Head-to-head · 11 cross-admits
When applicants got into both, 91% chose UKentucky. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 11 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
Chose UKentucky
Median scholarship (chose UKentucky)
Median scholarship (chose Northern Kentucky)
View all-time (24 cross-admits)
Admissions
Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield 2025 ABA 509
Financial
Sticker price, scholarships, and debt burden 2025 ABA 509
Employment & outcomes
Post-graduation placement and bar passage 2024 ABA Employment
Related comparisons
Other popular cross-admit matchups
University of Louisville
24
University of Tennessee
13
University of Cincinnati
11
Northern Kentucky University
11
University of Kentucky
11
Overview
About UKentucky vs Northern Kentucky
Across 11 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 91% enrolled at University of Kentucky and 9% at Northern Kentucky University.
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 University of Kentucky and Northern Kentucky University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes using official ABA 509 disclosures.
In the U.S. News rankings, University of Kentucky is ranked #70 compared to #131 — a gap of 61 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.
There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: University of Kentucky has a median LSAT of 159 compared to 154, a gap of 5 points. This suggests applicants to University of Kentucky face a more competitive admissions pool.
Both schools are located in Kentucky — University of Kentucky in Lexington and Northern Kentucky University in Highland Heights — meaning graduates often compete in the same regional legal market.
Among cross-admitted applicants, Northern Kentucky University offered a median scholarship of $49,500 compared to $15,000, a difference of $34,500 that may factor into enrollment decisions.