Atlanta's John Marshall Law School vs. South Dakota: Cost, Bar Passage & Outcomes Compared
On the most recent ABA Standard 509 data, South Dakota posts the higher first-time bar passage (72.6% vs 68.4%); South Dakota is cheaper on sticker tuition ($12,076 vs $52,536); South Dakota places more graduates in full-time JD jobs (86.6% vs 83.2%).
Side by side (ABA Standard 509)
| Metric | Atlanta's John Marshall Law School | South Dakota | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Admissions | |||
| Median LSAT | 152 | 152 | Tie |
| Median undergraduate GPA | 3.13 | 3.47 | South Dakota |
| Acceptance rate | 32.6% | 62.5% | Atlanta's John Marshall Law School |
| Cost | |||
| Resident tuition | $52,536 | $12,076 | South Dakota |
| Non-resident tuition | $52,536 | $32,184 | South Dakota |
| Median grant | $4,500 | $5,000 | South Dakota |
| Bar passage | |||
| First-time bar passage | 68.4% | 72.6% | South Dakota |
| Two-year ultimate bar passage | 92.5% | 92.3% | Atlanta's John Marshall Law School |
| Bar passage vs. state average | -11.8 pts | -6 pts | South Dakota |
| Employment | |||
| Full-time, long-term JD employment | 83.2% | 86.6% | South Dakota |
| Large-firm (250+) employment | 3.0% | 0.0% | Atlanta's John Marshall Law School |
| Federal clerkships | 0.0% | 3.7% | South Dakota |
trajectory since 2011
Full profiles & related
Atlanta's John Marshall Law School full profile · South Dakota full profile · Pin both on the interactive map →
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Atlanta's John Marshall Law School or South Dakota?
South Dakota is cheaper on sticker: resident tuition of $12,076 versus Atlanta's John Marshall Law School's $52,536.
Which has better bar passage, Atlanta's John Marshall Law School or South Dakota?
South Dakota has the higher first-time bar passage, 72.6% against Atlanta's John Marshall Law School's 68.4%.
Which has better job outcomes, Atlanta's John Marshall Law School or South Dakota?
South Dakota places more graduates in full-time, long-term JD jobs (86.6% vs 83.2%).
Atlanta's John Marshall Law School vs South Dakota: which is better?
It depends on what you weigh — the table above shows where each wins. Across the four headline measures (selectivity, sticker cost, first-time bar passage, and JD employment), South Dakota leads on more of them, but read the row that matters most to you rather than the count.
Source: ABA Standard 509 Required Disclosures, most recent reported cycle. Last updated June 26, 2026.