Does GPA correlate with LSAT?

Asked by: Shea Bashirian  |  Last update: January 11, 2026
Score: 4.6/5 (67 votes)

That is, LSAT score predicts cumulative law school GPA about as well as it predicts 1L GPA; in both cases, LSAT score is superior to UGPA as a predictor. However, 1L GPA is a stronger predictor of cumulative law school grades than either LSAT score or UGPA.

Is there a correlation between GPA and LSAT score?

❖ Upon viewing the correlation coefficient, a strong, positive correlation is seen between GPA and LSAT scores. Meaning, as one variable increases, the other does as well. ❖ Those with higher GPAs are more likely to receive high LSAT scores and vice-versa.

Is GPA as important as LSAT?

In general terms, it can be said that law schools value LSAT scores more than they do undergraduate GPA, but whether or not this statement applies to a given institution and how by much depends on the school.

Does LSAT outweigh GPA?

Yes, many schools with holistic admissions prioritize LSAT scores and other qualities over strictly GPA. Check individual schools for their approach.

Is a 3.2 GPA bad for law school?

So generally, if you're trying to get into the top schools, a GPA below 3.6 will be considered low. But to answer the question what GPA do you need to get into law school, any law school, then the answer is at least a 2.5. That is realistically the lowest GPA you can have to get into law school.

My Law School Application Stats: LSAT, GPA, work experience, and more \\ how I got into law school

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Is a 3.7 GPA too low for law school?

The average GPA for law school is between 3.91. However, like LSAT scores, it's important to understand that the specific average GPA can differ depending on the law school and its level of competitiveness. Top-ranking law schools often expect higher average GPAs, typically ranging from 3.8 to 4.0 or even higher.

Can I get into Harvard law with a 3.2 GPA?

That said, you can get into Harvard Law School even if your GPA is 3.82 or lower.

Is the LSAT becoming obsolete?

The ABA's House of Delegates will vote on the Council's proposed change in February 2023. If the House votes to nix Standard 503, the standardized-test requirement won't go away until 2025. So, the LSAT isn't definitely going away, and it's definitely not going away until 2025.

Should I keep a 145 LSAT score?

A 144-145 is generally considered to be the lowest acceptable score to attend law school. The median LSAT score is around 151-152, so 144-145 is significantly lower than this. As such, the majority of law schools will not accept scores below this.

What is too low a GPA for law school?

What Is the Lowest GPA For Law School? Since the majority of law schools require a GPA of 3.0 or higher, anything below a 3.0 is considered very low. Some of the absolute lowest GPA requirements for schools are 2.80.

What LSAT score does Harvard look for?

So let's take a look at what it actually takes to have a chance of being admitted to the most prestigious and preeminent law school in the world. As you can see from these numbers, an LSAT score of 170 or higher and a GPA above 3.75 will give you a chance of gaining admission to Harvard Law School.

Is 158 a bad LSAT score?

As mentioned above, the average LSAT score nationally is a 152. Generally speaking, a score of 160 and above is necessary to guarantee admission into top-100 schools like Tulane, UC Hastings, or Case Western Reserve.

Why do law schools care so much about LSAT?

The purpose of the LSAT is to assist admission leaders by predicting success in law school, and as demonstrated in the studies described above, the LSAT is highly successful in doing so.

Is your GPA or LSAT more important?

Most law schools tend to give LSAT scores a bit more weight, but some schools care more about grades. The admissions process is inevitably subjective, and some admissions officers might be more forgiving of a gap than others.

What is the best predictor of law school success?

THE LSAT IS PREDICTIVE, BUT NOT RELEVANT

To its credit, the LSAT is meant to predict how well a student will perform during their first year in law school. And perhaps more than any other available metric, the LSAT is best at doing this.

How rare is a perfect LSAT score?

How Hard Is It To Get A Perfect Score On The LSAT? According to LSAC, only 119 test-takers out of nearly 60,000 achieved this in 2022. So when you ask, “How many people get a 180 on the LSAT?” the answer highlights the rarity and difficulty of this achievement. Several factors make it challenging to score perfectly.

How rare is a 170 LSAT?

170 score: Scoring a 170 on the LSAT is almost always considered a good score — that means you are in the 2-3% of test-takers.

How bad is a 139 on the LSAT?

Typical LSAT score ranges include: 120-147 Low. 148-156 Mid. 157-164 High.

How rare is a 160 on the LSAT?

A student scoring a 180 is in the 99.9 percentile because the student scored better than 99.9% of test-takers. A student scoring a 160 is in the 74.8 percentile because the student scored better than 74.8% of test-takers. You can hover over the blue outline to see a tooltip for all each LSAT/percentile combinations.

Did Harvard get rid of LSAT?

Harvard Law School accepts either the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) or the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). We do not have a preference for either exam. Similarly, a candidate is not considered more committed by taking both exams or disadvantaged by taking the same exam multiple times.

Has anyone passed the LSAT without studying?

To be clear, there are dozens of verified examples of individuals over the past decade who have scored above 165 without studying, but those are few and far between. The statistics show that the vast majority of students who sit for the exam with no preparation do not score well enough to get into top schools.

Can I get into law school without LSAT?

While many law schools still require potential students to take the LSAT and submit their scores, there is a growing trend away from this requirement. Today there are several highly respected law schools that no longer require this specific type of test, and more schools are following suit each year.

What is the hardest law school in the USA?

1. Yale University. With an acceptance rate of just 6.9%, it's no wonder that Yale is the hardest law school to get into. Only around 1 in 15 of their highly qualified applicants makes it through.

What's the lowest GPA Yale accepted?

We do not set a minimum GPA, nor do we attempt to re-weight GPA's to any standard other than what a school provides.

Will a 175 LSAT get you in anywhere?

Here is a breakdown of what counts as a good enough score for law schools based on the school's rank: Top-five law schools: 170 to 180. Schools like Harvard and Yale, which are the top two, rarely accept applicants with less than 172 on the LSAT. Law schools ranked between 5 and 10: 165 to 170.