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Side-by-side comparison of admissions, costs, and outcomes
Cross-Admit Decision Data
Of 23 applicants admitted to both schools:
Based on 23 self-reported cross-admit decisions from the last 5 cycles
View all-time data (37 cross-admits)
37 total cross-admit decisions (all cycles)
UTKnoxville is Top 75 · WFU is #31 in the LSD rankings
See full LSD.Law school rankings →About this comparison
This page compares University of Tennessee and Wake Forest University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 23 applicants admitted to both.
Based on 23 applicants admitted to both schools, 74% chose to attend Wake Forest University. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.
In the U.S. News rankings, Wake Forest University is ranked #26 compared to #55 — a gap of 29 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.
University of Tennessee is located in Knoxville, Tennessee, while Wake Forest University is in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. 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: Wake Forest University places 24.5% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 10.2% for the other school. This 14 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 $57,920. Combined with employment rates of 92.1% (UTKnoxville) and 97.4% (WFU), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.
Among cross-admitted applicants, Wake Forest University offered a median scholarship of $105,000 compared to $33,000, a difference of $72,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.
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Admissions Comparison
2025 ABA 509How these schools compare on LSAT, GPA, selectivity, and class composition.
| Metric | UTKnoxville | WFU |
|---|---|---|
| USN Rank | #55 | #26 ▲ |
| LSD Rank | Top 75 (0.008) | #31 (0.024) ▲ |
| LSAT 25th | 160 | 163 ▲ |
| LSAT Median | 164 | 166 ▲ |
| LSAT 75th | 166 | 168 ▲ |
| GPA Median | 3.89 ▲ | 3.79 |
| Acceptance Rate | 24.8% | 24.6% ▲ |
| Class Size | 140 | 204 |
| Yield Rate | 25.8% | 28.3% ▲ |
Financial Comparison
2025 ABA 509Tuition, scholarships, and debt burden at each school.
| Metric | UTKnoxville | WFU |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition (In-State) | $16,696 ▲ | $57,920 |
| Tuition (Out-of-State) | $35,140 ▲ | $57,920 |
| Median Grant | $10,550 | $40,000 ▲ |
| % Receiving Grants | 89.0% ▲ | 76.0% |
| Avg. Debt at Graduation | - | - |
Employment Outcomes
2024 ABA 509Post-graduation employment placement, salaries, and bar passage.
| Metric | UTKnoxville | WFU |
|---|---|---|
| BigLaw (501+) | 10.2% | 24.5% ▲ |
| Judicial Clerkships | 5.5% | 7.1% ▲ |
| Median Salary (Private) | $150,000 ▲ | $135,000 |
| Employment Rate | 92.1% | 97.4% ▲ |
| Bar Pass Rate | 91.9% ▲ | 88.2% |
Cross-Admit Decisions by Cycle
How cross-admit preferences have shifted over recent application cycles.
| Cycle | Split | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 2023-2024 |
33%
|
12 |
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