What should your GPA be to get into law school?

Asked by: Gertrude Feeney Jr.  |  Last update: October 25, 2025
Score: 4.8/5 (23 votes)

A 3.8 GPA or higher (unweighted on a 4.0 scale) from a university with a track record of several admits year-after-year at your target law school. 75th percentile or above LSAT score (as compared to the previous year's admitted students at a particular target law school)

What GPA is needed for law school?

Most law schools require a minimum GPA of 3.5 for admission. However, top law schools typically require a GPA of 3.7 or higher to be considered a competitive applicant.

Can a 2.5 GPA get you into 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.

Can you get into law school with 3.0 GPA?

Considering students are generally advised to score a GPA of 3.5 in college to get into law school, a 3.0 is typically considered low. However, it all depends on the schools you're applying to! As discussed earlier, several schools consider a 3.0 to be within their competitive range.

Is 3.7 a bad GPA for law school?

A good standard for above average law schools tends to be a 160 LSAT and a 3.5 GPA. However even amongst that people will tell you a 3.7 and a 165 is better. Really just depends on you. Many good law schools ( well above average) will take a 3.5 160. In my opinion average law schools are around the 100 mark.

Law School Admissions: Can You Get into Law School With a Low GPA?

21 related questions found

What is Harvard Law GPA?

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. If you have a GPA of 3.94 or higher and above a 175, you are pretty much a lock for admission, particularly given the class size of ~560.

What does a 3.5 GPA look like?

What is a 3.5 GPA? A 3.5 GPA is 90% or a B+/A- average. This means you probably mainly earned B's (3.0) and A's (4.0) in your coursework. Of course, the exact grades that make up a 3.4 GPA will vary from student to student.

What GPA is too low 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.

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.

What is the easiest law degree to get?

The easiest law degree to earn is a Master of Legal Studies degree. For more information about earning a Master of Legal Studies or for help finding a program, reach out to Learn.org today.

Do law schools check GPA?

That being said, law schools often look at your GPA and LSAT within the context of the rest of your application. So these stats aren't necessarily the final arbiters of whether or not you'll be admitted.

Can I become a lawyer with bad grades?

You can get into law school with a low GPA! In order to compensate for a low GPA you should gain real-world experience before applying, ace the LSAT, focus on your essays, secure stellar recommendations and send out lots of applications!

What is the lowest GPA for Yale law school?

Applicants must have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.3 and be 18 years old by the time the program begins.

Is 3.5 a bad GPA?

In general, a 3.0 GPA or higher is widely accepted by college advisors, internship programs, and potential employers. Anything above a 3.5 is often considered outstanding and may lead to honors designations at graduation and special distinctions/designations on your actual diploma.

Is law school hard to get into?

Getting into law school is tough, but not insurmountable. As long as you have the minimum requirements to get in, your dream of getting your Juris Doctor degree and becoming a lawyer is achievable. Law schools generally require that you have specified minimum collegiate GPA and LSAT scores to qualify for admission.

What GPA is required for Harvard?

GPA requirements for Harvard

At Harvard, the standard GPA is 4.18. (While some schools publish an unweighted GPA, most utilize a weighted GPA out of 4.0.) Harvard needs you to be at the top of your class with a GPA of 4.18. To compete with other applications, you'll need to receive almost all A's.

How to get a 5.0 GPA?

It indicates that the student only took coursework with a 5.0 grade point average and received all A's (or A+'s). However, when classes are weighted, perfect straight-A grades can result in a 5.0 instead of a standard 4.0. (or even higher).

Is a 2.75 GPA bad?

To elaborate, the national average for GPA is around a 3.0, so a 2.7 puts you below average nationally. Keep in mind the 3.0 national average represents all students, not just students applying to college, so the average GPA of students admitted to colleges is higher than the national average.

What is the minimum GPA for law?

Obtain High GPA & LSAT Scores

It's also worth remembering that getting into a top law school requires outstanding grades, not just good ones. According to the Law School Admission Council (LSAC), students need a GPA of at least 3.59 and an LSAT of 162 or more to get into any top 10 law schools.

Does GPA really matter for law school?

While law schools consider applicants' letters of recommendation, personal statements, work experience and extracurricular activities, many experts say undergraduate GPA and LSAT scores are often the most heavily weighed factors in admissions decisions.

How do I raise my GPA for law school?

How to Offset a Low GPA on Law School Applications
  1. 1) Ace the LSAT. See your chances of getting into top law schools. ...
  2. 2) Get Great References. ...
  3. 3) Take a Gap Year or Two. ...
  4. 4) Explain Your Circumstances. ...
  5. 5) Set Your Sights a Little Lower. ...
  6. 6) Apply to as Many Law Schools as Possible. ...
  7. A Final Word for the Fretful Applicant.

What will an F do to a 3.5 GPA?

Your GPA is affected

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.

Is a 4.5 GPA good?

At most high schools, this means that the highest GPA you can get is a 5.0. A 4.5 GPA indicates that you're in very good shape for college. You're most likely in high level classes earning As and high Bs.