University of Dayton School of Law Partners with Kaplan to Provide All Students with Comprehensive Bar Exam Preparation
MWN-AI** Summary
The University of Dayton School of Law (UDSL) has announced a strategic partnership with global education company Kaplan to provide comprehensive bar exam preparation for all its students. This initiative is set to commence in the Fall 2026 semester and aims to enhance affordable and equitable access to essential bar-aligned readiness resources for every student enrolled in UDSL's J.D. and LL.M. programs.
As part of Kaplan’s award-winning All Access License®, the partnership will offer robust academic and bar readiness resources from orientation through graduation. This includes integrated tools, diagnostics, assessments, and specific practice resources designed to facilitate a smoother transition from law school to legal practice. All J.D. graduates will benefit from Kaplan’s bar review course tailored to their exam jurisdictions after graduation.
The decision to pursue this partnership stems from UDSL’s goal to ensure early and comprehensive preparation for the bar exam, a move that reflects in its recent outcomes – nearly 90% of J.D. graduates passed the July 2025 bar exam on their first attempt. Notably, the Hybrid J.D. program has consistently seen first-time pass rates above 90%.
UDSL Interim Dean Christopher Roederer emphasized the commitment to supporting students throughout their law education, stating, "This partnership reduces the financial burden of bar preparation and offers consistent support early on." Kaplan’s proven track record, including an impressive 90% first-time pass rate among its students, supported the decision to collaborate.
The partnership not only enhances UDSL’s bar preparation services but also exemplifies its dedication to nurturing successful legal careers while minimizing financial strain on students. Through Kaplan’s extensive resources and analytical tools, UDSL aims to elevate its students’ readiness and success in the legal field.
MWN-AI** Analysis
The partnership between the University of Dayton School of Law (UDSL) and Kaplan signifies a pivotal shift in legal education and bar exam preparation, expanding access and affordability for law students. This initiative is poised to redefine the landscape for aspiring attorneys, particularly as the competitive nature of the profession mounts due to an evolving legal market.
From a market perspective, the UDSL-Kaplan collaboration aligns well with the increasing focus on equitable education and outcomes. By providing all students with Kaplan’s All Access License, UDSL can enhance bar preparation while mitigating financial burdens that often impact students' readiness and success. Given that nearly 90% of UDSL’s graduates successfully passed the bar exam on their first attempt, the partnership not only reinforces this positive trajectory but also broadens the comprehensive support offered from orientation through graduation.
Investors and stakeholders in the education sector should consider the implications of this partnership. As law schools adopt innovative and equitable educational models, those institutions that prioritize comprehensive bar prep will be seen as more attractive to prospective students. Increased enrollment driven by such offerings can enhance institutional revenues and brand reputation, making them competitive players in legal education.
Moreover, Kaplan's strong track record, coupled with UDSL’s commitment to integrating diagnostic and skills development tools into the curriculum, indicates a robust market positioning that could lead to heightened student outcomes. Analysts should monitor similar partnerships as they could become a trend across legal education, influencing overall bar passage rates and ultimately impacting the legal job market.
In conclusion, the UDSL-Kaplan collaboration represents a progressive approach to legal education that prioritizes student success, affordability, and equitable access—elements crucial for staying competitive in the educational landscape.
**MWN-AI Summary and Analysis is based on asking OpenAI to summarize and analyze this news release.
Partnership expands affordable, equitable access to bar-aligned readiness tools and comprehensive bar prep for all students
The University of Dayton School of Law (UDSL) is providing its students with comprehensive bar exam preparation through a new institutional partnership with global education company Kaplan, as part of Kaplan’s award-winning All Access License ®. Starting in the Fall 2026 semester, all UDSL students enrolled in its J.D. and LL.M. programs will be able to take advantage of this new offering.
Through the partnership, Kaplan will provide UDSL and all its students with robust academic and bar-readiness services from orientation through graduation, including integrated curriculum tools, diagnostics, and assessments, along with bar-aligned practice resources designed to support the transition from law school to practice. After graduation, all Residential and Hybrid J.D. graduates will have access to Kaplan’s bar review course for the jurisdiction in which they plan to sit for the bar exam.
UDSL pursued an institutional bar-prep partnership to provide early access to more predictable, comprehensive, equitable, and affordable bar preparation.
UDSL’s focus on bar readiness is reflected in recent outcomes. Nearly 90 percent of its J.D. graduates passed the July 2025 bar exam on the first attempt. Since the Hybrid J.D. program launched in 2019, its graduates have maintained a first-time pass rate above 90 percent. Additionally, 94 percent of its graduates who participated in the law school’s post-graduation bar preparation support program passed the bar exam on the first attempt.
“Our goal is to support the transition from law school to practice in a way that is comprehensive, robust, and equitable,” said UDSL Interim Dean Christopher Roederer. “This partnership lowers the total cost of bar prep by moving away from a single, high price point at the end of law school, and it expands meaningful support earlier, when students can benefit from diagnostics, skills development, and bar-aligned practice throughout their education and up to the bar exam.”
Earlier access is central to the effort, said Tommy Sangchompuphen, director of bar preparation at UDSL. “With earlier diagnostics and bar-aligned practice, we can identify needs sooner, reinforce core skills throughout the curriculum, and help students enter bar prep with greater momentum,” Sangchompuphen said.
UDSL’s selection of Kaplan followed a months-long evaluation process, led by a cross-functional team that included bar preparation leadership, academic success, and administrators in academics, admissions, and finance. The group met with major providers, requested proposals, and compared options based on cost/value, in-school resources and post-graduation support, analytics and faculty tools, student support services, and readiness for the transition from the Legacy Uniform Bar Examination to the Nextgen UBE.
“We were focused on expanding access to bar-prep and academic success resources with the lowest possible financial impact to students,” Dean Roederer said. “Kaplan stood out for the depth of in-school resources, the strength of its data and faculty tools, and its readiness to evolve as jurisdictions shift to NextGen.”
UDSL also cited strong outcomes among its students using Kaplan in recent years. Based on UDSL’s internal analysis of results from 2023 to 2025, more than 90 percent of UDSL students enrolled in Kaplan Bar Review passed the bar exam on the first attempt. Kaplan also showed strong first-time pass rates across quartile bands of law school GPA, including a 75-percent first-time pass rate in the bottom 25th percentile band and a 100-percent first-time pass rate in each higher band.
“The University of Dayton School of Law has demonstrated real strength in preparing students for the bar exam, and we appreciate the confidence UDSL has shown in Kaplan as it expands access to bar preparation,” said Kimberly Hytree, executive director of legal programs at Kaplan. “This partnership is about building on what’s already working, like its program of legal education, its bar readiness efforts, and its commitment to student success, while now giving students earlier, more consistent support from day one. We’re looking forward to working side-by-side with UDSL in a true partnership to help students stay on track, perform at their best, and enter the profession.”
By investing in Kaplan’s All Access License, institutions of higher learning can provide all of their students with access to Kaplan’s industry-leading test prep for admissions exams, licensure, credentialing programs, and workforce readiness programs, helping them reach their ultimate career goals. Since Kaplan’s All Access License was launched in 2022, tens of thousands of students have collectively saved more than $65 million in out-of-pocket costs for these programs. Kaplan’s other law school-specific partners include Rutgers Law School and Syracuse University College of Law .
Reporters can contact Russell Schaffer at russell.schaffer@kaplan.com for more information.
About University of Dayton School of Law
The University of Dayton School of Law prepares students for legal practice and beyond by teaching them how to use their knowledge of the law as a tool to help people resolve their legal problems as well as community and global issues. Founded in 1922, closed during the Great Depression, and reopened in 1974, UDSL has become known nationally for innovative programs, including one of the nation's first online hybrid J.D. programs. UDSL is a part of the University of Dayton, which was founded in 1850 as a Catholic, Marianist institution dedicated to educating the whole person and is recognized as a top-tier research university.
About Kaplan
Kaplan, Inc. is a global education company that helps individuals and institutions advance their goals in an ever-changing world. Our broad portfolio of solutions helps students and professionals further their education and careers, universities and educational institutions attract and support students, and businesses maximize employee recruitment, retention, and development. Stanley Kaplan founded our company in 1938 with a mission to expand educational opportunities for students of all backgrounds. Today, our thousands of employees working in 27 countries/regions continue Stanley’s mission as they serve about 1.3 million students and professionals, 16,000 corporate clients, and 2,700 schools, school districts, colleges, and universities worldwide. Kaplan is a subsidiary of the Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC). Learn more at kaplan.com .
Note to editors: Kaplan is a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC).
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260302586668/en/
Press Contact: Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com
FAQ**
How does the partnership between the University of Dayton School of Law and Kaplan enhance access to bar preparation for students, particularly in relation to performance metrics reported by Graham Holdings Company GHC?
What specific features of Kaplan's All Access License are expected to benefit UDSL students, and how does it align with Graham Holdings Company GHC's educational mission?
In terms of cost-effectiveness, how does UDSL anticipate the partnership with Kaplan will impact students financially, especially in comparison to traditional bar prep models marketed by Graham Holdings Company GHC?
What data does UDSL plan to collect to measure the success of this partnership, and how will this information be shared with stakeholders, including Graham Holdings Company GHC?
**MWN-AI FAQ is based on asking OpenAI questions about Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC).
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