What is a Good LSAT Score for Top Law Schools in 2025-2026?

You've decided to apply to law school. Now comes the question that keeps every pre-law student up at night: What LSAT score do I actually need? The answer isn't as simple as a single number because what counts as a "good" LSAT score depends entirely on your goals.

If you're aiming for Yale or Harvard, your target looks very different than if you're applying to a solid regional law school. Understanding LSAT score requirements for top programs helps you set realistic goals and create a study plan that actually gets you there. Let's break down exactly what LSAT scores you need for the best law schools in 2025-2026.

Understanding Your LSAT Score: The Basics

Before diving into specific school requirements, let's clarify how LSAT scoring works. The LSAT score range spans from 120 to 180 points. This might seem like a narrow range, but it represents a wide diversity of abilities and outcomes.

Three Types of LSAT Scores:

1. Raw Score: The number of questions you answer correctly out of approximately 75-76 graded questions. There's no penalty for wrong answers, so you should always guess if you're running out of time.

   
   

2. Scaled Score: Your raw score converts to a scaled score between 120-180 using a conversion chart unique to each LSAT administration. This is the score law schools see and care about.

   
   

3. Percentile Score: Shows how your performance compares to all other test-takers over three years. A 151 typically represents the 50th percentile—meaning you scored better than half of all test-takers.

   
   

According to the Law School Admission Council, the average LSAT score hovers around 150. However, to get into a top 50 law school, you'll need 153 or above. For a top 14 law school, you need to score above 166. And for the very best programs? Think 170 or higher.

LSAT Score Percentiles: What They Really Mean

Your LSAT percentile ranking matters more than your actual score in many ways. Here's what different percentile rankings mean for your law school prospects:

LSAT Scaled Score	Percentile Rank	What This Means
180	99.9%	Perfect score—extremely rare
175	99%	Top 1% of all test-takers (the kind you get at Lawprep180)
170	98%	Competitive for any law school
165	93%	Strong score for top 25 schools
160	82%	Good for many excellent programs
155	66%	Above average, competitive for solid schools
150	46%	Average score, acceptable for many programs
145	27%	Below average, limited options

Small score improvements create significant percentile jumps. A single point increase can boost your percentile ranking by up to five points. This is why targeted LSAT preparation matters so much; every point counts.

Ready to achieve your target LSAT score? Connect with LawPrep180 for a free consultation and work with an expert who scored in the 99th percentile. Get a personalized study plan that targets your specific weaknesses and maximizes your score potential.

LSAT Scores for Top 10 Law Schools in 2025-2026

The most prestigious law schools in America set extraordinarily high bars. These programs receive thousands of applications from highly qualified candidates, so standing out requires near-perfect scores combined with strong academic records.

Here are the current LSAT score ranges for the top 10 law schools according to U.S. News & World Report:

Rank	Law School	LSAT Score Range (25th-75th Percentile)	Median LSAT Score	Acceptance Rate
1 (tie)	Yale University	170-177	174	5.3%
1 (tie)	Stanford University	169-175	173	8.9%
3	University of Chicago	169-175	173	12.7%
4	University of Virginia	167-174	172	13.9%
5	University of Pennsylvania (Carey)	168-174	172	10%
6 (tie)	Harvard University	171-176	174	11%
6 (tie)	Duke University	168-171	170	13.9%
8 (tie)	New York University	169-173	172	16.7%
8 (tie)	University of Michigan–Ann Arbor	166-172	171	11.9%
10 (tie)	Columbia University	170-175	173	11.8%
10 (tie)	Northwestern University (Pritzker)	166-174	172	15.4%

What These LSAT Score Requirements Tell You:

The 75th percentile for top 10 schools ranges from 171 (Duke) to 177 (Yale). If you're scoring in this range, you're extremely competitive. The 25th percentile ranges from 166 to 171, meaning that even the lowest-scoring admitted students at these schools are in the top 7% of all test-takers.

What is a Good LSAT Score for Your Specific Goals?

The definition of a "good" LSAT score changes based on what you want from law school. Let's break this down by specific score ranges:

LSAT Scores 150-155: Getting Into Law School

A score between 150-155 puts you right around the national average. 

When a 150-155 LSAT Score Works:

• You're passionate about practicing law regardless of prestige

• You're targeting regional schools with strong local employment networks

• You're willing to work hard in law school to stand out

• You're not primarily motivated by high starting salaries

Building strong foundational skills matters more than ever with scores in this range. Strengthen your vocabulary with LawPrep180's free vocabulary test to improve reading comprehension and logical reasoning performance.

LSAT Scores 160-165: Opening Doors to Excellent Programs

Scoring 160 or above puts you in the top 18% of all test-takers. This score range opens doors to many excellent law schools outside the top 20. 

What a 160-165 LSAT Score Achieves:

• Admission to well-regarded regional and national law schools

• Competitive for merit scholarships at many programs

• Strong employment prospects in most legal markets

• Realistic path to six-figure salaries with strong performance

LSAT Scores 165-170: Competing for Top Programs

A score of 165-170 makes you competitive for top 25 law schools and have solid chances at some top programs, especially if your GPA and other application components are strong.

What a 165-170 LSAT Score Achieves:

• Competitive applications to top 20 law schools

• Likely admission to top 30 programs

• Significant scholarship opportunities at schools ranked 25-50

• Strong starting salary prospects ($160,000+ at big firms)

LSAT Scores 170+: Elite Territory

Scoring 170 or higher makes you now genuinely competitive for any law school in the country, though admission to Yale, Stanford, and Harvard remains highly competitive even with these scores.

What a 170+ LSAT Score Achieves:

• Competitive applications to any law school

• Likely admission to multiple top 14 programs

• Full or substantial scholarships at schools ranked 15-50

• Clear path to prestigious clerkships and big law positions

For detailed guidance on reaching these score ranges, explore this provenLSAT study schedule designed to maximize your preparation efficiency.

LSAT Scores and Law School Scholarships

Your LSAT score directly impacts your scholarship potential. Law schools use merit scholarships strategically to attract students who will improve their median LSAT scores—a key factor in U.S. News rankings.

Scholarship Strategies by LSAT Score:

Your Score Position	Scholarship Potential
Above 75th percentile	Full or near-full tuition scholarships likely
At 50th-75th percentile	Partial scholarships (25-75% tuition) common
At 25th-50th percentile	Some scholarship money possible
Below 25th percentile	Limited scholarship opportunities

A student scoring 168 might receive a full scholarship at a school with a 165 median, but only partial funding at a school with a 170 median. This creates strategic opportunities—sometimes a slightly lower-ranked school with substantial scholarship money provides better value than a higher-ranked school at full price.

Final Thoughts on Good LSAT Scores for 2025-2026

A "good" LSAT score isn't a single number, it's the score that opens doors to the law schools and legal careers you want. For top 10 schools, that means 170+. For top 25 schools, aim for 165+. For solid programs with strong regional reputations, 160+ works well.

The good news? The LSAT is learnable. Students regularly improve 10-20 points with focused preparation. Unlike your undergraduate GPA, which is already set, your LSAT score is entirely within your control. The time you invest now directly determines the options available to you next year.

Ready to achieve your target LSAT score with expert guidance?

Schedule your free consultation with LawPrep180 today. Work one-on-one with a 99th percentile scorer who will create a personalized study plan, teach you advanced strategies, and provide ongoing support. With over 15 years of experience helping students reach their goals, LawPrep180 knows exactly what it takes to turn your current score into the number you need for your dream law school.