Yes, a number of ABA-approved law schools admit without the LSAT, mainly by accepting the GRE and, at some schools, JD-Next. Truly test-free admission stays rare. As of the current cycle, about 196 ABA-approved law schools offer such a route. This page maps each route and which schools use it.
By Ali Unar, JD candidate at Georgetown Law and founder of Lovare Institut. Last updated August 2026. Figures on this page were verified in August 2026 or point readers to the current source.
Yes. A meaningful number of the roughly 196 ABA-approved law schools admit at least some students without an LSAT score, chiefly by accepting the GRE and, at a smaller set, JD-Next. A few use GPA-based waivers for specific applicants. What is uncommon is admission with no standardized measure at all, since most no-LSAT routes still require a test of some kind. about 196 ABA-approved law schools.
Three routes cover almost every no-LSAT admission. The table sets out what each requires and how many schools it reaches.
The current ranking is best read directly from the source. See the U.S. News Best Law Schools list for the up-to-date order, and each school's ABA Standard 509 report for its median LSAT, GPA, and acceptance rate.
Several nationally known law schools accept the GRE, and a smaller group of well-regarded schools takes JD-Next, so no-LSAT routes are not confined to lower-ranked programs. Because each school opts in on its own timeline, the specific names change between cycles. Confirm any school's current policy on its admissions page rather than relying on last year's list. 67 ABA-accredited law schools (up from 46 in 2023).
Skipping the LSAT does not bar you from strong schools, but it can affect leverage. Many schools still anchor merit scholarships to LSAT percentiles, so a GRE-only file may draw less aid at some programs. If you can post a competitive LSAT score, it often widens both your options and your scholarship offers. Weigh that against the time an extra test costs. your target schools' published 25th-50th-75th percentile figures.
A large group of ABA-approved law schools accepts the GRE, and it is the widest of the no-LSAT routes, reaching more schools than JD-Next or waivers. ETS maintains the current roster, which spans national and regional programs. Verify a school's policy on its own page, since new schools opt in regularly. about 128 U.S. law schools, including every T14 school.
Yes, most reliably through the GRE, with JD-Next and GPA-based waivers as narrower options. Fully test-free admission is uncommon. Keep in mind that a GRE-only application can draw less scholarship money at schools that peg aid to LSAT percentiles, so factor cost into the choice. a test under ABA Standard 503, though a November 2024 variance now lets schools admit applicants without one.
It depends on your strengths rather than a fixed difficulty. The GRE tests quantitative math and vocabulary, the LSAT tests logical reasoning and reading, and each rewards a different profile. Since a weaker test can cost you scholarships, compare your percentile on both before you commit. the LSAC percentile tables (for example a 150 is about the 37th percentile, 160 the 71st, 165 the 85th, and 170 the 94th).
Verified August 2026.
August 21, 2026
August 21, 2026