University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law
Vermillion, South Dakota · Public · ABA-approved since 1923 · Data updated November 2, 2026
University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law is a public law school in Vermillion, South Dakota, approved by the American Bar Association since 1923. It admitted a fall 2025 class with a median LSAT of 152, higher than 10% of ABA-approved schools, saw 69.2% of its first-time bar takers pass in 2025 and placed 78% of its 2025 graduates in full-time lawyer jobs.
What stands out
- It accepted 62.5% of applicants, more than 97% of schools did.
- Tuition and fees of $17,113, less than 97% of schools charge.
- A median LSAT of 152, lower than 85% of ABA-approved schools.
Admissions: LSAT, GPA and acceptance rate
For the class that entered in fall 2025, the University of South Dakota received 405 completed applications and made 253 offers, an acceptance rate of 62.5%. 88 students enrolled in the first-year class. The typical ABA school accepted 35.8%.
| Entering class, fall 2025 | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| LSAT | 149 | 152 | 156 |
| Undergraduate GPA | 3.16 | 3.47 | 3.81 |
A quarter of the class scored 149 or lower on the LSAT and a quarter scored 156 or higher. An applicant at or above the median, 152, is in the stronger half of this class; one below the 25th percentile is a long shot unless something else in the file stands out.
Where would your numbers fall in this class?
Enter an LSAT score and undergraduate GPA. We compare them with the class that entered in fall 2025. This shows where your numbers sit, not your chances: admissions offices read the whole file.
Tuition, living costs and scholarships
Full-time tuition and fees for 2025-26 are $17,113 a year for South Dakota residents and $37,221 for everyone else. That is less than 97% of ABA schools charge. The school estimates living costs of $18,034 a year off campus.
| Annual cost, 2025-26 | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition, full-time, resident | $12,076 |
| Fees, full-time, resident | $5,037 |
| Tuition, full-time, nonresident | $32,184 |
| Fees, full-time, nonresident | $5,037 |
| Living costs, on campus | $16,452 |
| Living costs, off campus | $18,034 |
| Living costs, at home | $10,774 |
In 2024-25, 55% of full-time students received a grant or scholarship from the school. The median award was $5,000, and the middle half of awards ran from $590 to $10,000. Subtract the median award from the full-time tuition and fees above and a typical recipient pays about $12,113 a year in tuition and fees, before living costs. That is a rough guide, since awards vary and some students get nothing.
| Size of grant, all students | Share of students |
|---|---|
| Less than half tuition | 36% |
| Half to full tuition | 12% |
| Full tuition | 5% |
| More than full tuition | 2% |
Scholarships that can be cut. The University of South Dakota awards some conditional scholarships, which shrink or end if a student's grades fall below a set mark. Of 1 students who entered in 2024-25 with one, 0 had it reduced or eliminated (0%). For students who entered in 2023-24 the figure was 0 of 1. Ask any school that offers you one exactly what you must do to keep it.
Three years, roughly. At 2025-26 prices, three years of full-time tuition and fees at the in-state rate plus off-campus living costs come to about $105,441. With the median scholarship every year, about $90,441. Tuition usually rises each year, so treat this as a floor.
Bar passage
Of 78 graduates who took a bar exam for the first time in 2025, 54 passed: 69.2%. The average for the same exams, weighted by where its graduates sat, was 79.5%, so the school finished a full 10.2 points below that average.
| Where they sat, 2025 | Takers | Passed | School | State average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Dakota | 43 | 35 | 81.4% | 78.8% |
| 19 other jurisdictions | 35 | 19 | 54.3% | 80.3% |
The ABA also follows each class for two years. Of the 57 members of the class of 2023 who took a bar exam, 52 had passed one within two years: 91.2%.
Jobs after graduation
The ABA counts where each class is working ten months after graduation. Of 82 2025 graduates, 64 (78%) had full-time, long-term jobs that require bar passage, and 5 more (6.1%) had full-time, long-term jobs where a law degree is an advantage. At the typical ABA school, 83.4% were in lawyer jobs. 6 (7.3%) were unemployed and looking for work.
Law firm jobs by firm size
Shares are of all 82 graduates. Firms of more than 250 lawyers, the usual sense of “Big Law,” hired 0 (0%).
Where graduates work
Most employed graduates stayed in South Dakota (46), followed by Iowa (5) and Nebraska (5).
Students who leave
In 2024-25, 5 first-year students left the University of South Dakota: 0 for academic reasons (0%) and 5 for other reasons, such as transferring to another school (6%).
Transfers run both ways: 1 first-year students transferred out and 1 transferred in from other law schools.
Classes, clinics and faculty
The University of South Dakota offered 81 upper-level course titles beyond the first-year curriculum in 2024-25. Of its upper-level class sections, 70% had fewer than 25 students and 4% had 75 or more.
| Hands-on learning, 2024-25 | Number |
|---|---|
| Law clinic seats available | 0 |
| Law clinic seats filled | 0 |
| Field placement (externship) positions filled | 127 |
| Simulation course seats filled | 91 |
| Co-curricular offerings (journals, moot court, etc.) | 8 |
The school reports 19 full-time faculty and 36 more who teach part-time or in other roles. With 252 J.D. students, that is about 13 students per full-time faculty member.
How the University of South Dakota compares in South Dakota
The University of South Dakota is the only ABA-approved law school in South Dakota (more on law school in South Dakota). The full table compares it with every other school.
Schools with similar admissions numbers
These five schools admitted fall 2025 classes with the median LSAT and GPA closest to the University of South Dakota's, so an applicant who fits here is likely to be a similar fit there. Compare what each costs and how its graduates fare.
| School | Median LSAT | Median GPA | Tuition | Bar pass | Lawyer jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of South Dakota | 152 | 3.47 | $17,113 | 69.2% | 78% |
| Florida A&M University Orlando, FL | 152 | 3.48 | $13,855 | 74.7% | 71.3% |
| University of North Dakota Grand Forks, ND | 151 | 3.48 | $19,585 | 72.3% | 80.8% |
| St. Mary's University San Antonio, TX | 153 | 3.49 | $46,310 | 84.6% | 80.6% |
| Capital University Law School Columbus, OH | 151 | 3.44 | $45,456 | 73.7% | 71.9% |
| Lincoln Memorial University Knoxville, TN | 153 | 3.44 | $48,861 | 78.7% | 74.5% |
Frequently asked questions
What LSAT score do you need to get into University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law?
There is no cutoff, but the class that entered in fall 2025 had a median LSAT of 152, with the middle half scoring 149 to 156. The median undergraduate GPA was 3.47. The school accepted 62.5% of applicants.
What is the bar passage rate at University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law?
69.2% of University of South Dakota graduates taking a bar exam for the first time in 2025 passed, against a weighted state average of 79.5%. Within two years of graduating, 91.2% of the class of 2023 who took a bar exam had passed.
How much does University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law cost?
Full-time tuition and fees for 2025-26 are $17,113 a year for South Dakota residents and $37,221 for nonresidents. Most students pay less: 55% of full-time students received a grant, with a median award of $5,000.
Do University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law graduates get jobs?
Ten months after graduation, 78% of the class of 2025 had full-time, long-term jobs requiring bar passage, and 6.1% more had full-time, long-term jobs where a law degree is an advantage. 7.3% were unemployed and seeking work.
Is University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law ABA-accredited?
Yes. University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law has been approved by the American Bar Association since 1923, so its graduates can sit for the bar exam in every state.