What Is a Good LSAT Score — And What Score Do You Actually Need?

What Is a Good LSAT Score — And What Score Do You Actually Need?

Quick Answer: A 'good' LSAT score is relative to your target schools. Nationally, 160+ is considered competitive, 165+ is strong for top-25 programs, and 170+ is elite. But for students with learning differences, the right score is the one that reflects your true ability — not what a timed test under pressure produced.

The LSAT is scored on a scale of 120–180. The national average hovers around 152. But knowing the average tells you almost nothing about what score you personally need — that depends entirely on where you want to go to law school and what you're bringing to the application beyond your score.

LSAT Score Ranges by School Tier

Top 14 Law Schools (T14)

•     Harvard, Yale, Columbia, NYU, Chicago: Median LSAT 174+

•     Penn, Michigan, Virginia, Duke, Northwestern: Median LSAT 171–173

•     Georgetown, Cornell, UCLA, Texas: Median LSAT 168–172

If you're targeting T14, a score of 170 or above puts you in a competitive position. Below 168, you'll need exceptional supporting materials and/or significant scholarship leverage.

Top 25–50 Programs

•     Median LSAT scores typically range from 158–168

•     A score of 162+ makes you competitive at most programs in this tier

•     Strong GPA can help compensate for a score at the lower end of a school's range

Regional and State Schools

•     Median LSAT scores often range from 148–160

•     At many strong regional schools, 155+ with a solid GPA and personal statement is genuinely competitive

•     Scholarship opportunities increase significantly when your LSAT exceeds a school's median

Understanding LSAT Score Requirements: Top 14 law schools generally seek scores over 174, while scores for Top 25-50 programs typically range from 158-168. Regional schools may accept between 148-160, with higher scores boosting scholarship chances.

What Score Do You Need — Really?

Here's the framework we use with our students at Ginsburg Advanced Tutoring:

•     Identify your target schools and find their 25th/50th/75th percentile LSAT scores (available on LSAC.org and Law School Transparency)

•     Aim for the median or above — that puts you in the strongest scholarship position

•     If your diagnostic score is more than 10 points below your target, build a realistic prep timeline before committing to a test date

What If You Have ADHD, Test Anxiety, or a Learning Difference?

This is where standard score guidance can actually be harmful. Many students with learning differences take a test once under pressure, get a score that doesn't reflect their knowledge, and treat that score as their ceiling. It isn't.

We've worked with students who improved 15–20 points with the right preparation approach. The LSAT is a skills-based test — it measures how well you reason, not how smart you are. Those skills are trainable. And for students who've spent their entire academic careers developing workarounds and compensatory strategies, the logical and analytical demands of the LSAT are often deeply learnable — they just need to be taught the right way.

LSAT Accommodations and What They Mean for Your Score

Students with documented disabilities may qualify for extended time (time-and-a-half or double time), extra breaks, or other accommodations on the LSAT. Accommodations don't change how your score is reported — a 165 with accommodations is a 165. But they can significantly change your performance by giving you the time and conditions to demonstrate what you actually know.

If you think you may qualify for accommodations, apply early. The process takes time, and you want accommodations in place before your first official test.

The Score You Should Actually Be Aiming For

Not the score you think you should get. Not the score your friend got. Not the average score for your dream school.

Your target score is the highest score that a structured, realistic prep plan — accounting for your learning profile, your timeline, and your test-taking conditions — can get you to. That's what we help our students figure out, and that's the score worth pursuing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a 155 LSAT score good?

A 155 puts you around the 63rd percentile nationally. It's competitive at many law schools outside the T25, and can be a strong scholarship score at some regional programs. Whether it's 'good' depends entirely on where you're applying.

What is the average LSAT score?

The national average LSAT score is approximately 152. However, among students who are seriously applying to law school (rather than all test-takers), the effective average is higher — typically around 155–157.

How much can I realistically improve my LSAT score?

Most students improve 5–10 points with structured preparation. Students who work with specialized tutors, especially those addressing specific learning needs, frequently improve 10–20 points. Your starting score and learning approach are the biggest determinants.

Do law schools average multiple LSAT scores?

Most law schools now consider your highest LSAT score, though they can see all scores you've taken. LSAC reports all scores to schools. This makes it especially important not to take the test before you're ready.

Not sure what score you're capable of? Ginsburg Advanced Tutoring offers diagnostic assessments and personalized score planning — especially for students with ADHD, learning differences, and test anxiety. Register today.