Head-to-head · 15 cross-admits
When applicants got into both, 73% chose Cincinnati. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 15 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 Cincinnati)
Median scholarship (chose UKentucky)
View all-time (28 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 Cincinnati vs UKentucky
Across 15 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 73% enrolled at University of Cincinnati and 27% at University of Kentucky.
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 Cincinnati and University of Kentucky 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 #82 — a gap of 12 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.
University of Cincinnati is located in Cincinnati, Ohio, while University of Kentucky is in Lexington, Kentucky. Regional placement matters: graduates tend to find employment near their law school, so location should factor into your decision alongside rankings and cost.
Among cross-admitted applicants, University of Kentucky offered a median scholarship of $63,000 compared to $51,000, a difference of $12,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.