where they sat, 2025 | Takers | Passed | School | State average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 other jurisdictions | 38 | 20 | 52.6% | 78.5% |
| Massachusetts | 61 | 42 | 68.8% | 85.4% |
The ABA also follows each class for two years. Of the 108 members of the class of 2023 who took a bar exam, 85 had passed one within two years: 78.7%.
Jobs after graduation
The ABA counts where each class is working ten months after graduation. Of 98 2025 graduates, 67 (68.4%) had full-time, long-term jobs that require bar passage, and 8 more (8.2%) had full-time, long-term jobs where a law degree is an advantage. At the typical ABA school, 83.4% were in lawyer jobs. 10 (10.2%) were unemployed and looking for work.
Law firm jobs by firm size
Shares are of all 98 graduates. Firms of more than 250 lawyers, the usual sense of “Big Law,” hired 1 (1%).
Where graduates work
Most employed graduates stayed in Massachusetts (47), followed by California (5) and Rhode Island (5).
Students who leave
In 2024-25, 19 first-year students left the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth: 16 for academic reasons (10%) and 3 for other reasons, such as transferring to another school (2%).
Transfers run both ways: 6 first-year students transferred out and 0 transferred in from other law schools.
Classes, clinics and faculty
The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth offered 77 upper-level course titles beyond the first-year curriculum in 2024-25. Of its upper-level class sections, 71% had fewer than 25 students and 0% had 75 or more.
| Hands-on learning, 2024-25 | Number |
|---|---|
| Law clinic seats available | 84 |
| Law clinic seats filled | 69 |
| Field placement (externship) positions filled | 60 |
| Simulation course seats filled | 550 |
| Co-curricular offerings (journals, moot court, etc.) | 3 |
The school reports 27 full-time faculty and 32 more who teach part-time or in other roles. With 389 J.D. students, that is about 14 students per full-time faculty member.
How the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth compares in Massachusetts
Massachusetts has 8 ABA-approved law schools. Among them, the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth ranks 8th in median LSAT, 8th in first-time bar passage, 6th in share of graduates in lawyer jobs and the lowest tuition.
| School | Median LSAT | Tuition | Bar pass | Lawyer jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harvard University | 174 | $82,352 | 97.9% | 93.2% |
| Boston University | 170 | $71,382 | 94.9% | 92.1% |
| Boston College | 168 | $72,755 | 96.2% | 92.5% |
| Northeastern University | 164 | $65,850 | 90.5% | 82.2% |
| Suffolk University | 155 | $64,046 | 80.8% | 76.3% |
| New England Law | Boston | 153 | $63,216 | 73.9% | 51.4% |
| Western New England University | 153 | $53,020 | 68% | 56% |
| University of Massachusetts Dartmouth | 152 | $33,456 | 62.6% | 68.4% |
More on each, and on the Massachusetts bar exam: law schools in Massachusetts.
Schools with similar admissions numbers
These five schools admitted fall 2025 classes with the median LSAT and GPA closest to the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth's, so an applicant who fits here is likely to be a similar fit there. Compare what each costs and how its graduates fare.
| School | Median LSAT | Median GPA | Tuition | Bar pass | Lawyer jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Massachusetts Dartmouth | 152 | 3.36 | $33,456 | 62.6% | 68.4% |
| Western State College of Law Irvine, CA | 152 | 3.36 | $55,648 | 81.1% | 79.6% |
| Mississippi Christian University Jackson, MS | 152 | 3.37 | $39,642 | 81.6% | 90.3% |
| Widener University Delaware Law School Wilmington, DE | 152 | 3.33 | $59,150 | 75.9% | 83% |
| Touro University Central Islip, NY | 153 | 3.35 | $62,150 | 67.9% | 75.2% |
| New England Law | Boston Boston, MA | 153 | 3.37 | $63,216 | 73.9% | 51.4% |
Frequently asked questions
What LSAT score do you need to get into University of Massachusetts School of Law-Dartmouth?
There is no cutoff, but the class that entered in fall 2025 had a median LSAT of 152, with the middle half scoring 149 to 155. The median undergraduate GPA was 3.36. The school accepted 52.2% of applicants.
What is the bar passage rate at University of Massachusetts School of Law-Dartmouth?
62.6% of University of Massachusetts Dartmouth graduates taking a bar exam for the first time in 2025 passed, against a weighted state average of 83.3%. Within two years of graduating, 78.7% of the class of 2023 who took a bar exam had passed.
How much does University of Massachusetts School of Law-Dartmouth cost?
Full-time tuition and fees for 2025-26 are $33,456 a year for Massachusetts residents and $43,255 for nonresidents. Most students pay less: 85% of full-time students received a grant, with a median award of $15,000.
Do University of Massachusetts School of Law-Dartmouth graduates get jobs?
Ten months after graduation, 68.4% of the class of 2025 had full-time, long-term jobs requiring bar passage, and 8.2% more had full-time, long-term jobs where a law degree is an advantage. 10.2% were unemployed and seeking work.
Is University of Massachusetts School of Law-Dartmouth ABA-accredited?
Yes. University of Massachusetts School of Law-Dartmouth has been approved by the American Bar Association since 2012, so its graduates can sit for the bar exam in every state.