Head-to-head · 13 cross-admits
When applicants got into both, 100% chose UTKnoxville. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 13 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 UTKnoxville
Median scholarship (chose UTKnoxville)
Median scholarship (chose UKentucky)
View all-time (27 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
Overview
About UTKnoxville vs UKentucky
Across 13 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 100% enrolled at University of Tennessee and 0% 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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee is ranked #57 compared to #70 — a gap of 13 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.
There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: University of Tennessee has a median LSAT of 164 compared to 159, a gap of 5 points. This suggests applicants to University of Tennessee face a more competitive admissions pool.
University of Tennessee is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 24.8% compared to University of Kentucky's 40.8%.
University of Tennessee is located in Knoxville, Tennessee, 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.
On cost, University of Tennessee has lower tuition at $16,696 per year compared to $25,685. Combined with employment rates of 92.1% (UTKnoxville) and 97.8% (UKentucky), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.
Among cross-admitted applicants, University of Kentucky offered a median scholarship of $75,000 compared to $36,000, a difference of $39,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.