Dayton Law graduates continued their strong performance on the bar exam by ranking second in Ohio for first-time taker bar passage for the July 2026 Ohio Bar Exam, while also having perfect passage scores across the country for May 2026 Online Hybrid J.D. grads and Next Gen bar takers.
This marks the fourth year in a row that Dayton has finished in at least the top three among Ohio law schools for first-time taker bar passage rate on the July Ohio Bar Exam.
“I am so proud of our graduates for all the hard work they put in to pass the bar exam,” says Dean Christopher Roederer. “This will allow them to get the start they expect to their legal careers.”
Overall, UDSL had a 90% bar passage rate for May 2026 graduate first-time takers (87 out of 97) across 23 jurisdictions with six different examination formats. That includes a 100% bar passage rate for Online Hybrid J.D. May 2026 grads (23 out of 23). The law school also saw a passage rate of 100% for graduates taking the NextGen Bar Exam (7 out of 7).
“Preparing students across multiple jurisdictions and for various types of bar exams is no easy task, which is why I can’t say enough about the work of our Flyer to Esquire bar passage team, Director Tommy Sangchompuphen and Assistant Director Katie Armstrong,” Dean Roederer says. “They along with our faculty, staff and alumni have done an amazing job readying our graduates to take the bar exam.”
Whether online or residential, Dayton Law students are able to participate in the school’s Flyer to Esquire program after graduation for robust support in the critical months before the July and February exams. Of the 2026 graduating class, 92% participated in Flyer to Esquire, with those in the program achieving a 92% pass rate (82/89).
“We want students to know that we are here to support them all along their bar exam journey,” says Dean Roederer. “Everyone from our faculty and staff to our alumni are not only rooting for them to succeed but are willing to give their time and energy to help bring about that success. That is a special thing to have.”