JD Law at University of South Dakota

Programme overview

The Juris Doctor at the University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law is an experiential programme that prepares students for the bar exam and legal practice, with course tracks and an experiential learning requirement for all students.

Faculty: Knudson School of Law | Study mode: full-time | Location: Vermillion, SD, United States

What you will study

Eleven course tracks: business law, civil litigation, commercial law, constitutional law, criminal law and procedure, employment law, environmental law, estate planning, Indian law, real estate law and tax law, plus concurrent degree options.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Admission test: LSAT, GRE or JD Next. Two letters of recommendation (applicants with a degree within the past three years must include an academic letter). Official transcripts from all institutions, due by October 15 of the first semester of enrollment. Personal statement of one to two pages submitted through CAS. Optional resume and optional additional essay of up to two pages. Applications for June LSAT scores must be submitted by July 1; testing no later than February of the application year is recommended.

Domestic applicants: USD 12,680 a year. South Dakota resident or out-of-state with LSAT 150+ rate. Tuition only for full-time (12+ credits per semester), Fall and Spring; excludes the Law School Program Fee ($3,407) and General Activity Fees ($1,727). Academic year not stated on the page. Source

International applicants: USD 33,794 a year. Nonresident rate (SD Advantage rate is $22,190 for residents of listed states with an SDBOR bachelor's degree). Tuition only for full-time (12+ credits per semester), Fall and Spring; excludes the Law School Program Fee ($3,407) and General Activity Fees Source

Entry terms for international applicants: Spring 2027 classes start January 11, 2027 (new student arrival deadline January 10); Fall 2027 classes start August 23 (new student arrival deadline August 20).

Graduate applications go through the USD Graduate Application or GradCAS; Audiology, Speech Language Pathology, Law, Medical, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant Studies and Social Work use specialty CAS applications. Application deadlines are set per programme in the Graduate Catalog and are due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. The graduate application fee cannot be waived or deferred and is non-refundable.

Law (JD): applications open September 1 for the next year's admission; applicants apply through LSAC CAS and must submit the LSAT, GRE or JD Next. June LSAT scores are accepted for the same year if the application is submitted by July 1. Out-of-state applicants scoring 150+ on the LSAT receive in-state tuition.

Apply through the official page: https://www.usd.edu/Admissions-and-Aid/Apply

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