A sizable list of ABA-approved law schools no longer requires the LSAT, admitting on the GRE, JD-Next, or a waiver instead. As of the current cycle, about 196 ABA-approved law schools appear on that list, from top programs to regional schools. The current roster and each school's route are tabled below.
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.
Right now, a sizable list of ABA-approved law schools does not require the LSAT, admitting instead on a GRE score, JD-Next, or a waiver. The list reaches from top programs to regional schools and changes as new schools opt in. Because most still require a substitute test, the current roster is really a list of schools that accept an alternative to the LSAT. about 196 ABA-approved law schools.
The table presents a current snapshot of no-LSAT schools with the route each uses and its rank. Treat it as a starting shortlist and confirm each entry on the school's own page.
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.
The list has grown mainly because more schools now accept the GRE, drawing applicants who took it for other programs, and because JD-Next has added a course-based route. The ABA's recognition of admissions tests beyond the LSAT opened the door, and competition for a shrinking applicant pool encouraged schools to walk through it. Expect the roster to keep shifting year to year. a test under ABA Standard 503, though a November 2024 variance now lets schools admit applicants without one.
Shortlist schools whose accepted test matches your strongest score, then compare your percentiles to each school's medians to set reach, target, and likely tiers. Verify every school's policy for your cycle, because a current list can change mid-year. Keep scholarship implications in view, since some aid still tracks the LSAT. see the linked source (see the linked source).
The GRE-accepting list is the core of the no-LSAT roster and expands most cycles, so any snapshot ages quickly. ETS maintains the authoritative version, covering top-ranked and regional schools, and each school's page shows its current policy. Check both before you finalize a list. about 128 U.S. law schools, including every T14 school.
Yes, most often by submitting a GRE score, with JD-Next and waivers as narrower routes. Because schools add and adjust these policies, confirm that a given school still offers a no-LSAT path for your cycle rather than relying on an older list. a test under ABA Standard 503, though a November 2024 variance now lets schools admit applicants without one.
Neither is inherently easier, and the answer can shift with your preparation. The GRE tests math and vocabulary, the LSAT tests logic and reading. Compare your current percentile on each, since that is how schools read the scores, before deciding which to submit. 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