How important is GPA and LSAT for law school?
Asked by: Gustave Ebert | Last update: September 16, 2025Score: 4.4/5 (37 votes)
Each law school combines your cumulative GPA with your LSAT score to come up with an index score. This index score is the most important admissions factor, and it is used to benchmark you initially against other applicants.
Is GPA or LSAT more important for law school?
There are two major reasons that law schools prioritize the LSAT. The first is arguably for legitimate educational purposes. Not all undergraduate majors feature the same level of intellectual rigor, and undergraduate institutions also offer a wide variety of instructional quality.
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.
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 a 3.0 GPA bad for law school?
It depends on the law school. Many law schools have grade inflation, where a 3.0 is the median score. So at those law schools, a 3.4 is relatively easy to earn. But at other law schools, a 3.4 is the top 10% of the class.
How GPA and LSAT Affect Law School Admissions
Can I get into Harvard with a 2.7 GPA?
It's exceptionally challenging with a GPA below 3.0, but not impossible. Focus on other aspects of your application to compensate for a low GPA.
Can you get into Harvard Law with a 3.2 GPA?
There's no lowest GPA but you probably won't get into Harvard with a 2.5 GPA. Your GPA still needs to be somewhat competitive with the median GPA. That said, you can get into Harvard Law School even if your GPA is 3.82 or lower.
Can a good LSAT make up for a low GPA?
A strong LSAT score can compensate for a low GPA, so it is well worth the investment of time and effort it takes to do well. Many competitive law schools screen applicants using a weighted index of their grades and LSAT scores, so extra points on the LSAT may effectively boost your GPA.
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.
Do law schools look at all LSAT scores or just the highest?
"The LSAC report for an applicant who has sat for the LSAT more than once will show every score or cancellation, as well as the average score. The ABA requires law schools to report score information based on an admitted student's highest score, and therefore, that is the score to which we give the most weight.
How rare is a 176 LSAT?
Less than 1% of test takers score a 176. It's a very hard thing to do. Don't let this sub skew your perception of what's realistic.
What is a respectable law school GPA?
A good GPA for law school generally falls between 3.5 and 4.0. However, top-tier institutions like Harvard Law School, Stanford Law School, and Yale Law School often admit students with median GPAs closer to 3.9 or higher.
What are softs for law school?
Softs refer to everything in your application that isn't "hard" data.
Do law schools look at GPA trends?
Trends in GPA: Demonstrating Growth
Law schools may also assess your academic trajectory. They want to see improvement or consistency in your grades over time. If you had a rocky start but showed significant improvement in later years, make sure to highlight this in your application.
Is the LSAT a good measure of intelligence?
The LSAT is not an IQ test. It does not measure intelligence the way IQ tests are designed to measure innate ability. A person who is very smart can receive a low LSAT score. A person who is very creative can receive a low LSAT score.
Can I get into law school with a 136 LSAT score?
Quite frankly, if your LSAT score is below 145, it will be difficult for you to be admitted to an accredited law school – not impossible, but very difficult. And if your LSAT score is low, your GPA will need to be higher to compensate for it.
What was Obama's LSAT score?
The easiest to predict, by far, is Barack Obama's score, mostly because we have some data. Based on admissions records, we can deduce — somewhat reliably — that Barry-O scored between the 94th and 98th percentile on his LSAT. Using today's grading system, that would place him somewhere around a 170.
What type of people succeed in law school?
The personal qualities that law schools value include maturity or life experience, emotional intelligence, an ability to get along with different kinds of people and communication skills, she says.
What affects your chances of getting into law school?
There's really no way around it—your LSAT score, GPA, and the rigor of your undergraduate course work are basically the most important things law schools are looking for. Also keep in mind that your LSAT score and GPA can make a huge difference in the scholarships and grants you'll be eligible for.
Can I get into a good law school with a 3.1 GPA?
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.
Do law schools look at LSAT percentiles?
It's common to talk in terms of LSAT scores, but law schools also look at your score percentile. Small LSAT score gains can net big results.
What is a mediocre LSAT score?
The LSAT percentile score range demonstrates your score relative to other test-takers over the past three years. According to the Law School Admission Council, which administers the test, the median score for the 2021-24 testing years was 153, meaning 50% of test-takers scored below and 50% scored above that number.
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.
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.
What was the lowest GPA Harvard has ever accepted?
Harvard College does not publicize its GPA thresholds or the lowest GPA it has accepted, and the degree of flexibility in their admissions process would indeed depend on a host of factors.