Understanding LSAT percentiles helps you set realistic goals and target the right law schools. Here's what your score means in the context of admissions.
The LSAT is scored on a 120–180 scale, but raw numbers don't tell the full story. What matters is where your score falls relative to other test-takers — and what that means for the schools you're targeting.
2026 LSAT Percentile Breakdown
| Score | Percentile | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| 180 | 99.9th | Perfect score — extremely rare |
| 175 | 99.4th | Top fraction of a percent |
| 170 | 97.4th | Competitive for T14 schools |
| 165 | 92nd | Strong for top-50 schools |
| 160 | 80th | Competitive for many good programs |
| 155 | 63rd | Average for law school matriculants |
| 150 | 44th | Below average for most ranked programs |
| 145 | 26th | May limit options significantly |
What Law Schools Actually Look For
The median LSAT score for students entering ABA-accredited law schools is approximately 155–156. But medians vary enormously by school:
- T14 schools (Yale, Stanford, Harvard, etc.): Median 172–175
- T25 schools: Median 165–171
- T50 schools: Median 160–165
- T100 schools: Median 153–160
Law school admissions weight the LSAT heavily because it's the single best predictor of first-year law school grades. A strong LSAT score can offset a lower GPA, and vice versa — but the LSAT carries significant weight at most schools.
Setting Your Target Score
Think about your target in terms of realistic school options:
- Aiming for T14? You need 170+ to be competitive, with 172+ being safer
- Aiming for T25? Target 165–170
- Aiming for T50? Target 160–165
- Aiming for scholarship money? Score above a school's 75th percentile LSAT
The Scholarship Factor
Here's something many students don't consider: your LSAT score directly affects scholarship offers. Scoring above a school's 75th percentile LSAT often triggers significant merit scholarships. At many schools, the difference between a 160 and a 168 could be worth $50,000–$150,000 in scholarship money over three years.
This makes LSAT prep one of the highest-ROI investments in your legal education.
How to Improve Your Score
The LSAT is a skills-based test, which means improvement comes from practice and technique, not memorization. Most students can improve 10–15 points with structured preparation. Adaptive study tools like Wizeprep [blocked] help target your specific weak areas for more efficient improvement.
For a complete comparison of prep options, see our Best LSAT Prep Courses [blocked] rankings.