What is the average GPA in law school?
Asked by: Barbara Oberbrunner IV | Last update: February 17, 2026Score: 4.6/5 (75 votes)
The average GPA for incoming law school students is around 3.55, but this varies dramatically by school; top-tier law schools often see median GPAs of 3.8 to 3.9+, while other schools might accept students with closer to a 3.0 or higher, making the competitive GPA dependent on your target institution. A strong GPA is crucial, but law school admissions also use a holistic review, considering your LSAT score, personal statement, recommendations, and extracurriculars.
What was Obama's LSAT score?
Barack Obama's specific LSAT score has never been officially released, but it's widely believed he scored very highly (likely above 170, potentially near perfect) to gain admission to Harvard Law School despite a lower undergraduate GPA, suggesting he was in the top few percentile of test-takers for his application year. While no official number exists, analyses point to a score in the top tier (e.g., 94th-98th percentile) to overcome his GPA for admission to a top-ranked program like Harvard.
Is a 3.0 GPA good for law school?
- A GPA of 3.0 is extraordinarily low by law school admissions standards. There is only one accredited law school in the entire country where the median GPA for admitted students is below 3.0.
- An LSAT score of 170, on the other hand, is unusually high by law school admissions standards. It would
Is a 3.7 GPA good enough for law school?
Yes, a 3.7 GPA is generally considered very good for law school, strong enough to get into many reputable programs and competitive for T-20 schools, especially when paired with a strong LSAT score and excellent personal statements, though top-tier schools (like Yale, Harvard, Stanford) often have median GPAs closer to 3.9+. Your chances increase significantly if your GPA shows upward trends or if you explain any dips due to extenuating circumstances in an addendum, with less rigorous majors sometimes carrying more weight.
How good is a 3.5 GPA in law school?
It's a perfectly good GPA, if you get at least a halfway decent LSAT score( and remember that LSAC recalculates your Undergrad GPA so just because your school transcripts say you had a 3.5 GPA, does not mean that will officially be your LSAC law school GPA).
How I Got Into Law School With a Low LSAT and GPA || Law School Admission With Low LSAT and GPA Tips
Can I get into Yale law with a 3.5 GPA?
We do not utilize a GPA or standardized test score cutoff of any kind in our review process. Every year applicants from all backgrounds and with scores in all ranges are admitted to Yale Law School. The only guarantee you will not be admitted is if you do not apply, and we take seriously every application we receive.
Is a 3.9 GPA impressive in college?
Typically, students with GPAs ranging from 3.5-3.7 will graduate cum laude (Latin for with distinction, with praise, or with honor ). Those with 3.7-3.9 GPAs graduate magna cum laude ( with great praise ), and those with a GPA of 3.9 or higher will be awarded summa cum laude ( with highest praise ).
Can I get into Harvard law with a 3.7 GPA?
Harvard Law School typically looks for a GPA of 3.89 or higher, based on recent admissions data.
Is a 3.3 GPA impressive?
A 3.3 GPA is generally considered good and above the national average (around 3.0), showing solid "B+" effort, making it suitable for many state universities and mid-tier colleges, but it's often not strong enough for highly selective schools like Ivy Leagues, where a stronger GPA plus compelling essays and extracurriculars are needed; it's also respectable for some jobs and scholarships, but may limit highly competitive internships or STEM programs.
Is a 154 LSAT bad?
A 154 LSAT score isn't "bad" in absolute terms (it's above average for all test takers and diagnostic scores), but it's considered average to below-average for admission to many ranked law schools, potentially requiring a strong GPA or compelling personal statement to get into mid-tier schools, while being a significant hurdle for T-14/Big Law prospects. Your chances largely depend on the schools' medians, your GPA, and application strength, with a 154 often placing you in the lower half of admitted classes at many institutions.
What disqualifies you from law school?
What disqualifies you from law school often involves dishonesty, serious criminal history (especially crimes of moral turpitude like fraud), significant financial irresponsibility, or academic misconduct, all falling under the "character and fitness" evaluation, though a single minor issue usually isn't a bar if disclosed honestly and explained well; failure to disclose, lying on the application, or misrepresenting facts is often a more significant reason for denial or later disbarment.
Can a 3.3 GPA get into Harvard?
Getting into Harvard with a 3.3 GPA is highly improbable but technically possible, as Harvard uses holistic admissions, but successful applicants usually have GPAs around 3.9-4.0, requiring you to have an extraordinary profile in other areas (extracurriculars, essays, unique talents, or exceptional standardized test scores) to overcome the low GPA, with very few admitted students falling significantly below the average.
Is a 3.1 GPA impressive?
Your GPA of 3.1, on a scale of 4.0, is certainly respectable. It would be considered "good" and falls into the category of a "B" average. Remember, different colleges have different standards for what they consider an "acceptable" or "competitive" GPA.
Did Kim Kardashian pass the LSAT?
That said, the question about what the “Kim Kardashian LSAT score” was, or if she even took the LSAT ends in a resounding no. This unconventional choice has sparked conversations about making legal education more accessible and exploring diverse paths in the legal profession.
What is the #1 ranked law school in the world?
There isn't one single "number one," as rankings vary, but Harvard University, Yale University, and Stanford University consistently appear at the very top globally, often trading #1 spots depending on the ranking system, with Harvard often leading in overall QS rankings and Yale/Stanford in U.S. News & World Report's domestic rankings for U.S. schools. Other top contenders include Oxford, Cambridge, Chicago, and NYU.
What did Ben Affleck get on his SAT?
Ben Affleck reportedly had a "near-perfect" or "almost perfect" SAT score, rumored to be 1600, on the old 1600-point scale, though the exact score isn't officially confirmed, with sources citing sources like the New York Times on his high aptitude despite poor high school attendance.
What GPA is top 1%?
A GPA in the top 1% generally means a near-perfect or perfect GPA, typically around 3.9 to 4.0 (or higher with weighted courses), often qualifying for the highest academic honor, summa cum laude, at many universities, though the exact number can vary by institution and class size. In high school, a 4.0 often places you in the top 2-5%, but achieving the very top percentile (1%) usually requires perfect scores or extremely high weighted scores from AP/IB classes.
What will an F do to a 3.4 GPA?
When you fail a course, the grade you receive is often an F, which carries no grade points. As a result, failing a course can significantly lower your GPA, especially if it is worth several credits. For example, if you have a 3.5 GPA and fail a 4-credit course, your GPA will drop to 3.08.
Do Ivy Leagues accept 3.3 GPA?
Ivy League colleges do not expect you to have a perfect GPA, and it doesn't help as much as you think it does. Anything over a 3.8 is fine, and you can sometimes get away with a GPA down to about a 3.5.
Is it harder to get into Yale law or Harvard law?
Yale Law School (YLS) is generally considered harder to get into than Harvard Law School (HLS) due to its significantly lower acceptance rate and smaller class size, making it the most selective law school in the U.S., though both are exceptionally difficult with similar elite academic profiles (high GPAs, LSATs). YLS often admits fewer students relative to applicants, focusing on a very small cohort, while HLS accepts a larger number to fill its much bigger class, creating a perception that YLS is more exclusive despite comparable applicant quality, notes Quora users and TestMax.
What score did Elle Woods get on her LSAT?
Elle Woods scored a 179 on the LSAT, just one point shy of a perfect 180, after going from a 143 on a practice test to achieving this near-perfect score by studying intensely for Harvard Law School. Her remarkable score, combined with a 4.0 GPA, secured her admission to Harvard Law.
What is the lowest GPA ever accepted to Harvard?
There's no official minimum GPA for Harvard, but successful applicants typically have near-perfect GPAs (3.9+) in rigorous courses; however, exceptions exist for extraordinary applicants with lower grades (sometimes below 3.0) who compensate with incredible achievements, unique talents, or compelling personal narratives, though these cases are rare and often involve special circumstances like athletics or legacy.
Has anyone got a 6.0 GPA?
Yes, a 6.0 GPA has been achieved by students, but it's extremely rare and only possible in high schools with specific, heavily weighted grading systems that assign extra points for advanced courses like AP or IB classes, effectively creating a scale that goes beyond the traditional 4.0 or 5.0, with some students even reaching over 10.0 on unique scales.
How many b's is a 3.9 GPA?
Subtract the total grade points needed to achieve a 3.9 GPA from the total grade points for all A's: 32 - 31.2 = 0.8. 4. Lastly, divide this number by the difference between points for an A and a B (4-3 = 1): 0.8 / 1 = 0.8. This means you can have close to one B throughout your high school career to maintain a 3.9 GPA.