Kentucky vs. University of St. Thomas (Minnesota): Cost, Bar Passage & Outcomes Compared

On the most recent ABA Standard 509 data, Kentucky posts the higher first-time bar passage (83.09% vs 74.7%); Kentucky is cheaper on sticker tuition ($25,685 vs $50,998); Kentucky places more graduates in full-time JD jobs (93% vs 91.9%).

Side by side (ABA Standard 509)

MetricKentuckyUniversity of St. Thomas (Minnesota)Better
Admissions
Median LSAT159159Tie
Median undergraduate GPA3.723.72Tie
Acceptance rate40.8%57.6%Kentucky
Cost
Resident tuition$25,685$50,998Kentucky
Non-resident tuition$49,836$50,998Kentucky
Median grant$11,000$26,865University of St. Thomas (Minnesota)
Bar passage
First-time bar passage83.09%74.7%Kentucky
Two-year ultimate bar passage91.36%88.96%Kentucky
Bar passage vs. state average+4.3 pts-9.7 ptsKentucky
Employment
Full-time, long-term JD employment93%91.9%Kentucky
Large-firm (250+) employment7.8%6%Kentucky
Federal clerkships6.1%1.3%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: 97.7% in 2011 to 74.7% in 202560%70%80%90%100%111315182022242574.7%
First-time bar passage · 2011–2025
University of St. Thomas (Minnesota) — 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: $34,898 in 2011 to $50,998 in 2025$30,000$35,000$40,000$45,000$50,000$55,0001113151719212325$50,998
Resident tuition · 2011–2025
University of St. Thomas (Minnesota) — Resident tuition

Full profiles & related

FAQ

Which is cheaper, Kentucky or University of St. Thomas (Minnesota)?

Kentucky is cheaper on sticker: resident tuition of $25,685 versus University of St. Thomas (Minnesota)'s $50,998.

Which has better bar passage, Kentucky or University of St. Thomas (Minnesota)?

Kentucky has the higher first-time bar passage, 83.09% against University of St. Thomas (Minnesota)'s 74.7%.

Which has better job outcomes, Kentucky or University of St. Thomas (Minnesota)?

Kentucky places more graduates in full-time, long-term JD jobs (93% vs 91.9%).

Kentucky vs University of St. Thomas (Minnesota): 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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