Law Schools in Tennessee
5 ABA-approved schools · ABA disclosures · updated November 2, 2026
Tennessee has five ABA-approved law schools: two public and three private. Median LSAT scores for the class that entered in fall 2025 run from 153 at Lincoln Memorial University to 170 at Vanderbilt University.
Tennessee law schools compared
| School | Median LSAT | Median GPA | Accepted | Tuition | Bar pass | Lawyer jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanderbilt University Law School Nashville · Private | 170 | 3.91 | 13.3% | $78,799 | 94.6% | 98.2% |
| University of Tennessee Winston College of Law Knoxville · Public | 164 | 3.89 | 24.8% | $20,562 | 85.6% | 88.7% |
| Belmont University College of Law Nashville · Private | 161 | 3.84 | 37.6% | $57,705 | 96.5% | 87.3% |
| University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law Memphis · Public | 155 | 3.53 | 41.1% | $21,228 | 72.6% | 79.8% |
| Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law Knoxville · Private | 153 | 3.44 | 52.2% | $48,861 | 78.7% | 74.5% |
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.
Belmont University had the highest first-time bar passage rate, 96.5%. Vanderbilt University placed the largest share of 2025 graduates in lawyer jobs, 98.2%. Vanderbilt University was the hardest to get into, accepting 13.3% of applicants. The University of Tennessee charged the least, $20,562.
The Tennessee bar exam
In 2025, 79.7% of graduates of ABA-approved law schools who took the Tennessee 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belmont University | 98 | 95 | 96.9% |
| University of Tennessee | 94 | 83 | 88.3% |
| University of Memphis | 88 | 63 | 71.6% |
| Lincoln Memorial University | 84 | 63 | 75% |
| Vanderbilt University | 40 | 38 | 95% |
| University of Mississippi | 25 | 16 | 64% |
| University of Alabama | 14 | 14 | 100% |
Out-of-state schools that send graduates to Tennessee
Each school reports the three states where most of its employed graduates work. These schools outside Tennessee count it among their top three:
- University of Mississippi (MS): 18 employed 2025 graduates
- University of Alabama (AL): 8 employed 2025 graduates
- University of Kentucky (KY): 6 employed 2025 graduates
- Louisiana State University (LA): 5 employed 2025 graduates
- Pepperdine University (CA): 4 employed 2025 graduates
Practicing in Tennessee: Tennessee Rules of Civil Procedure · Tennessee procedural guides · Divorce in Tennessee.
Check your own numbers against these schools with the LSAT and GPA school finder.
Frequently asked questions
How many law schools are in Tennessee?
Tennessee has 5 ABA-approved law schools: Belmont University College of Law, Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law, University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, University of Tennessee Winston College of Law, Vanderbilt University Law School.
Which Tennessee law school has the highest bar passage rate?
Belmont University College of Law, where 96.5% of first-time takers passed in 2025.
What is the cheapest law school in Tennessee?
University of Tennessee Winston College of Law, at $20,562 a year in full-time tuition and fees for 2025-26 (in-state rate).
What is the hardest law school to get into in Tennessee?
By acceptance rate, Vanderbilt University Law School, which accepted 13.3% of applicants for fall 2025, with a median LSAT of 170.
What is the Tennessee bar exam pass rate?
In 2025, 79.7% of first-time takers from ABA-approved law schools passed the Tennessee bar exam, as the ABA reports it.