Law Schools in Vermont + LSAT Prep (2026 Guide)

Vermont has one ABA accredited law school, Vermont Law and Graduate School, so the state is small for legal education. Its 2025 ABA 509 disclosure reports a median LSAT of 152, meaning applicants to law schools in Vermont aim for the low 150s. This guide covers the score needed, tuition, the bar exam, and the market.

By Ali Unar, Georgetown Law, Founder of Lovare Institut.

Ali Unar is a Georgetown Law student and the founder of Lovare Institut, an admissions and LSAT-prep practice built on primary-source law school data.

Verified August 2026.

What law schools are in Vermont?

Vermont has exactly one ABA accredited law school: Vermont Law and Graduate School, located in the village of South Royalton in central Vermont. Because a single institution serves the entire state, Vermont is one of the smallest legal-education markets in the country. The table below lists the median LSAT, acceptance rate, and full-time tuition for that school, each figure taken from its 2025 ABA Standard 509 disclosure for the fall 2025 entering class.

SchoolMedian LSATAcceptance rateFull-time tuitionVermont Law and Graduate School15258.5%$55,382

Each figure in the table above is drawn from Vermont Law and Graduate School's 2025 ABA Standard 509 disclosure. The 509 disclosure is the annual, standardized report every ABA accredited school files, which is why it is the cleanest single source for comparing medians, acceptance rates, and tuition across law schools in Vermont and beyond.

Two things stand out about the one law school in Vermont. First, its median LSAT of 152 sits just below the national midpoint, so this is one of the more attainable ABA law schools in the country by score, an accessible target for a broad band of applicants. Second, its acceptance rate of 58.5% from the 2025 ABA 509 disclosure means the school admits a clear majority of the people who apply. When you are deciding among law schools in Vermont, you are really deciding whether Vermont Law and Graduate School fits your goals, because there is no in-state alternative accredited by the ABA.

The cost picture is important to weigh against that accessibility. Vermont Law and Graduate School reports full-time tuition of $55,382 in its 2025 ABA 509 disclosure, a high figure that reflects its status as a private institution. Being honest about scale matters: with one ABA law school, Vermont does not offer the range of price points and specializations that a large state provides, and this school in particular pairs an accessible admissions profile with a premium price. The rest of this guide treats that school in depth, including how its very low in-state retention should shape your expectations.

What LSAT and GPA do you need for law school in Vermont?

In-state median LSATs run from 152 to 152 across law schools in Vermont, because Vermont Law and Graduate School is the only ABA school and its 2025 ABA 509 disclosure reports a median of 152. That single number is the anchor for everything below. Vermont Law and Graduate School is by definition both the top-median and the most accessible school in the state, since it is the only one, and its 58.5% acceptance rate from the same disclosure tells you this is a school that admits well over half of its applicants.

A median is the 50th percentile: half of the enrolled class in Vermont scored at or above 152, and half scored at or below it. If your LSAT is at or above 152, you are competitive at Vermont Law and Graduate School and you sit in the stronger half of the applicant pool, which also improves your scholarship standing, an important consideration given the school's high tuition. A score in the mid-to-high 150s does not just clear the bar in Vermont, it positions you well for the merit aid that can offset the sticker price.

If your LSAT is below 152, you remain very much in contention for law schools in Vermont. An acceptance rate of 58.5% means Vermont Law and Graduate School routinely admits applicants below its median, and high-140s to low-150s scorers are exactly the group the numbers say the school works with. Because the median itself is below the national midpoint, this is one of the more forgiving admissions targets in the country on score alone. The practical read is that a score in the low 150s puts you at or above the median in Vermont, and even scores somewhat below keep you in the conversation given the accessible acceptance rate.

On GPA, Vermont Law and Graduate School's 2025 ABA 509 spread shows a 25th-to-median GPA gap of 0.44, the widest band among the single-school states in this series. A gap that large signals the school does not treat undergraduate GPA as a hard cutoff and will readily consider applicants whose grades sit well below the class median. The packet does not publish the school's exact median GPA, so treat GPA as a factor that flexes generously around the LSAT rather than a fixed threshold. For applicants to law schools in Vermont, this wide band is strong reassurance for anyone with an uneven transcript.

Because there is only one ABA school in the state, your LSAT strategy for Vermont is unusually clear, and the bar is comparatively low. You are aiming to reach or beat 152, and every additional point above that median improves your scholarship leverage at Vermont Law and Graduate School, which matters a great deal against $55,382 tuition. If a diagnostic already puts you near 152, your marginal effort is best spent pushing into the mid-to-high 150s, where merit aid becomes far more likely and helps offset the cost.

Which Vermont law schools are splitter friendly?

A splitter is an applicant with a high LSAT and a lower GPA; a reverse splitter has the opposite, a strong GPA paired with a lower LSAT. Schools that admit these profiles are called splitter friendly, and they reward applicants whose numbers are lopsided. Among law schools in Vermont, Vermont Law and Graduate School reads as strongly splitter friendly based on its 2025 ABA 509 disclosure.

The signal here is the strongest in this series. Vermont Law and Graduate School's 25th-to-median GPA gap is 0.44, computed from its 2025 ABA 509 disclosure, an unusually wide band that indicates the school regularly enrolls students whose GPA sits well below the class median. That is the splitter pattern at its most accommodating: a candidate brings a competitive LSAT, or even a middling one given the school's 152 median, and the school looks past a soft GPA. If your undergraduate record dipped but your LSAT is respectable, Vermont's only law school is a genuinely realistic target.

Because Vermont has a single ABA school, there is no in-state reverse-splitter alternative to point to, and the packet does not identify Vermont Law and Graduate School as reverse-splitter friendly. If your profile is a high GPA with a lower LSAT, the accessible 58.5% acceptance rate and 152 median already work in your favor, and lifting the LSAT even modestly strengthens your file further. In a one-school state, your splitter status is measured against a single admissions committee, and that committee's wide 0.44 GPA band makes Vermont Law and Graduate School one of the more forgiving options in the country for applicants with uneven numbers.

What is the legal job market like in Vermont?

The defining fact about the Vermont legal market is its very low in-state retention. According to ABA Class of 2024 employment data, Vermont Law and Graduate School keeps only 12% of its graduating class in Vermont. That is an exceptionally low retention rate, and it reframes how to think about the school: only about one in eight graduates stays in Vermont, so this institution functions far more as a national school than as a pipeline into the local Vermont bar.

The most reasonable read of a 12% figure is that Vermont Law and Graduate School draws a national student body who arrive intending to practice elsewhere and leave to do so. The packet does not break down where those graduates go, so this guide does not assign percentages to specific out-of-state markets; what the number makes unmistakable is that choosing this school does not mean committing to a Vermont career. If anything, the reverse is true for most of the class. Applicants should choose it for its programs and national reach rather than for local Vermont placement.

Within Vermont itself, the legal market is small and centered on a few places. Burlington, on Lake Champlain, is the state's largest city and its principal private-practice market; Montpelier, the capital, anchors state government, the courts, and public-sector legal work; and Rutland and the surrounding towns support smaller local bars. Because only 12% of the class stays, the in-state pipeline is thin, and applicants set on a Vermont practice should build local connections with intent. The packet does not provide salary figures for Vermont, so this guide does not estimate earnings; consult each employer and the school's employment reports for compensation data.

The strategic takeaway is that Vermont Law and Graduate School should be evaluated as a national program that happens to sit in Vermont. The 12% retention rate means the alumni network is dispersed across the country rather than concentrated in the state. That breadth is an asset if you want to practice outside Vermont, and a caution if your goal is specifically a Vermont career, because the in-state pipeline from law schools in Vermont is among the thinnest you will find at any single-school state.

Does Vermont use the NextGen bar exam?

Yes. According to the NCBE, Vermont has adopted the NextGen bar exam, with its first NextGen administration scheduled for July 2027. Vermont is currently a Uniform Bar Exam jurisdiction, so until that transition it administers the UBE, and it will move to the NextGen exam at the July 2027 sitting. Notably, Vermont's July 2027 changeover is earlier than many states, and the NCBE has confirmed that the legacy UBE and its Multistate Bar Examination component end after the February 2028 administration nationally.

For applicants planning a timeline, Vermont's early transition is worth attention. If you graduate from Vermont Law and Graduate School and sit the Vermont bar before July 2027, you will take the current UBE that Vermont administers. If your bar sitting falls in or after July 2027, plan for the NextGen exam, the NCBE's redesigned test built around integrated legal skills rather than the older segmented structure. Because Vermont adopts NextGen ahead of the national UBE sunset, some Vermont candidates will encounter NextGen sooner than peers in later-transitioning states.

Vermont's current status as a UBE jurisdiction is especially relevant given that most of its graduates leave the state. A UBE score earned in Vermont can, subject to each jurisdiction's own rules and score requirements, be transferred to other UBE states, which is genuinely useful when 12% retention means the overwhelming majority of the class practices elsewhere. As Vermont moves to NextGen in July 2027 and the national UBE ends after February 2028, the mechanics of cross-jurisdiction admission will be in transition, so confirm the current rules with the Vermont bar authorities and any receiving jurisdiction before choosing a test date.

The bottom line for law schools in Vermont is that bar planning is both a scheduling exercise and, for most graduates, a portability question. Know your expected graduation date, check it against the July 2027 NextGen start that the NCBE has set for Vermont, and prepare for whichever exam your sitting falls under. Because Vermont has one law school, Vermont Law and Graduate School's own bar-preparation resources and pass-rate history are the most relevant benchmarks, and you should request those figures directly, since the disclosures cited in this guide do not include Vermont bar passage rates.

Where can you take the LSAT in Vermont?

LSAT test centers are available in Vermont's major metros, but the specific locations offered change from cycle to cycle, so the reliable move is to consult LSAC's official test-center list at lsac.org when you register rather than relying on any fixed address. LSAC also administers the LSAT in a remotely proctored online format, which is often the most practical option in a rural state like Vermont, where in-person seats can be limited and travel between towns is time-consuming.

Vermont's largest metros, and therefore the areas where in-person testing and study resources are most likely to cluster, include Burlington and neighboring South Burlington, the capital Montpelier, and Rutland. Because Vermont is small and largely rural, the number of in-person centers is limited, and many candidates across law schools in Vermont choose the online LSAT for convenience. Whichever you prefer, check the current LSAC list for available seats and register early, since capacity in smaller markets fills quickly.

Whichever format you choose, treat the logistics of the LSAT in Vermont as part of your preparation. Confirm the test date against your application timeline, secure your seat or online slot as soon as registration opens, and build your study calendar backward from the sitting. Because your target in Vermont is a single, comparatively accessible median of 152, a well-timed, well-prepared LSAT is the most controllable variable in your entire application, and pushing above the median is the surest route to scholarship money.

Which Vermont universities feed law school?

Vermont's flagship and largest universities are the natural pre-law feeders into legal education, both in-state and beyond. The University of Vermont in Burlington, the state's flagship public university, is a common starting point for Vermont students who go on to law school, and its undergraduate programs in political science, history, environmental studies, and the humanities are traditional pre-law tracks. Middlebury College, a highly regarded liberal arts college, is another prominent Vermont institution whose graduates frequently pursue law.

Other institutions contribute as well. Norwich University in Northfield, Saint Michael's College near Burlington, and Champlain College in Burlington round out the state's notable four-year options. Students from all of these universities apply to law schools in Vermont and out of state, and none guarantees admission; a strong LSAT and a coherent application remain the decisive factors regardless of where you did your undergraduate work.

It is worth noting the general nature of this section: naming Vermont's flagship and major universities as common pre-law feeders reflects the state's higher-education landscape, not a specific placement statistic. The packet does not attribute a placement rate to any Vermont university, and neither does this guide. What matters for an applicant is that a pre-law path in Vermont can begin at any accredited undergraduate program, and that Vermont Law and Graduate School evaluates candidates on their LSAT, GPA, and application, not on which Vermont college they attended.

Frequently asked questions about law school in Vermont

How many law schools are in Vermont?

Vermont has one ABA accredited law school, Vermont Law and Graduate School, located in South Royalton. That single institution makes Vermont one of the smallest legal-education markets in the country. Any list of law schools in Vermont begins and ends with Vermont Law and Graduate School, so applicants face one clear admissions target rather than a field of competing medians and price points.

What is the easiest law school to get into in Vermont?

Because Vermont has only one ABA law school, Vermont Law and Graduate School is by definition both the easiest and the most selective law school to get into in Vermont. Its 2025 ABA 509 disclosure reports an acceptance rate of 58.5% and a median LSAT of 152, which together make it one of the more accessible ABA law schools in the country on score and admit rate.

What is the best law school in Vermont?

Vermont Law and Graduate School is the best law school in Vermont in the practical sense that it is the state's only ABA accredited option. Its 2025 ABA 509 disclosure reports a median LSAT of 152 and full-time tuition of $55,382. For anyone committed to studying law in Vermont, it is both the strongest and the sole in-state choice.

What LSAT score do you need for law school in Vermont?

Vermont Law and Graduate School reports a median LSAT of 152 in its 2025 ABA 509 disclosure, so 152 is the number to aim for at law schools in Vermont, one of the lower medians nationally. A score at or above 152 makes you competitive and strengthens your scholarship case. Given the 58.5% acceptance rate, applicants somewhat below the median remain in contention in Vermont.

How much does law school cost in Vermont?

Vermont Law and Graduate School reports full-time tuition of $55,382 in its 2025 ABA 509 disclosure, a high figure among law schools in Vermont and nationally, reflecting its status as a private institution. That number is tuition alone and excludes living expenses, fees, and books, and merit aid can reduce it significantly, so confirm current rates and total cost of attendance directly with the school.

Does Vermont use the NextGen bar exam?

According to the NCBE, Vermont has adopted the NextGen bar exam and will first administer it in July 2027, earlier than many states. Until then Vermont remains a Uniform Bar Exam jurisdiction, so it currently administers the UBE. The legacy UBE and MBE end after the February 2028 administration nationally, so whether you take the UBE or NextGen in Vermont depends on when your bar sitting falls.

Can you take the bar in Vermont with an out-of-state degree?

Yes. Vermont admits graduates of ABA accredited law schools from any state to sit its bar exam, so an out-of-state degree does not prevent you from practicing in Vermont. Vermont is currently a UBE jurisdiction and transitions to NextGen in July 2027 per the NCBE, so confirm the current exam, deadlines, and admission requirements with the Vermont bar authorities before you plan a sitting.

Which Vermont law school has the best bar passage?

Vermont has only one ABA law school, Vermont Law and Graduate School, so it is the sole in-state bar-passage benchmark by default. The disclosures cited in this guide cover medians, acceptance, and tuition but not Vermont bar passage rates, so this guide does not state a figure. Request the current first-time and ultimate bar passage numbers directly from Vermont Law and Graduate School or its ABA 509 report.

Are there part-time or evening law programs in Vermont?

The packet used for this guide does not specify whether Vermont Law and Graduate School offers a part-time or evening program, so this guide does not claim one exists. Program format matters for working applicants, so anyone needing a part-time or evening option in Vermont should confirm directly with Vermont Law and Graduate School whether such a track is available for the entering class they are targeting.

Where can you take the LSAT in Vermont?

LSAT test centers are available in Vermont's major metros, including areas around Burlington, South Burlington, Montpelier, and Rutland, but the exact centers change each cycle. Check LSAC's official test-center list at lsac.org when you register. Because Vermont is small and rural, many candidates use the remotely proctored online LSAT to avoid limited in-person capacity and long drives between towns.

Which Vermont law schools are splitter friendly?

Vermont Law and Graduate School reads as strongly splitter friendly among law schools in Vermont, based on its 2025 ABA 509 disclosure. Its 25th-to-median GPA spread of 0.44 is the widest in this series, indicating the school enrolls applicants whose GPA sits well below the class median when the LSAT supports the file. If you have a respectable LSAT and a softer GPA, Vermont's only law school is a realistic target.

Do you have to go to law school in Vermont to practice there?

No. You do not have to attend law schools in Vermont to practice in Vermont; graduates of any ABA accredited school may sit the Vermont bar. Vermont Law and Graduate School keeps only 12% of its class in the state per ABA Class of 2024 data, so most of its own graduates practice elsewhere. Studying in or out of state is compatible with a Vermont career if you plan for it deliberately.

Why does Vermont Law keep so few of its graduates in state?

Vermont Law and Graduate School retains just 12% of its class in Vermont per ABA Class of 2024 data, an exceptionally low figure. The most reasonable explanation is that the school draws a national student body who intend to practice elsewhere, so it operates largely as a national program. The packet does not detail where each graduate goes, so this guide notes only that the vast majority build careers outside Vermont.

How competitive is admission to law school in Vermont?

Admission to Vermont Law and Graduate School, the only ABA law school in Vermont, is comparatively accessible. Its 2025 ABA 509 disclosure shows a 58.5% acceptance rate and a 152 median LSAT, so it admits a clear majority of applicants and the target score sits just below the national midpoint. Meeting or beating the median strengthens both admission and aid, and the wide GPA band helps applicants with uneven records in Vermont.

Sources

Medians, acceptance rates, and tuition for law schools in Vermont come from each school's 2025 ABA Standard 509 disclosure, published on the ABA Required Disclosures portal at https://www.abarequireddisclosures.org/. Bar exam status for Vermont, including its NextGen adoption and July 2027 first administration, comes from the National Conference of Bar Examiners at https://www.ncbex.org/. LSAT test-center information is maintained by LSAC at https://www.lsac.org/.

Plan your Vermont application with a data-backed evaluation

Because Vermont pairs an accessible median with a premium price, the smart play is maximizing your score to win aid. If you want a read on how your LSAT and GPA stack up against Vermont Law and Graduate School's numbers, and a concrete strategy for clearing the 152 median with room to spare, start here. Get your free Vermont law school profile evaluation and turn the data in this guide into a personalized plan for law schools in Vermont.