Vermillion, South Dakota
University of South Dakota
- Accreditation
- ABA approved since 1923
- Institution type
- Public
- J.D. formats
- Full-time J.D.
- Median LSAT
- 152
- Median GPA
- 3.47
- Resident tuition
- $12,076
- First-year class
- 88
- Bar-required jobs
- 78%
- First-time bar passage
- 69.2%
First-time bar passage — 2019 graduates
Source
- Organization
- American Bar Association, Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar
- Document
- ABA Bar Passage compilation — first-time takers (2020 report)
- Covers
- Report year 2020
- Retrieved
- Sep 23, 2026
- Status
- Verified · Sep 23, 2026
School pass rate
76.6%
Weighted jurisdiction rate
80.9%
Difference
-4.29 pts
First-time takers
47
36 passed
The weighted jurisdiction rate is the average first-time pass rate in the jurisdictions where this school’s graduates tested, weighted by the number of takers. It gives context for the school’s own rate.
| Jurisdiction | Takers | Passers | School % | Jurisdiction % | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Dakota | 36 | 29 | 80.6% | 81.6% | -1.02 |
| 7 Remaining Jurisdictions | 11 | 7 | 63.6% | 76% | -12.36 |
Ultimate bar passage — 2017 graduates
Source
- Organization
- American Bar Association, Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar
- Document
- ABA Bar Passage compilation — two-year ultimate (2020 report)
- Covers
- Report year 2020
- Retrieved
- Sep 23, 2026
- Status
- Verified · Sep 23, 2026
Ultimate pass rate
67.2%
Within two years of graduation
Graduates
73
Takers
61
Passers
41
Ultimate passage counts graduates who passed any bar exam within two years of graduating. It is a different measure from first-time passage and covers an earlier graduating class.
First-time passage history
| Graduating class | School | Jurisdictions |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 69.2% | 79.5% |
| 2024 | 72.6% | 78.6% |
| 2023 | 67.3% | 78.5% |
| 2022 | 72.2% | 79.5% |
| 2021 | 72.6% | 71.8% |
| 2020 | 75.5% | 73% |
| 2019 | 76.6% | 80.9% |
| 2018 | 69.9% | 77.2% |
| 2017 | 46% | 73.2% |