Your application to law school may or may not be impacted by your LSAT score. It is a crucial metric that admissions committees use to assess your preparedness for the demands of legal education, and it is more than just a number. What, however, constitutes a “good” LSAT score in 2025? Your chosen law schools, their percentile ranges, and your general academic background will all influence the response. From the best T-14 law schools to competitive regional programs, we’ll explain how the LSAT is evaluated, what percentile ranks actually mean, and what scores you should aim for in this guide.
This thorough summary will help you better grasp what LSAT score you need to achieve, regardless of when you’re starting your preparation or finishing your applications.
Table of Contents
How is the LSAT scored?
The LSAT would be much simpler to comprehend. If it were scored on a scale of 1 to 100, however, the LSAT is on a scale that ranges from 120 (the lowest score possible) to 180 (a perfect score).
The score on the LSAT could seem weird because there are not, in fact, 180 questions on the test. Therefore, receiving a single incorrect response does not result in a single point being deducted from your final score. Instead, using a mathematical method unique to that test, your raw score, the number of questions you correctly answer out of the approximately 77–78 questions on the exam, is transformed into a score between 120 and 180.
This approach, which uses distinct conversion formulas for every LSAT, aims to reduce the variation in results across all of the LSATS that are given annually as well as between LSATS from other years.
An LSAT score of 170 is often obtained by obtaining a raw score of roughly 69–70. Because just 5% of all LSAT takers score 170 or above, a score in this range puts you, on average, above the 95th percentile.
You should try to answer 57–58 questions correctly in order to receive a score of 160. Generally speaking, a 160 falls inside the 75th percentile. An average LSAT score of 162 puts you in the 80th percentile, which is achieved by adding just three right answers to your performance. By the way, most test takers receive scores in the range of 145 to 160.
At first, this score might seem complicated, but it will make more sense as you become more accustomed to the LSAT. You can view a list of typical scores here or visit the website of the specific law school to find out what the average LSAT scores are for students enrolled there.
What is a good LSAT score?
Although many top-100 institutions will require higher scores for admission, the average LSAT score is approximately 152.
Schools will compare you to other applicants from the same cycle. They will use an LSAT percentile, which is determined by comparing the scores of all LSAT takers over the previous three years. The percentage of test-takers who received a lower LSAT score than you is indicated by the percentile rating. For instance, your percentile would be about 71 per cent if your score were 159.
According to the Law School Admissions Council (2021–2024), a score of approximately 175—the 99th percentile—is considered extraordinary on the LSAT; if you scored that high, you outperformed 99 per cent of testers. Admission to some of the most prestigious universities, like Harvard, Columbia, Stanford, and, with an exceptional GPA, Yale, is virtually guaranteed for those with a score of 175 or higher. Although it won’t ensure admission to the nation’s top institutions, it will make you a competitive applicant to the institution of your choice.
Many, if not all, law schools will publish information about their incoming class, including their LSAT and GPA ranges. The 25th, 50th, and 75th percentiles of GPA and LSAT results will be shared by schools. Generally speaking, a decent LSAT score falls between the 25th and 75th percentile, which is also a useful indicator of your prospects of being considered for a job in the incoming class. This guide will dig into the nuances of these percentiles and what they mean below.
LSAC offers a tool that lets you compare your LSAT score and GPA to admitted students from prior years in order to understand how your current data and scores stack up against the national average.
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LSAT Score for Top LAW Schools
What is the minimum LSAT score required to be admitted to a T-6 school?
Candidates who want to attend the most prestigious law schools usually target the T-6, or the top six law schools as determined by the U.S. News & World Report rankings Stanford and Yale are tied at number one for 2023–2024, followed by the University of Chicago at number three, the University of Pennsylvania at number four, and Duke, Harvard, and NYU at number five.
173 or above is an excellent LSAT score for the T-6, and it’s what one should strive for to get in.
Even though the 25th percentile score for a handful of these elite universities is below 173, that figure is likely outweighed by extraordinarily high GPAS or other remarkable application traits, such as belonging to an underrepresented group or having a noteworthy extracurricular accomplishment. To feel fairly certain that your application is viewed seriously at the Top 6 schools, you must have an LSAT score of at least 173.
What is the minimum LSAT score required to be admitted to a T-14 school?
When defining top-tier law schools, the T-14, or law schools ranked in the top 14 by U.S. News, is another frequently used classification. For T-14 law schools, an LSAT score of 170–171 or above is considered good.
The remaining 2023–2024 T-14 schools are made up of the following institutions in addition to the ones listed above:
- Columbia and the University of Virginia (tied at #8)
- Northwestern University, UC Berkeley, and University of Michigan–Ann Arbour (tied at #10)
- Cornell (#13)
- UCLA (#14)
UT Austin and Georgetown have also been featured in the T-14. T-14 schools typically require an LSAT score in the 25th percentile (166) to the 75th percentile (172). There may be some leeway in T-14 schools, according to the 25th percentile figures. But keep in mind that your GPA needs to be excellent if you’re boasting a 25th percentile score.
For instance, a Northwestern applicant with a 164 and a 3.8 GPA only has a 20 to 25 percent chance of being in, per the LSAC tool we provided above. Compared to other colleges on the list, the chances of success are similar. Your GPA must be significantly higher than the 75th percentile if your LSAT score is in the 25th percentile or lower.
Law School | 25th Percentile | 50th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
172 | 175 | 177 | |
171 | 173 | 175 | |
171 | 174 | 176 | |
169 | 173 | 175 | |
169 | 173 | 175 | |
168 | 172 | 174 | |
168 | 172 | 174 | |
167 | 171 | 172 | |
168 | 170 | 173 | |
168 | 170 | 172 | |
165 | 171 | 172 | |
166 | 172 | 174 | |
169 | 172 | 175 | |
165 | 170 | 171 |
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At Rostrum Education, we assist driven students in being accepted into prestigious legal schools, such as Stanford, Harvard, Yale, and other T-14 universities. Many of our LSAT students achieve scores of 170+, and scores frequently increase by 15–20 points.
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What score on the LSAT is required to be admitted to law school, in general?
As previously stated, the national average LSAT score is 152. Generally, admission to top-100 universities, such as Tulane, UC Hastings, or Case Western Reserve, requires a score of 160 or higher. Aiming for 165 is a solid goal for top-50 law schools, such as George Washington, Fordham, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Applicants must be at or above the average in order to be admitted to schools that are not among the top 100. This score may give you some leverage if your objective is to enroll in and complete any law school. Approximately 40 law schools across the country have a median LSAT score of 152 or below.
An LSAT score of 172 or higher will make your application competitive if you want to enroll in a T-6 law school. You may be confident, though, that there will still be plenty of schools that accept you if your LSAT score is higher than the national average.
Investigate the LSAT score ranges for the schools of your choice. Taking a complete practice LSAT in a timed setting could also be beneficial. If your score is low, pinpoint your areas of weakness and adjust your plan accordingly. Keep in mind that this is the most crucial component of your law school application, and being well-prepared will help you stand out from the competition.
While each law school program may have different requirements for a high LSAT score, admissions officers at law schools say that a low score might seriously hurt your chances of admission. A low LSAT score is “the biggest application dealbreaker,” according to 49% of the almost 100 admissions officials we interviewed in 2018. A badly written personal essay came in second at 22%.
FAQs on What Is A Good LSAT Score?
What LSAT score do I need for Harvard?
To be a competitive applicant at Harvard Law School, you should aim for an LSAT score in the 171–176 range. According to the latest data, the 25th percentile score is 171, the median (50th percentile) is 174, and the 75th percentile is 176. Scoring in or above this range significantly improves your chances of admission, especially when paired with a strong GPA and compelling application materials.
What is the highest LSAT score?
The highest possible LSAT score is 180. This score is exceptionally rare and places a test-taker in the top 0.1% of all applicants. A score in the 170s is generally considered excellent, but 180 represents a near-perfect understanding of the LSAT’s logical reasoning, analytical reasoning, and reading comprehension sections.
What is a good LSAT score in India?
A good LSAT score in India depends on the law school you’re applying to. For Indian institutions that accept the LSAT—India, scores are reported on a scaled score range of 420–480. Generally, a score above 440 is considered competitive, while scores above 470 are typically required for admission into top private law schools in India, such as Jindal Global Law School. If you’re applying to U.S. law schools from India, then you’ll need to take the LSAT (U.S. version) and aim for a score of 160+ for mid-tier schools, and 170+ for T14 schools like Harvard or Yale.
How hard is it to score 176 on the LSAT?
Scoring a 176 on the LSAT is extremely difficult and places you in the 99.5th percentile or higher. Only a small percentage of test-takers achieve this score each year. It requires exceptional logical reasoning skills, efficient time management, and months of targeted preparation using official practice tests, advanced strategies, and often, personalized tutoring or coaching. However, with dedication and the right approach, it is achievable.
