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Southern Methodist University Law School Bar Passage
Dallas, TX · ABA 509 disclosure · most recent cohort
This school reports an ultimate rate of 96.7% alongside a first-time rate of 97.8%. The ultimate figure should not be lower than the first-time figure, since retakes can only add passes. Both are kept exactly as filed and neither has been adjusted to match the other.
Reported passage rates
| Measure | This school | National median | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-time passage | 97.8% | 84.8% | #5 of 193 |
| Ultimate passage, class of 2024 | 96.7% | 92.1% | #37 of 194 |
| Ultimate passage, class of 2023 | 96.7% | — | — |
| Change 2023 → 2024 | +0.0pp | -0.46pp | — |
First-time takers and passers
| First-time takers | 222 |
|---|---|
| Passed on first attempt | 217 |
| First-time passage rate | 97.8% |
| Did not pass on first attempt | 5 |
The gap between first-time (97.8%) and ultimate (96.7%) passage is 1.0 percentage points. That is the share of outcomes attributable to students who needed more than one attempt — though a reported ultimate figure below the first-time figure is not reconcilable and is kept as filed.
Compared with other Texas schools
Passage rates are most comparable within one state, since the bar exam and its difficulty are the same across jurisdictions.
| School | Ultimate 2024 | First-time | Takers | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Methodist University | 96.7% | 97.8% | 222 | -1.0pp |
| Baylor University | 97.9% | 93.7% | 111 | +4.2pp |
| Texas A&M University | 98.3% | 95.3% | 127 | +3.0pp |
| Texas | 98.3% | 96.4% | 305 | +1.9pp |
What a passage rate does not tell you
- It is not a quality score. Passage reflects which students a school admits, how much they prepare, and the difficulty of the bar where they sit. Schools in California and New York administer harder exams and are not weaker for it.
- A lower rate can mean more access. Schools admitting broader ranges often post lower passage rates while giving more students a viable path to licensure. The rate alone does not describe the value of the seat.
- One cohort, no trend. These figures describe a single graduating class. Multi-point swings at small schools are cohort variation, not programme change.
- State figures may differ. Bar associations publish their own numbers, which can differ from a school's self-reported figures because of jurisdiction and reporting-period differences.
Related pages
- The Southern Methodist University Law School ABA 509 report — every figure from the disclosure, section by section
- Southern Methodist University — full admissions data
- All schools ranked by bar passage
- Southern Methodist University — admissions funnel
- Southern Methodist University — cost of attendance
- Southern Methodist University — financial aid
- Law schools in Texas
Source: Southern Methodist University Law School ABA Standard 509 Required Disclosure, 2025 reporting cycle. First-time passage describes the most recent cohort with taker and passer counts as filed. Ultimate passage rates are those reported for the graduating classes of 2023 and 2024. Passage rates do not predict an individual outcome. Not an indicator of school quality.