First-time bar exam passage rates fell across Texas law schools in July, with UNT Dallas College of Law finishing last among the state’s 10 schools. Just 71.79 percent of its first-time examinees passed, down from 82.83 percent a year earlier.
The results, released by the Texas Board of Law Examiners this week, show a wide gap between schools, with Texas A&M posting a 99.25 percent passage rate. Overall, 86.35 percent of first-time examinees from Texas law schools passed, which is below the rates recorded in both 2025 and 2024.
The bar exam, named for the physical railing in courtrooms that separates judges, lawyers, and officials from the public gallery, is held every February and July. Significantly more students sit for the July exam, making it the better indicator of a school’s effectiveness.
July’s results show that 86.35 percent of examinees passed the bar on their first attempt, down from 90.67 percent in July 2025 and 88.67 percent in July 2024.
An 85 percent first-time pass rate is considered above average nationally. Six of Texas’ 10 law schools fell above this mark.
Texas A&M had the highest passage rate of first-time examinees, at 99.25 percent. This was followed by the University of Texas at 95.91 percent, Southern Methodist University at 94.05 percent, Baylor at 91.67 percent, Texas Tech at 88.97 percent, and South Texas College of Law Houston at 87.67 percent.
The University of Houston had an average first-time passage rate of 84.92 percent, but three Texas law schools fell well below average.
St. Mary’s first-time passage rate was 75 percent while Texas Southern University’s was 72.87 percent. UNT Dallas College of Law had the lowest rate at just 71.79 percent.
Both St. Mary’s and UNT Dallas’ rates dropped significantly from 2025, which were 84.54 percent and 82.83 percent respectively. Texas Southern’s first-time passage rate actually increased from just 66.33 percent in 2025.
Notably, the numbers reflected on these reports do not take into account which schools have higher acceptance standards, and whose students are therefore already more likely to pass the bar before their legal education begins.
If you or anyone you know has information regarding court cases, please contact our tip line: tips@texasscorecard.com.
