Law Schools in Kentucky
3 ABA-approved schools · ABA disclosures · updated November 2, 2026
Kentucky has three ABA-approved law schools: three public and 0 private. Median LSAT scores for the class that entered in fall 2025 run from 154 at Northern Kentucky University to 159 at the University of Kentucky.
Kentucky law schools compared
| School | Median LSAT | Median GPA | Accepted | Tuition | Bar pass | Lawyer jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Kentucky J. David Rosenberg College of Law Lexington · Public | 159 | 3.72 | 40.8% | $27,301 | 79.8% | 89.6% |
| University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law Louisville · Public | 157 | 3.67 | 63.4% | $28,396 | 84.5% | 89.1% |
| Northern Kentucky University Salmon P. Chase College of Law Highland Heights · Public | 154 | 3.41 | 58.7% | $25,392 | 76.2% | 68.8% |
Tuition is full-time tuition and fees for 2025-26, at the in-state rate for public schools. Bar pass is the first-time rate on 2025 exams in every state where graduates sat; lawyer jobs is the share of 2025 graduates in full-time, long-term jobs requiring bar passage. Each school's page has the detail.
The University of Louisville had the highest first-time bar passage rate, 84.5%. The University of Kentucky placed the largest share of 2025 graduates in lawyer jobs, 89.6%. The University of Kentucky was the hardest to get into, accepting 40.8% of applicants. Northern Kentucky University charged the least, $25,392.
The Kentucky bar exam
In 2025, 78.8% of graduates of ABA-approved law schools who took the Kentucky bar exam for the first time passed, as the ABA reports it. That is the yardstick each school's rate is compared with when its graduates sit here.
Graduates of these schools took it most often in 2025 (schools with at least 10 first-time takers here):
| School | Takers | Passed | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Louisville | 93 | 79 | 85% |
| University of Kentucky | 77 | 65 | 84.4% |
| Northern Kentucky University | 44 | 34 | 77.3% |
Out-of-state schools that send graduates to Kentucky
Each school reports the three states where most of its employed graduates work. These schools outside Kentucky count it among their top three:
- Lincoln Memorial University (TN): 8 employed 2025 graduates
- University of Cincinnati (OH): 8 employed 2025 graduates
- Appalachian School of Law (VA): 7 employed 2025 graduates
- University of Toledo (OH): 3 employed 2025 graduates
Practicing in Kentucky: Kentucky Rules of Civil Procedure · Kentucky procedural guides.
Check your own numbers against these schools with the LSAT and GPA school finder.
Frequently asked questions
How many law schools are in Kentucky?
Kentucky has 3 ABA-approved law schools: Northern Kentucky University Salmon P. Chase College of Law, University of Kentucky J. David Rosenberg College of Law, University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law.
Which Kentucky law school has the highest bar passage rate?
University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law, where 84.5% of first-time takers passed in 2025.
What is the cheapest law school in Kentucky?
Northern Kentucky University Salmon P. Chase College of Law, at $25,392 a year in full-time tuition and fees for 2025-26 (in-state rate).
What is the hardest law school to get into in Kentucky?
By acceptance rate, University of Kentucky J. David Rosenberg College of Law, which accepted 40.8% of applicants for fall 2025, with a median LSAT of 159.
What is the Kentucky bar exam pass rate?
In 2025, 78.8% of first-time takers from ABA-approved law schools passed the Kentucky bar exam, as the ABA reports it.