Kentucky vs. Penn State Dickinson Law: Cost, Bar Passage & Outcomes Compared

On the most recent ABA Standard 509 data, Penn State Dickinson Law posts the higher first-time bar passage (87.04% vs 83.09%); Kentucky is cheaper on sticker tuition ($25,685 vs $60,048); Kentucky places more graduates in full-time JD jobs (93% vs 87%).

Side by side (ABA Standard 509)

MetricKentuckyPenn State Dickinson LawBetter
Admissions
Median LSAT159159Tie
Median undergraduate GPA3.723.71Kentucky
Acceptance rate40.8%43%Kentucky
Cost
Resident tuition$25,685$60,048Kentucky
Non-resident tuition$49,836$60,048Kentucky
Median grant$11,000$36,000Penn State Dickinson Law
Bar passage
First-time bar passage83.09%87.04%Penn State Dickinson Law
Two-year ultimate bar passage91.36%96.7%Penn State Dickinson Law
Bar passage vs. state average+4.3 pts+7.4 ptsPenn State Dickinson Law
Employment
Full-time, long-term JD employment93%87%Kentucky
Large-firm (250+) employment7.8%8.5%Penn State Dickinson Law
Federal clerkships6.1%1.8%Kentucky

15-year trajectory

First-time bar passage: 84.47% in 2011 to 83.09% in 202570%80%90%100%111315182022242583.09%
First-time bar passage · 2011–2025
Kentucky — First-time bar passage
First-time bar passage: 87.04% in 2016 to 87.04% in 202575%80%85%90%95%161921232587.04%
First-time bar passage · 2016–2025
Penn State Dickinson Law — First-time bar passage
Resident tuition: $18,306 in 2011 to $25,685 in 2025$17,500$20,000$22,500$25,000$27,5001113151719212325$25,685
Resident tuition · 2011–2025
Kentucky — Resident tuition
Resident tuition: $45,078 in 2015 to $60,048 in 2025$40,000$45,000$50,000$55,000$60,000$65,000151719212325$60,048
Resident tuition · 2015–2025
Penn State Dickinson Law — Resident tuition

Full profiles & related

Kentucky full profile · Penn State Dickinson Law full profile

FAQ

Which is cheaper, Kentucky or Penn State Dickinson Law?

Kentucky is cheaper on sticker: resident tuition of $25,685 versus Penn State Dickinson Law's $60,048.

Which has better bar passage, Kentucky or Penn State Dickinson Law?

Penn State Dickinson Law has the higher first-time bar passage, 87.04% against Kentucky's 83.09%.

Which has better job outcomes, Kentucky or Penn State Dickinson Law?

Kentucky places more graduates in full-time, long-term JD jobs (93% vs 87%).

Kentucky vs Penn State Dickinson Law: which is better?

It depends on what you weigh — the table above shows where each wins. Across the four headline measures (selectivity, sticker cost, first-time bar passage, and JD employment), Kentucky leads on more of them, but read the row that matters most to you rather than the count.

Source: ABA Standard 509 Required Disclosures, most recent reported cycle. Last updated June 26, 2026.

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