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University of South Dakota School of Law
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Contents
- 1 University of South Dakota
- 1.1 University of South Dakota at a Glance
- 1.2 Key Takeaways
- 1.3 Admissions — Broad Access Profile in Vermillion, SD
- 1.4 Tuition, Scholarships, and Debt — Public Cost Frame
- 1.5 Employment Outcomes — Small Graduating Class, SOUTH DAKOTA Lead Market
- 1.6 Bar Passage — Below Weighted Benchmark
- 1.7 Academics and Programs
- 1.8 Location and Legal Market — Vermillion, SD to SOUTH DAKOTA
- 1.9 The TLS Assessment — Vermillion, SD, Below Weighted Benchmark
- 1.10 Frequently Asked Questions
- 1.11 Methodology and Sources
University of South Dakota
| Verified snapshot | School-specific record |
|---|---|
| Admissions (2025 entering class) | applications: 405; offers: 253; accepted: 62.47%; yield: 33.60%; LSAT median: 152; GPA median: 3.47 |
| Employment (2025 class) | graduates: 82; bar-required: 64 of 82 (78.05%); 251+ lawyer firms: 0 of 82 (0.00%); federal clerkships: 3 of 82 (3.66%); leading market: SOUTH DAKOTA |
| Bar (2025 first-time) | first-time passage: 69.23%; jurisdiction benchmark: 79.48%; difference: -10.25 percentage points |
| Tuition (2025–26) | Full-time resident: $12,076; full-time nonresident: $32,184 |
| Grants (2024–25) | 139 recipients (55%) |
University of South Dakota at a Glance
| Field | Verified information |
|---|---|
| Official name | University of South Dakota[4] |
| Type | Public[1] |
| Status | Operating[4] |
| Accreditation | Fully approved[4] |
| Location | Vermillion, SD[4] |
| Latest entering class | 2025[1] |
| Applications | 405[1] |
| Acceptance rate | 62.47%[1] |
| LSAT median | 152[1] |
| GPA median | 3.47[1] |
| Tuition | Full-time resident: $12,076; full-time nonresident: $32,184[1] |
| Latest employment class | Class of 2025[3] |
| Bar-required employment | 64 of 82 (78.05%)[3] |
| Large-firm employment (251+) | 0 of 82 (0.00%)[3] |
| Federal clerkships | 3 of 82 (3.66%)[3] |
| First-time bar passage | 69.23%[2] |
| Research cutoff | Research cutoff: 2026-08-30 |
Key Takeaways
| Decision lens | Verified record |
|---|---|
| Admissions | 2025: 62.47% accepted; medians 152 LSAT / 3.47 GPA; yield 33.60% |
| Price / aid | tuition/living expenses 2025-2026; conditional-scholarship cohorts as labeled in source tuition: Full-time resident: $12,076; full-time nonresident: $32,184; 2024-2025 academic year grants: 139 recipients (55%) |
| Employment | Class of 2025; bar-required 64 of 82 (78.05%); lead market SOUTH DAKOTA; 251+ firms 0 of 82 (0.00%) |
| Licensing | 2025 first-time bar-admission reporting cohort first-time 69.23%; 2025 first-time bar-admission reporting cohort benchmark difference -10.25 percentage points |
Admissions — Broad Access Profile in Vermillion, SD
| ABA arithmetic check | Source-reported | Count-calculated | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application rate | 20.49 | 20.99 | 2025 entering class (Oct. 6, 2024-Oct. 5, 2025) |
| Offer rate | 32.81 | 33.6 | 2025 entering class (Oct. 6, 2024-Oct. 5, 2025) |
| Measure | Value | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 62.47%[1] | 2025 entering class (Oct. 6, 2024-Oct. 5, 2025) |
| Yield | 33.60%[1] | 2025 entering class (Oct. 6, 2024-Oct. 5, 2025) |
| Total first-year enrollment | 88[1] | 2025 entering class (Oct. 6, 2024-Oct. 5, 2025) |
| LSAT median | 152[1] | 2025 entering class (Oct. 6, 2024-Oct. 5, 2025) |
| GPA median | 3.47[1] | 2025 entering class (Oct. 6, 2024-Oct. 5, 2025) |
| Completed applications | 405[1] | 2025 entering class (Oct. 6, 2024-Oct. 5, 2025) |
| Latest entering-class year | 2025[1] | 2025 entering class (Oct. 6, 2024-Oct. 5, 2025) |
| Offers of admission | 253[1] | 2025 entering class (Oct. 6, 2024-Oct. 5, 2025) |
| Current-pool matriculants | 85[1] | 2025 entering class (Oct. 6, 2024-Oct. 5, 2025) |
| LSAT 25th percentile | 149[1] | 2025 entering class (Oct. 6, 2024-Oct. 5, 2025) |
| LSAT 75th percentile | 156[1] | 2025 entering class (Oct. 6, 2024-Oct. 5, 2025) |
| GPA 25th percentile | 3.16[1] | 2025 entering class (Oct. 6, 2024-Oct. 5, 2025) |
| GPA 75th percentile | 3.81[1] | 2025 entering class (Oct. 6, 2024-Oct. 5, 2025) |
| ABA-reported application deadline (not current-cycle verified) | July 1[1] | 2025 questionnaire/current information |
Tuition, Scholarships, and Debt — Public Cost Frame
| Measure | Value | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | Full-time resident: $12,076; full-time nonresident: $32,184[1] | tuition/living expenses 2025-2026; conditional-scholarship cohorts as labeled in source |
| Mandatory fees | $5,037[1] | tuition/living expenses 2025-2026; conditional-scholarship cohorts as labeled in source |
| Estimated living costs | Off campus: $18,034; on campus: $16,452[1] | tuition/living expenses 2025-2026; conditional-scholarship cohorts as labeled in source |
| Grant recipients | 139 recipients (55%)[1] | 2024-2025 academic year |
| Conditional-scholarship treatment | ABA disclosure reports conditional scholarships[1] | tuition/living expenses 2025-2026; conditional-scholarship cohorts as labeled in source |
| Tuition reporting year | tuition/living expenses 2025-2026; conditional-scholarship cohorts as labeled in source[1] | tuition/living expenses 2025-2026; conditional-scholarship cohorts as labeled in source |
| Grant 25th, median, and 75th percentiles | $590 / $5,000 / $10,000[1] | 2024-2025 academic year |
| Scholarship retention results | 0 of 1 (0.00%)[1] | tuition/living expenses 2025-2026; conditional-scholarship cohorts as labeled in source |
Employment Outcomes — Small Graduating Class, SOUTH DAKOTA Lead Market
| Measure | Value | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Employment geography | SOUTH DAKOTA (46); IOWA (5); NEBRASKA (5)[3] | Class of 2025; status as of March 16, 2026 |
| Bar-passage-required employment | 64 of 82 (78.05%)[3] | Class of 2025; status as of March 16, 2026 |
| Unemployed and seeking | 6 of 82 (7.32%)[3] | Class of 2025; status as of March 16, 2026 |
| Law-firm employment at 251+ lawyers | 0 of 82 (0.00%)[3] | Class of 2025; status as of March 16, 2026 |
| Government employment | 12 of 82 (14.63%)[3] | Class of 2025; status as of March 16, 2026 |
| Public-interest employment | 8 of 82 (9.76%)[3] | Class of 2025; status as of March 16, 2026 |
| Latest employment class year | Class of 2025[3] | Class of 2025; status as of March 16, 2026 |
| Graduating class size | 82[3] | Class of 2025; status as of March 16, 2026 |
| J.D.-advantage employment | 5 of 82 (6.10%)[3] | Class of 2025; status as of March 16, 2026 |
| Federal clerkships | 3 of 82 (3.66%)[3] | Class of 2025; status as of March 16, 2026 |
| State and local clerkships | 12 of 82 (14.63%)[3] | Class of 2025; status as of March 16, 2026 |
| School-funded positions | 0 of 82 (0.00%)[3] | Class of 2025; status as of March 16, 2026 |
Bar Passage — Below Weighted Benchmark
| Measure | Value | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Difference from weighted jurisdiction average | -10.25 percentage points[2] | 2025 first-time bar-admission reporting cohort |
| First-time bar-passage rate | 69.23%[2] | 2025 first-time bar-admission reporting cohort |
| Weighted jurisdiction average | 79.48%[2] | 2025 first-time bar-admission reporting cohort |
| Ultimate bar-passage rate | 91.23%[2] | Class of 2023 two-year ultimate bar-admission outcomes |
| Latest bar reporting year | 2025 first-time bar-admission reporting cohort[2] | 2025 first-time bar-admission reporting cohort |
Academics and Programs
| ABA curricular field | Reported seats / positions / source-cell value |
|---|---|
| Clinic seats available | 0 (2024-2025 academic year) |
| Field-placement positions filled | 127 (2024-2025 academic year) |
| Co-curricular-offerings source cell | 8 (2024-2025 academic year) |
Location and Legal Market — Vermillion, SD to SOUTH DAKOTA
| Geographic field | Disclosed value |
|---|---|
| School location | Vermillion, SD |
| Reported employment geography | SOUTH DAKOTA (46); IOWA (5); NEBRASKA (5) |
| Graduating class | Class of 2025 |
The TLS Assessment — Vermillion, SD, Below Weighted Benchmark
| Applicant comparison | Source-backed input |
|---|---|
| Price evidence | tuition/living expenses 2025-2026; conditional-scholarship cohorts as labeled in source Full-time resident: $12,076; full-time nonresident: $32,184; 2024-2025 academic year grant recipients 139 recipients (55%) |
| Job mix | Class of 2025; status as of March 16, 2026 bar-required 64 of 82 (78.05%); Class of 2025; status as of March 16, 2026 251+ firms 0 of 82 (0.00%); Class of 2025; status as of March 16, 2026 federal clerkships 3 of 82 (3.66%) |
| Geography | Class of 2025; status as of March 16, 2026 SOUTH DAKOTA (46); IOWA (5); NEBRASKA (5) |
| Licensing | 2025 first-time bar-admission reporting cohort first-time 69.23%; 2025 first-time bar-admission reporting cohort difference -10.25 percentage points |
Frequently Asked Questions
| Question | Verified answer |
|---|---|
| What do the verified admissions figures show for University of South Dakota? | applications: 405; offers: 253; accepted: 62.47%; LSAT median: 152; GPA median: 3.47 — 2025 entering class (Oct. 6, 2024-Oct. 5, 2025).[1] |
| Which price and aid figures are verified for University of South Dakota? | tuition: Full-time resident: $12,076; full-time nonresident: $32,184 (tuition/living expenses 2025-2026; conditional-scholarship cohorts as labeled in source); mandatory fees: $5,037 (tuition/living expenses 2025-2026; conditional-scholarship cohorts as labeled in source); grant recipients: 139 recipients (55%) (2024-2025 academic year); conditional aid: ABA disclosure reports conditional scholarships (tuition/living expenses 2025-2026; conditional-scholarship cohorts as labeled in source).[1] |
| What employment pattern is disclosed for University of South Dakota? | graduates: 82; bar-required: 64 of 82 (78.05%); 251+ lawyer firms: 0 of 82 (0.00%); federal clerkships: 3 of 82 (3.66%); reported geography: SOUTH DAKOTA (46); IOWA (5); NEBRASKA (5) — Class of 2025; status as of March 16, 2026.[3] |
| What bar-passage results are verified for University of South Dakota? | first-time passage: 69.23% (2025 first-time bar-admission reporting cohort); weighted benchmark: 79.48% (2025 first-time bar-admission reporting cohort); difference: -10.25 percentage points (2025 first-time bar-admission reporting cohort); ultimate passage: 91.23% (Class of 2023 two-year ultimate bar-admission outcomes).[2] |
Methodology and Sources
- University of South Dakota's evidence was researched through 2026-08-30; every time-sensitive value keeps its source cohort.
- Shared provenance and conflict policy for the Vermillion, SD record: TLS data methodology.
- Cohort credentials for University of South Dakota: admissions-data definitions.
- The SOUTH DAKOTA (46) outcome frame uses employment-data definitions.
- Licensure comparisons for Vermillion, SD use bar-passage definitions. University of South Dakota's evidence package retains 2 ABA reported-arithmetic conflicts; reported fields and count-based calculations remain separately labeled in the audit data.
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 1.22 1.23 1.24 1.25 1.26 1.27 1.28 1.29 1.30 1.31 1.32 1.33 1.34 1.35 ABA standard 509 individual report (2025), American Bar Association (accessed 2026-08-30).
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 ABA bar individual report (2026), American Bar Association (accessed 2026-08-30).
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 3.18 3.19 3.20 ABA employment individual report (2025), American Bar Association (accessed 2026-08-30).
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Phase 1 inventory-listed primary source 1 (page title not independently rechecked by baseline builder), American Bar Association (accessed 2026-08-28).
- ↑ ABA standard 509 compilation — First Year Class (2025), American Bar Association (accessed 2026-08-30).
