96.9% of first-time Tennessee bar test takers place Belmont at the top of the class
Belmont’s College of Law finished first on the July 2025 Tennessee Bar Exam with a 96.9% pass rate for first time test takers, surpassing last year’s 94.7%.
An exceptional bar pass rate, paired with the College’s outstanding 97% career outcomes rate for 2024 graduates, affirms that Belmont Law students are not only prepared to pass the exam but to succeed in meaningful careers of purpose and impact.
“Our continued improvement on the bar exam reflects the collective investment of our entire community,” said College of Law Dean Alberto Gonzales. “Our faculty challenge, motivate and encourage. Our alumni lead with purpose and professionalism. And our students and alumni put in the work required to achieve success. Together, they drive Belmont Law forward as a leader in legal education. We’re not just preparing students to pass the bar; we’re preparing them to lead, serve, protect and to uphold the values that sustain our nation.”
Belmont Law not only achieved the highest pass rate in the state but also fielded the largest group of test takers. Ninety-seven first-time takers sat for the July exam, with 94 earning a passing score.
Vanderbilt University placed second with a 92.5% pass rate among 40 first-time takers, while the University of Tennessee followed at 87.36% with 87 first-time takers.
Belmont Law’s consistently strong performance, with bar passage rates above 90% year after year, reflects a program defined by both academic rigor and intentional support. With each milestone, Belmont Law reinforces its reputation as one of the premier destinations for practice-ready, purpose-driven legal professionals in the Southeastern United States.
Faculty and staff diligently work to cultivate a supportive culture that fosters connection, mentorship and camaraderie. Together, this community and academic excellence build the confidence alumni need to excel on the bar exam and thrive amid the demanding realities of the legal profession.
“Belmont has something special. It’s not adversarial, it’s supportive,” Lilijana Chufo, a May 2025 graduate now serving as an Assistant Attorney General in Missouri’s Government Affairs Division. “You realize your success doesn’t mean someone else’s failure.”
As the College continues to deliver top results across bar performance and career outcomes, it cements its position as a leader in legal education.
Explore Belmont's College of Law