Head-to-head · 16 cross-admits
When applicants got into both, 69% chose Emory University. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 16 self-reported decisions and ABA 509 filings.
Choice, not ranking
These are decisions, not opinions. Scholarship offers, location, intended practice, and personal fit are all priced into the split.
Cross-admit decision
Median scholarship (chose Emory University)
Median scholarship (chose UTKnoxville)
View all-time (24 cross-admits)
Admissions
Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield 2025 ABA 509Financial
Sticker price, scholarships, and debt burden 2025 ABA 509Employment & outcomes
Post-graduation placement and bar passage 2024 ABA EmploymentCross-admit by cycle
How preferences shifted over recent cyclesOverview
About Emory University vs UTKnoxville
Across 16 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 69% enrolled at Emory University and 31% at University of Tennessee.
These numbers reflect every factor that goes into a real decision: scholarship offers, geographic preference, intended practice area, and fit. Choosing one school doesn't mean it's "better" — it means the pool of cross-admits, weighing their options, ended up there more often. Pair this with the scholarship distribution and employment outcomes above for full context.
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Detailed comparison narrative
This page compares Emory University and University of Tennessee across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes using official ABA 509 disclosures.
In the U.S. News rankings, Emory University is ranked #40 compared to #57 — a gap of 17 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.
Emory University is located in Atlanta, Georgia, while University of Tennessee is in Knoxville, Tennessee. Regional placement matters: graduates tend to find employment near their law school, so location should factor into your decision alongside rankings and cost.
Employment outcomes differ substantially: Emory University places 33.7% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 10.2% for the other school. This 24 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.
On cost, University of Tennessee has lower tuition at $16,696 per year compared to $69,510. Combined with employment rates of 92.0% (Emory University) and 92.1% (UTKnoxville), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.
Among cross-admitted applicants, Emory University offered a median scholarship of $111,000 compared to $36,000, a difference of $75,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.