ABA 509 DATA BY STATE, 2025
Law Schools in South Dakota: LSAT, GPA, Cost, and Jobs (2025)
Picture an applicant with a 152 LSAT and a 3.5 GPA wondering if South Dakota even has a law school worth applying to. It does: 1 ABA school, the University of South Dakota, admits 62.6% of applicants, charges $32,184 a year, and places 92% of graduates in full-time, long-term jobs.
Every ABA law school in South Dakota
Ranked by median LSAT, highest first. Every school's own page has the full 25th/50th/75th breakdown, cost, and job outcomes.
| School | LSAT 50th | GPA 50th | Accept. rate | Sticker/yr | FT/LT jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Dakota | 152 | 3.5 | 62.6% | $32,184 | 92% |
See what 1 extra LSAT point is worth in grants at South Dakota.
Reading the South Dakota market
South Dakota has exactly 1 ABA-accredited law school, the University of South Dakota, so there's no competitive field to map, just one set of numbers to clear. It admits 62.6% of applicants, with a median LSAT of 152 and a median GPA of 3.5, numbers on the accessible end nationally. It's not a hard school to get into with a solid application.
Tuition runs $32,184 a year. The discount share sits at 54.9%, but that's less of a red flag here than it looks: the baseline price is already low enough that a smaller grant still leaves you with an affordable degree.
Outcomes are the strongest part of the story. 92% of University of South Dakota graduates land a full-time, long-term job within 10 months of graduation. For a public law school with a modest admissions bar, that's a honestly strong placement rate.
Is South Dakota worth it in-state? For someone planning to practice regionally, yes, without much debate: cheap tuition, a real shot at admission, and a placement rate north of 90% is a combination you won't find in many states. If you're set on practicing somewhere else entirely, it's still worth comparing this offer to nearby states through the calculator, but don't assume a bigger name automatically beats a $32,184 sticker and a 92% FT/LT rate.
FAQ
How many ABA-accredited law schools are in South Dakota?
South Dakota has 1 ABA-accredited law school: the University of South Dakota.
What's the easiest law school to get into in South Dakota?
The University of South Dakota, the only ABA-accredited school in the state, with a 152 median LSAT and a 62.6% acceptance rate. Easiest still means a real application, not a guarantee.
What's the cheapest law school in South Dakota?
The University of South Dakota, at $32,184 a year in sticker tuition.
Which South Dakota law school has the best job placement?
The University of South Dakota, by default, at 92% full-time, long-term employment within 10 months of graduation, a strong rate for a school with a modest admissions bar.
Is it worth going to law school in South Dakota if I don't plan to practice there?
The numbers hold up even outside the state. A $32,184 sticker and a 92% FT/LT placement rate are hard to beat, so it's worth putting this offer up against schools elsewhere before assuming a bigger name is the better deal.
Source: ABA Standard 509 Information Reports, 2015 to 2025, via LSAT Unplugged's 509 master. Verify against each school's own filing before relying on it. Last updated 2026-10-08.
