Suffolk University vs University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

This page compares Suffolk University and University of Massachusetts Dartmouth across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes using official ABA 509 disclosures.

In the U.S. News rankings, Suffolk University is ranked #127 compared to #161 — a gap of 34 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

Both schools are located in Massachusetts — Suffolk University in Boston and University of Massachusetts Dartmouth in Dartmouth — meaning graduates often compete in the same regional legal market.

Employment outcomes differ substantially: Suffolk University places 12.2% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 0.0% for the other school. This 12 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

On cost, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth has lower tuition at $31,766 per year compared to $62,610. Combined with employment rates of 87.1% (Suffolk University) and 80.2% (UMass), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.