Vermont Law School (VLS) is a private law school located in South Royalton, Vermont. It is the oldest law school in the state and one of the top environmental law schools in the country. VLS was founded in 1973 with a mission to provide an innovative program of legal education and scholarship that combines rigorous academics with a commitment to public service. The school offers a comprehensive curriculum that includes courses in environmental, energy, international, and food systems law as well as traditional areas such as civil procedure, contracts, torts, property, criminal law and procedure. VLS is also home to two research centers: The Environmental & Natural Resources Law Center and the Center for Agriculture & Food Systems. The faculty at VLS is comprised of experienced professionals from all over the world who bring their expertise to each class they teach. In addition to its academic offerings, Vermont Law School offers a number of experiential learning opportunities such as internships, externships and clinics where students can gain hands-on experience in their field before graduating.
This page focuses on national rankings, acceptance rates, program costs, and merit-based scholarships of Vermont Law School, an accredited law program in the United States. Should you be interested in official name and common abbreviation of Vermont Law School, please follow this link: https://www.abbreviationfinder.org/
Motto: Lex pro urbe et orbe (“Law for the Community and the World”)
Established: 1972
School type: Private law school
Dean: Beth McCormack, Interim President and Dean
Location: South Royalton, Vermont, United States
Enrollment: 464 (J.D.)
Faculty: 109
USNWR ranking: 142nd (2023)
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Ranking: Vermont Law School
Vermont Law School has consistently been ranked among the top law schools in the United States. US News & World Report consistently ranks Vermont Law School as one of the top 10 environmental law programs in the country, and it is also known for its Criminal Justice, International Law, and Human Rights programs. In 2021, US News & World Report ranked Vermont Law School as the #1 environmental law school in the nation. Additionally, Vermont Law School was ranked #7 among all law schools nationwide according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2021 rankings. These rankings demonstrate that Vermont Law School offers an exceptional education to its students, preparing them to become successful attorneys and leaders in their field of study.
The Princeton Review has also consistently praised Vermont Law School for its academic excellence and commitment to preparing students for their future careers. In 2021, The Princeton Review included Vermont Law School on their list of “Best Northeastern Schools” and rated it highly for its “Excellent Professors” and “Good Career Prospects” for graduates. Furthermore, The Princeton Review also gave Vermont Law School high marks for its “Excellent Quality of Life” and “Great Financial Aid Options” which further demonstrate that this school is committed to providing quality education at an affordable price point. These accolades from The Princeton Review further highlight the academic excellence of this institution and show why so many prospective students are choosing to attend Vermont Law School each year.
| Top Law Schools of 2020 | |
|---|---|
| Score | N/A |
| Peer assessment score (5.0 highest) | 2.3 |
| Assessment score by lawyers/judges (5.0 highest) | 2.7 |
| 25th-75th percentile GPA scores for all students | 2.95-3.48 |
| 25th-75th percentile LSAT scores for all students | 152-158 |
| Overall acceptance rate | 54.3% |
| Student/faculty ratio | 13.3 |
| Graduates employed at graduation | 65.7% |
| Graduates known to be employed nine months after graduation | 94.7% |
| School’s bar passage rate for first-time test takers | 73.3% |
| State where the greatest number of first-time test takers took the bar | VT |
| Statewide bar passage rate for first-time test takers | 69.9% |
Tuition & Scholarships: Vermont Law School
Vermont Law School’s tuition fees vary depending on the program chosen. The full-time Juris Doctor program has a tuition fee of $45,817 per year. On the other hand, the part-time Juris Doctor program has a tuition fee of $27,938 per year. In addition to this, the school also offers various scholarships and grants to its students. These include merit-based scholarships as well as need-based grants. Merit-based scholarships are awarded based on academic performance and awards range from $2,000 to full tuition for three years. Need-based grants are awarded for students with financial need and range from $2,500 to full tuition for three years. Vermont Law School also offers loan programs such as Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan Program and Federal Direct PLUS Loan Program which help students finance their education through low interest rate loans. Furthermore, the school also offers loan forgiveness programs in partnership with employers who offer loan repayment benefits to their employees who have graduated from Vermont Law School.
| Financial Aid Office Information | |
|---|---|
| Financial aid application deadline | N/A |
| Financial aid director | David Myette |
| Financial aid telephone | (888) 277-5985 |
| 2019-2020 Expenses | |
| Tuition | Full-time: $38,408 per year |
| Room and board | $9,880 |
| Books | $1,100 |
| Miscellaneous expenses | $7,888 |
| Is the tuition the same for first-, second-, and third-year students? | No |
| Does the university offer housing restricted to law students? | No |
| Does the university offer graduate student housing for which law students are eligible? | No |
| Does the university offer a public-interest scholarship program to current J.D. students? | No |
| 2019 Grants | |
| Percentage of full-time students receiving grants of less than one-half tuition | 60.3% |
| Percentage of part-time students receiving grants of less than one-half tuition | N/A |
| Percentage of full-time students receiving grants of one-half tuition or more but less than full | 4.1% |
| Percentage of part-time students receiving grants of one-half tuition or more but less than full | N/A |
| Percentage of full-time students receiving grants of full tuition | 0.6% |
| Percentage of part-time students receiving grants of full tuition | N/A |
| Percentage of full-time students receiving grants of more than full tuition | 0.0% |
| Percentage of part-time students receiving grants of more than full tuition | N/A |
| 25th percentile grant amount of aid per full-time recipient | $5,000 |
| Median grant amount of aid per full-time recipient (50th percentile) | $7,000 |
| 75th percentile grant amount of aid per full-time recipient | $10,000 |
| 25th percentile grant amount of aid per part-time recipient | N/A |
| Median grant amount of aid per part-time recipient (50th percentile) | N/A |
| 75th percentile grant amount of aid per part-time recipient | N/A |
| Indebtedness | |
| Average indebtedness of 2019 graduates who incurred law school debt | $122,951 |
| Proportion who borrowed | 91.3% |
| Does the school offer a loan repayment assistance program for 2019 J.D. graduates? | Yes |
