Welcome to the Admissions home for the University of Kentucky J. David Rosenberg College of Law in Lexington, Kentucky. Thank you for your interest in our Rosenberg College of Law! We keep this section updated with all the information you may need throughout the admissions process. Whether you are just starting to think about law as a career or are currently in the process of applying, you will find a lot of useful information. If you have any questions about admission to the UK Rosenberg College of Law in Lexington, Kentucky, please feel free to contact us. Our main contact information is below, or you can view the Admissions Staff page.

Getting into UK College of Law

UK College of Law Overview

The University of Kentucky College of Law, also known as UK Law, is an ABA-accredited public law school. The school launched in 1908, making it one of the oldest public law schools in the US. In 2019, the school changed its name to the J. David Rosenberg College of Law in honor of a 1974 graduate who donated $20 million to the college.

The UK College of Law publishes the Kentucky Law Journal, the tenth-oldest student-run law review publication in the US, as well as the Kentucky Journal of Equine, Agriculture & Natural Resources Law, which is also student-run.

In terms of education quality, the UK College of Law is a leading institution. Among US public schools, the institution ranks at #31 and is ranked highest among Kentucky’s three law schools.

The school provides personalized training to each student. It can do this because of its 8.1:1 student to faculty ratio. In such small classes, professors can interact one-on-one with students and provide personalized assistance to help them succeed.

Many of the school’s legal courses rank highly, such as:

• Business/Corporate Law
• Constitutional Law
• International Law
• Tax Law
• Contracts/Commercial Law
• Healthcare Law
• Criminal Law
• Environmental Law
• Intellectual Property Law

You can specialize in any of these areas of law through the school’s regular full-time program or opt for one of its dual-degree programs. Dual-degree programs are a cost-effective option for gaining a Juris Doctor (JD) and another degree at the same time. UK Law’s dual-degree options are:

• JD/MBA
• JD/MHA
• JD/MPA
• JD/MA in Diplomacy and International Commerce

In addition to academic teachings, the UK College of Law has various programs that teach students about real-world legal practice. These include:

• Legal clinic
• Trial practice
• Pro bono and community engagement
• Local, regional, and national competitions

The legal clinic allows third-year students to represent real people in state court proceedings. That includes drafting legal documents, conducting client interviews, filing pleadings, and more.

Participating in the legal clinic is ideal for mastering substantive and procedural law, legal research and analysis, and case planning and management before graduating. Because of the effectiveness of the institute’s legal education, over 80% of UK Law’s graduates find employment within nine months of graduating.

That said, attending the J. David Rosenberg College of Law isn’t cheap. Fortunately, the school has several financial assistance programs, including merit-based scholarships, diversity scholarships, and federal financial aid.

UK College of Law Rankings

Law school rankings give an idea of a law school’s quality. Organizations typically calculate rankings based on a school’s:

• Acceptance rate
• LSAT and GPA requirements
• Tuition
• Bar passage rate
• Employment rate
• Diversity

Schools that score the highest for these factors will have an overall high ranking. But you shouldn’t base your choice of law school solely on rankings. For example, Yale and Stanford are among the top five law schools, which makes them highly appealing. But because of their attractiveness, these schools receive numerous applications, which makes gaining admission highly competitive. Plus, tuition is very expensive.

According to the 2021 US News and World Report, the UK College of Law is #70 among the best law schools. PublicLegal’s 2020 Raw Data Law School Rankings Report places the institution at #92. While these numbers aren’t the best, it doesn’t change the fact that the UK College of Law has impressive bar passage and employment rates.

Plus, the requirements to get into UK Law aren’t as stringent as those of the top ten law schools.

UK College of Law Admissions

What is the UK College of Law’s Acceptance Rate?

A school’s acceptance rate indicates how difficult it is to gain admission. At the UK College of Law, the acceptance rate for 2019 was 49%, which is lower than the 60% acceptance rate for 2023. These figures indicate the school is willing to accept about half of its applicants, which makes it averagely competitive.

Fluctuations in a school’s acceptance rate are dependent on two primary factors: changes in the school’s admission requirement, and an increase in the number of applicants.

If the number of applications far exceeds the number of students a school can take, the acceptance rate will drop. On the other hand, if the number of applications is equal to or fewer than available admission slots, the acceptance rate will rise.

During the class of 2024 application window, UK Law received 696 applications and accepted 419, leading to a 60% acceptance rate. In 2019, the number of applications was far higher at 782. Because the school could take only 388 of those applicants, the acceptance rate was 49%.

As for the school’s requirements, these refer to the qualifications you need to receive admission. Getting into the J. David Rosenberg College of Law requires having a GPA and LSAT score that meets the school’s specifications.

Said specifications may change each session. For example, a school may increase its minimum requirement to narrow down candidates when there are too many applications.

For the class of 2019, the UK College of Law’s minimum GPA and LSAT requirements were 3.36 and 154, respectively. For the class of 2023, the minimum accepted GPA and LSAT were 3.17 and 152.

To be on the safe side, aim to score higher than the accepted minimum GPA and LSAT of the previous year. Since law schools attach more weight to LSAT scores, the higher your LSAT, the better your chances of receiving an offer. You can also give yourself an advantage by accompanying your application with a convincing personal statement and letters of reference from notable recommenders.

	Applications	Offers	Matriculated
Class of 2019	782	388 (49.62%)	164 (20%)
	25%	Median	75%
GPA	3.36	3.62	3.80
LSAT	154	155	158

	Applications	Offers	Matriculated
Class of 2023	696	419 (60.20%)	113 (16.2%)
	25%	Median	75%
GPA	3.17	3.42	3.69
LSAT	152	155	158

UK College of Law LSAT Percentiles

75th percentile	158
50th percentile	155
25th percentile	152

Promotional Opportunity: “Want to get into the UK College of Law? Sign up for LSATMax”

2023 Entering Class Profile

Number of Students	374
LSAT Score	155
Undergraduate GPA	3.42%
% Women	42.50%
% Students of Color	2.9%

What is the Tuition for the UK College of Law?

	In-State Resident	Non-Resident
Full-time	$21,618	$40,836
Part-time	N/A	N/A

What are the Living Expenses at the UK College of Law?

On-campus	$15,832
Off-campus	$15,832

What are the Housing Options at the UK College of Law?

On-campus	No
Off-campus	Yes

Bar Passage Rates at the UK College of Law

Reporting	87.8%
First-time Takers	123
UK College of Law Average	89.8%
Kentucky Average	80.5%
National Average	79.64%

Application Deadlines

What Materials do I Need When Applying to the UK College of Law?

UK Law accepts first-year students for the fall semester only. You must submit the following application materials before that time:

• Online application
• Official transcripts from undergraduate institutions
• LSAT score
• Personal statement
• Two letters of recommendation
• Résumé
• Optional materials, such as an addenda and UK Law interest statement

When does the UK College of Law School Begin Accepting Applications?

The UK College of Law begins accepting applications on September 1. If you miss the submission window, you must wait until the next one.

How are Applications to the UK College of Law Submitted?

Applicants must submit all application documents via the Law School Admission Council (LSAC).

Does the UK College of Law Have an “Early Admission” or “Early Decision” Process?

The UK College of Law does not have an early admission process. First-year applicants must complete their applications between September 1 and April 25.

How Much is the Application Fee and When is the Deadline?

The application fee is $50, and you must pay it via the LSAC. The deadline to submit applications is April 25.

Application Fee	$50
Early Decision Deadline	N/A
Regular Decision Deadline	4/25

Does the UK College of Law Grant Interviews?

Generally, UK Law doesn’t grant interviews. But if a candidate is applying for a legal scholarship, the admissions committee may request an interview.

Employment After the UK College of Law

2020 Median Salary – Private Sector	$61,000
2020 Median Salary – Public Sector	$42,000

Attending a school that increases your chances of quickly finding employment is often a priority for prospective lawyers and is why so many aim for the top ten. Even though it’s not a top-ten school, UK Law’s employment rates are still impressive.

In 2017, 63.7% of its graduates received employment immediately after graduation. Within ten months of graduating, 88.7% of the class of 2017 had jobs. For 2020, the numbers are just as promising: 61.1% of the class of 2020 received employment at graduation. Within ten months of graduating, 91.2% of the class had jobs.

UK Law graduates enjoy careers in various industries outside of legal practice as well. According to 2019 numbers, 87.8% of graduates reported having jobs within nine months of graduating. Only 54% of those graduates worked in law firms.

A total of 11% went on to start a business or work for a business, while 12% gained employment in government establishments. An additional 2% pursued careers in public interest, while 3% furthered their education or pursued a career in academia.

Most of these graduates (80%) remained in Kentucky, while 4% relocated to the District of Columbia for work. These numbers indicate employers find UK College of Law graduates to be highly employable.

On the downside, the starting salaries of UK Law graduates are not the most attractive. The PublicLegal Law School Rankings by Median Salary place UK Law 141st out of 200. The median salary of graduates in the private sector is $61,000 a year, while those in the public sector earn $42,000.

First-Year Applicants

UK Rosenberg Law admits first-year students in the fall semester only. There is no part-time program at UK Rosenberg Law. First-year applications are accepted starting on September 1 through April 30. Applicants must apply online through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). For priority consideration with regard to scholarships, applications must be received and completed no later than March 1.

First-year application requirements include:

• Online application and $50.00 fee (via LSAC)
• Official transcripts from all undergraduate institutions (via LSAC/CAS)
• LSAT score(s) from the last 5 years (via LSAC/CAS)
• Personal Statement (via LSAC)
• At least 2 Letters of Recommendation (via LSAC/CAS)
• Resume (via LSAC/CAS)
• Other Optional Materials (Addenda, UK Law interest statement) (via LSAC or to UK Law Admissions)

After applying, you will receive an email acknowledging receipt of your application from UK Rosenberg Law with information regarding how to access the online status checker.

Application Fee

$50.00. By applying electronically and paying the application fee via LSAC, your submission constitutes your certification of the truthfulness of the information contained in your application.

Undergraduate Transcripts

You must obtain a bachelor’s degree from a fully accredited institution of higher learning prior to enrollment at UK Rosenberg Law. Please submit transcripts for all schools you have attended to the LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS). You must submit your transcripts through CAS even if you attended undergraduate school at UK. The CAS is a centralized service which receives and evaluates, according to a standard scale, your undergraduate transcript(s) and furnishes a report to each law school you designate. Registration for the LSAT and the CAS can be done at the same time through the LSAC website. For your application to be considered complete, we must have a CAS report. If you have questions regarding transcripts or the accreditation of your undergraduate institution, please contact LSAC directly. Please visit our International Applicant page, or contact LSAC directly regarding foreign transcripts.

Please note that if you have yet to complete your undergraduate degree at the time of your application, you must send the UK Rosenberg College of Law an official copy of your final transcript with your degree conferment after you graduate; without this final transcript, admitted students cannot be matriculated into the UK Rosenberg College of Law. 

Law School Admission Test (LSAT) Score(s)

All applicants must take the LSAT, which is given six times per year at test centers throughout the country and overseas. Information on how to register for the LSAT is available on the LSAC website.

If you have multiple LSAT scores, the UK Rosenberg Law Admissions Committee will consider your highest score when making a decision. Please note that the April 2021 exam date will be the final LSAT administration that UK Rosenberg Law can consider for the incoming class of Fall 2021. 

Personal Statement

You must submit a personal statement, written by you, in accordance with the instructions on the application. The statement will be used both as a sample of your writing ability and for its insights into your background, goals, and potential for enriching UK Rosenberg Law’s academic environment. In your personal statement you may write about any of your accomplishments, particularly meaningful experiences, your reasons for applying to law school, or any other topic of your choosing. Your personal statement should be in 11-12 point font, single-spaced (double-spaced between paragraphs) and a maximum of 3 pages in length.

Letters of Recommendation

You are required to submit at least 2 letters of recommendation from those with personal knowledge of your abilities and qualifications to study law. The Admissions Committee will consider your letters of recommendation only to the extent that writers actually know and can speak to your academic potential, relevant personal qualities, and circumstances. Letters of recommendation must be submitted through LSAC’s Letter of Recommendation Service.

Resume

Please submit a copy of your resume with your application. Resumes are now required.

Other Materials (optional)

You may submit any other information not originally included with your application that you believe may be relevant for the Admissions Committee to make its decision. The Admissions Committee welcomes and carefully considers whatever information you deem relevant and important to present.  Additionally, if you wish to update or amend your application at any time, please email Admissions Associate Jeanie Powell at jpowell@uky.edu.

Admission Decisions and Tuition Deposit

Admission decisions are made on a rolling basis. The Admissions Committee begins its evaluation of files in late November of the year before admission, with the majority of decisions being made from January to March. You will be notified regarding the status of your application via email as soon as possible after your file is reviewed by the Admissions Committee.

If you are offered admission, you will be required to reserve your place in the entering class with one nonrefundable deposit of $400, which will be applied to your tuition for the Fall 2021 semester. For the majority of students admitted the incoming class of Fall 2021, this deposit will be due on May 1, 2021.  Your deposit can be paid by credit card online the Admitted Candidate site. You may also pay your deposit by check or money order (made payable to UK Rosenberg College of Law). You must pay your deposit by the applicable deadline to officially reserve your place in the entering class.

University of Kentucky College of Law

Founded in 1908 from a law program initiated at Transylvania University in 1799, the University of Kentucky College of Law was one of the nation’s first state law schools. In 1913 the College established the nation’s first law school trial practice program, and its Kentucky Law Journal is the tenth-oldest student-run law review in the nation. The College of Law has been approved by the American Bar Association since 1925 and was elected to Order of the Coif, the most prestigious national legal honorary society, in 1931. As educators, we prepare our graduates to be responsible members and leaders of the legal profession, Commonwealth, and Nation who are dedicated to the highest standards of ethics, excellence, and professionalism. As scholars, we engage in robust exploration and dissemination of ideas examining the law, legal institutions, and the role of law in society at the state, national, and international levels.

2018 Quick Overview

The Below Data Compiled By: The American Bar Association 

Students	374
Student-faculty ratio	17:1
Tuition	$22,700 per year (full-time, in-state) $44,320 per year (full-time, out-of-state) N/A per year (part-time, in-state) N/A per year (part-time, out-of-state)
Tuition Guarantee Program	0
Estimated Living Expenses	$15,832
Founded In	1925
ABA Accredited	Yes
Application deadline	03/15/19
Full-time program application fee	$ 50
Financial Aid Deadline	03/15/19
Can first years start other than fall?	No

Median LSAT: 154Median GPA: 3.49Acceptance Rate: 60.2 %

Comparable Schools

Louisiana State University – Paul M. Hebert Law Center

Michigan State University College of Law

Saint Louis University School of Law

Seattle University School of Law

Stetson University College of Law

University at Buffalo School of Law

University of Arizona – James E. Rogers College of Law

University of Arkansas – Fayetteville, School of Law

University of Kentucky College of Law

University of South Carolina School of Law

University of Kentucky College of Law

Real Time HIC User Applicant Status Admissions Data

Actual(A)/Practice(P)

Username	LSAT	GPA	Status	Scholarship	Sent	Received	Decision	Updated

Username	LSAT	GPA	Status	Scholarship	Sent	Received	Decision	Updated
pcvlrm	161A	3.49	Accepted	Yes	11/19/15	11/20/15	–	5 years ago
Mitchell	154A	3.60	Interested In Applying		–	–	–	4 months ago
Hbairo27	157A	3.98	Interested In Applying		–	–	–	2 years ago
lindsaycress	157A	3.78	Interested In Applying		–	–	–	3 years ago
eawrig04	157A	3.97	Interested In Applying		–	–	–	3 years ago
kbpolk01	150P	3.56	Interested In Applying		–	–	–	3 years ago
landinjohnston	150A	3.98	Interested In Applying		–	–	–	3 years ago
sksimo02	150P	3.82	Interested In Applying		–	–	–	3 years ago
fletchon	153A	3.82	Interested In Applying		–	–	–	4 years ago
ericaashton	167A	3.83	Interested In Applying		–	–	–	4 years ago
ambergriffin12	159P	3.20	Interested In Applying		–	–	–	4 years ago
taydanea	162P	3.00	Interested In Applying		–	–	–	4 years ago
saboaj	148A	3.20	Interested In Applying		–	–	–	5 years ago
beatrizalbisu13	149A	3.20	Interested In Applying		–	–	–	6 years ago
shellmae3	145A	2.80	Interested In Applying		–	–	–	6 years ago

GPA and
LSAT

Grants
Scholarship

Ethnicity

Bar Pass
Rates

Employment
Summary

	Total	Full-Time	Part-Time
Number of Applicants	922	922
Number of Offers	398	398
Number of Matriculants	112	112
75% GPA	3.73	3.73
Median GPA	3.46	3.46
25% GPA	3.12	3.12
75% LSAT	158	158
Median LSAT	156	156
25% LSAT	153	153

The Above Data Compiled By:  The American Bar Association

National Comparison: Overview of Facts

#11 in Employment Rate at 10 Months

#39 in Employment Rate at Graduation
UK Law ranks #11 in terms of graduates employed ten months after graduation (91.2%) and #39 in terms of graduates employed at the time of graduation (61.1%) .

#16 in Library Size

UK Law ranks #16 in terms of library size with 850,846 volumes or equivalents.

#43 in Presence of Female Faculty

UK Law is tied for #43 in terms of the highest percentage of faculty who are female (45.2%).

#77 in Highest Tuition (out-of-state)

#237 in Highest Tuition (in-state)
UK Law ranks #77 in terms of highest tuition among full-time law students for its out-of state tuition of $48,474, and it ranks #237 in terms of highest tuition among full-time law students for its in-state tuition of $24,046. We rank from a total of 283 tuition rates from 194 law schools, ranking twice those law schools that have different in-state and out-of-state tuition rates. Room and board expenses average $12,814 per year.

#84 in Median Undergraduate GPA

UK Law ranks #84 in terms of highest median undergraduate GPA (3.46) among those applicants granted admission who enrolled as full-time students.

#92 in Median LSAT

UK Law is tied for #92 in terms of the median LSAT score (155) among those applicants granted admission who enrolled as full-time students. The LSAT measures reading comprehension, analytical reasoning, and logical reasoning.

#95 in Acceptance Rate

UK Law ranks #95 in terms of student selectivity with an acceptance rate of 48.0% among those who applied for admission.

#109 in Bar Passage Rate

UK Law ranks #109 in terms of bar passage rate among first-time test takers (77.4%), and it outperforms by +8.4% the state of Kentucky’s overall bar passage rate of 69.0%. (A national comparison on this metric should be taken in a qualified sense and with caution, because every state has a different bar passage rate.)

#141 in Private Sector Salary

UK Law is tied for #141 in terms of the median starting salary among graduates working in private practice as law firm associates ($61,000).

#158 in Student to Faculty Ratio

UK Law is tied for #158 in terms of lowest student to faculty ratio (8.8:1).

#166 in Presence of Minority Students

UK Law ranks #166 in terms of the highest percentage of students who are racial or ethnic minority (21.5%).

#179 in Public Sector Salary

UK Law is tied for #179 in terms of median starting salary among graduates working in government jobs or judicial clerkships at the federal or state level ($42,000).

#181 in Presence of Minority Faculty

UK Law ranks #181 in terms of the highest percentage of faculty who are racial or ethnic minority (6.8%).

About this Report

This report was released in spring 2019.

GPA & LSAT

References to the lowest, median, and highest GPA and LSAT scores reflect those of the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile, respectively, among those applicants granted admission who enrolled as full-time students in fall 2018.

Acceptance Rates

The acceptance rate is that of applicants granted admission as full-time students for classes commencing in fall 2018. The acceptance rate of the applicants does not reflect actual enrollment rates, a subset figure.

Student-to-Faculty Ratios

The student-to-faculty ratio shows the number of students for that class per faculty member. This ratio reflects the applicants granted admission who enrolled as full-time students in fall 2018.

Bar Passage Rates

The bar passage rates reflect those among first-time test takers for the winter and summer 2017 administrations of the bar examinations. The state noted is that in which the greatest number of the law school’s graduates took the bar exam for the reported period.

Employment Rates

The employment rates shown are those of the 2017 full-time graduates at the time of graduation and ten months after graduation.

Law Library Volumes

The data indicate the number of print and microform volumes, as well as volume equivalents.

Gender, Race & Ethnicity

The data shown indicate the percentage of the faculty that are male and female, respectively, and the percentage of the faculty and students that are racial or ethnic minority (Hispanics of any race, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Black or African American, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, multiracial, non-resident alien, or unknown race).

Salaries

The salary statistics are those of full-time, long-term employed law graduates for the class of 2017 at the time of graduation and within ten months after graduation (approximately spring 2018 ), as self-reported by the graduates.

The salaries indicated for “Median Salary Private” reflect those salaries of the 50th percentile, among those graduates working in private practice as law firm associates. The salaries indicated for “Median Salary Public” reflect those salaries of the 50th percentile, among those graduates working in government jobs or judicial clerkships at the federal or state level.

In determining median salaries, jobs classified as “JD advantage” have been excluded (i.e., positions in which the employer requires a JD or considers it an advantage to hold such a degree, but in which admission to the bar is not required).

Fall 2020 Application Information
Application Deadline:	March 31
Application Fee:	$50

Admissions Statistics	2020	2017
Acceptance Rate	48.0%	60.2%
LSAT Score (Median)	155	155
LSAT Score (25th-75th percentile)	152-157	152-158
GPA (Median)	3.46	3.43
GPA Range (25th-75th percentile)	3.22-3.73	3.17-3.69

Bar Exam Statistics	2020	2017
State in which most graduates took bar exam:	KY	KY
School’s bar passage rate:	77.4%	89.8%
State overall bar passage rate:	69.0%	80.5%
School bar pass rate vs. state bar pass rate:	+8.4%	+9.3%