Reviewed by [[AUTHOR_NAME]], [[AUTHOR_CREDENTIAL]] — Lovare Institut editorial team

TL;DR: There is no universal LSAT/GPA chart that works for every law school. Each school publishes its own 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile LSAT and GPA figures. Compare your numbers against those specific figures, school by school, to see where you land. Above both medians is strong; below both is a reach; one high and one low makes you a splitter.

What LSAT and GPA do you need for law school?

There is no fixed LSAT/GPA number that guarantees law school admission, because every school sets its own benchmarks. What matters is how your LSAT and GPA compare to the specific medians published by each school you're targeting. Law schools weigh LSAT and GPA heavily, but they also weigh softs, essays, and letters holistically. The right question isn't "what's the magic number" — it's "where do I sit relative to this specific school's class."

The index number

Many law schools calculate an internal "index" that combines your LSAT score and GPA into a single weighted number, used as an initial sorting tool before holistic review. Schools don't publish their exact index formulas. The index is typically an early screen, not a final decision — admissions committees still review files individually, especially once an applicant clears the initial cutoff.

LSAC GPA vs. your transcript GPA

Your LSAC-calculated GPA is not always identical to the GPA on your undergraduate transcript. LSAC recalculates your GPA using its own standardized methodology, which counts all attempted coursework, including classes you later retook or withdrew from. This means your LSAC GPA can be lower than your transcript GPA if you have retaken courses or received early grade forgiveness at your undergraduate institution. Always check your LSAC GPA, not your transcript GPA, when comparing yourself to a school's published median.

Where to find real numbers

Every ABA-approved law school must publish annual admissions data through the ABA's Standard 509 Information Report, which includes 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile LSAT and GPA figures for the incoming class [[VERIFY: current ABA 509 disclosure data per school]]. These reports are the authoritative source — more reliable than crowdsourced forums or older rankings guides, because they're filed directly by the school under ABA disclosure requirements. Pull the current 509 report for each school on your list before you build any personal grid.

Splitters and reverse splitters

A "splitter" is an applicant whose LSAT score is well above a school's median while their GPA sits well below it. A "reverse splitter" is the opposite: a strong GPA paired with a below-median LSAT. Splitters and reverse splitters are common enough that most admissions committees have a working sense of how to read that pattern, though how any individual school treats a split file varies. Neither pattern is inherently better; it depends on which factor a given school weighs more heavily that cycle.

The LSAT scale itself

The LSAT is scored on a 120–180 scale. As of August 2024, the exam is fully digital and consists of two scored Logical Reasoning sections plus one Reading Comprehension section; the Logic Games (Analytical Reasoning) section has been removed entirely. A 170 LSAT score corresponds to a high percentile of test-takers nationally [[VERIFY: current LSAT percentile table]], but the percentile-to-score mapping shifts slightly with each testing cycle, so always check the current year's table rather than an old one.

LSAT/GPA admission grid (data table)

The most useful LSAT/GPA grid isn't a single universal table — it's a personal grid you build for each target school using that school's own published 25th/50th/75th percentile figures. Plot your LSAT and GPA against those specific numbers, not against a generic chart, because a "175/3.9" means something different at every school. Below is the framework to build that grid yourself.

• Your position vs. a school's published percentiles: LSAT and GPA both at or above the school's 75th percentile | Common label: Above-median / "safety" candidate | What it typically signals: You're at the strong end of that school's admitted range on paper
• Your position vs. a school's published percentiles: LSAT at or above 75th percentile; GPA below 25th percentile | Common label: Splitter | What it typically signals: High test score, lower GPA — outcome depends heavily on that school's stated priorities
• Your position vs. a school's published percentiles: LSAT below 25th percentile; GPA at or above 75th percentile | Common label: Reverse splitter | What it typically signals: Strong academic record, lower test score — same caveat applies in reverse
• Your position vs. a school's published percentiles: Both LSAT and GPA between the 25th and 75th percentile | Common label: Target / median candidate | What it typically signals: You resemble the middle of that school's admitted class
• Your position vs. a school's published percentiles: Both LSAT and GPA below the 25th percentile | Common label: Reach candidate | What it typically signals: You're below the range where that school's median class sits

To use this table, do the following for each school on your list:

1. Pull the school's current ABA Standard 509 report and note its 25th/50th/75th percentile LSAT and GPA.
2. Locate your own LSAC GPA and LSAT score (or your target score range if you haven't taken the test yet).
3. Plot both numbers against the school's figures, not against a national or generic chart.
4. Classify yourself using the table above — above-median, splitter, reverse splitter, target, or reach — separately for every school.
5. Repeat for 8–12 schools spanning a genuine mix of the five categories, since your position changes school to school.

A candidate with a 168 LSAT and a 3.6 GPA might be a comfortably above-median candidate at one school, a target candidate at a second, and a reach at a third — all with the identical two numbers. That's why a single national LSAT/GPA chart is close to useless on its own; the same file reads differently depending on whose 509 report you're checking it against.

What if your numbers are below median?

Being below a school's published median LSAT or GPA does not disqualify you, but it does shift where the burden of persuasion sits in your file. Below-median applicants are typically admitted through the rest of the file — essays, letters, work experience, and addenda — rather than the numbers alone. The strategy is to address the gap directly rather than hope the committee overlooks it.

Write an addendum if there's a clear reason

An addendum is a short, factual explanation attached to your application that addresses a specific weakness, such as a low GPA in one semester or a lower LSAT score relative to your practice tests. Keep it brief, factual, and free of excuses — state what happened, what changed, and why it won't recur. Committees read addenda for information, not for sympathy, so tone matters.

Show an upward GPA trend

If your GPA improved meaningfully over the course of your degree, a GPA-trend addendum can help a committee read a rough freshman year in context. This is most persuasive when the trend is clear and sustained, not a single strong final semester. Some schools weigh trend more than others, which is another reason to check each school's stated admissions philosophy rather than assume it matters everywhere equally.

Consider retaking the LSAT

Retaking the LSAT is worth considering if your score sits meaningfully below your practice-test average or below the 25th percentile of most schools on your list. Most law schools will consider your highest LSAT score, though ABA disclosure rules require schools to report how they use multiple scores in their 509 filings [[VERIFY: current ABA policy on multiple LSAT score reporting per school]]. A retake only makes sense if you have identified and fixed the specific reason for the lower score — a retake with no new preparation rarely moves the number.

Build a genuinely balanced list

A below-median position at your dream school is a normal reason to build a list with real range: a mix of reach, target, and above-median schools, each assessed against that specific school's own 509 numbers. Applying only to reach schools because you're below median everywhere else is the most common and most avoidable mistake below-median applicants make. Strength in the rest of the file — leadership, unusual work experience, a compelling personal statement — matters more, proportionally, the further below median your numbers sit.

Apply early in the cycle

Most law schools use some form of rolling admissions, meaning seats fill as the cycle progresses. Below-median applicants generally benefit from applying as early in the cycle as their file allows, since later applications are competing against a smaller number of remaining seats. This is a scheduling advantage, not a numbers advantage — it doesn't change your LSAT or GPA, but it can change how much competition you face for the same file.

How Lovare approaches LSAT/GPA benchmarking: Lovare Institut's admissions guidance is informed by a proprietary dataset of 10,000+ applicant outcomes and 4,000+ scholarship negotiations, which we use to help applicants read their own LSAT/GPA position against real school-by-school patterns rather than a single generic chart. We don't publish admission probabilities — no one legitimately can — but we do help you build the personalized, school-by-school grid described above as part of Lovare's admissions consulting services.

FAQ

What is a good LSAT/GPA combination for law school?

There is no single "good" LSAT/GPA combination that applies everywhere. A combination is good relative to a specific school when both numbers sit at or above that school's published 25th percentile figures from its ABA Standard 509 report. The same LSAT/GPA pair can be strong at one school and below median at another.

How much does GPA matter compared to LSAT score?

Both LSAT and GPA carry significant weight in most law school admissions, and the relative weighting varies by school and cycle. Some schools weigh LSAT more heavily in their index calculation; others weigh GPA more. Check each target school's own materials or 509 data rather than assuming a universal ratio [[VERIFY: school-specific index weighting, where disclosed]].

What is the LSAC-calculated GPA and how is it different from my transcript GPA?

The LSAC-calculated GPA is a standardized GPA that LSAC computes from your full academic record, including retaken and withdrawn courses. It can differ from your undergraduate transcript GPA, especially if your school allowed grade replacement. Law schools use your LSAC GPA, not your raw transcript GPA, when comparing you to their published medians.

What is a splitter in law school admissions?

A splitter is an applicant with an LSAT score well above a target school's median paired with a GPA well below that school's median. The opposite pattern — high GPA, lower LSAT — is called a reverse splitter. Neither pattern automatically helps or hurts; the outcome depends on how heavily that specific school weighs each factor.

Where can I find a law school's actual LSAT and GPA medians?

Every ABA-approved law school publishes its 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile LSAT and GPA figures annually in its ABA Standard 509 Information Report. This is the authoritative source, filed directly with the ABA under disclosure rules, and is more reliable than older rankings guides or forum estimates [[VERIFY: current ABA 509 disclosure data per school]].

Can a high LSAT score make up for a low GPA?

A high LSAT score can offset a low GPA at some schools, particularly those that weight LSAT heavily in their index, but it is not a universal fix. Splitters with strong LSAT scores are admitted at many schools, but outcomes vary by institution and cycle. A GPA addendum explaining the low GPA can help alongside the strong score.

Should I retake the LSAT if I'm below median?

Retaking makes sense if your current score sits meaningfully below your own practice-test average or below most target schools' 25th percentile, and if you've identified a fixable reason for the gap. A retake without new preparation targeting that specific gap rarely produces a materially different score.