What Is a Good LSAT Score? Percentiles and Targets for 2026
A good LSAT score is the one that clears your target schools' medians. On the 120 to 180 scale the median is about 152; here is what 160, 165, and 170 mean in percentiles and admissions.
A good LSAT score is the one that clears the medians at the schools you are aiming for, so there is no single cutoff. On the 120 to 180 scale, the median is about 152, a 160 sits near the 73rd percentile, a 165 near the 87th, and a 170 near the 95th. What counts as good for you comes down to your target schools and your GPA.
What is the average LSAT score?
The average LSAT score is about 151, and the median is roughly 152, which puts the middle of the field in the low 150s. Around 70 percent of test-takers score between 140 and 160, so most results cluster in that range, and scores above 170 are reached by only a small share of test-takers.
The scale runs from 120 to 180 in whole numbers, with no fractions. Your raw score, the number of questions you answered correctly out of about 76 scored questions, converts to that scale through an equating curve that adjusts for how hard your particular form was. For how that conversion works, see the score conversion guide.
LSAT score percentiles
A percentile tells you the share of test-takers who scored below you, which is the cleanest way to read what a score means because it does not depend on any one school. The table below uses LSAC percentile data aggregated over the 2022 to 2025 testing years. Percentiles shift slightly year to year, so treat these as close approximations rather than fixed values.
| Scaled score | Percentile (2022-2025) | Rough admissions context |
|---|---|---|
| 150 | ~38th | around the average band; many regional and part-time programs |
| 155 | ~56th | just above the midpoint of the field |
| 160 | ~73rd | competitive at a range of regional and top-100 schools |
| 165 | ~87th | competitive for many schools outside the very top |
| 170 | ~95th | the T14 range, near or above many of their medians |
| 175 | ~99th | competitive almost anywhere |
Source: LSAC LSAT percentile data, 2022-2025 testing years. Percentiles are based on the most recent three testing years and shift slightly over time.
What counts as a good score for your schools
The number that matters most is each school's median LSAT, which every ABA-accredited school publishes in its ABA 509 disclosure. If your score is at or above a school's median, you are competitive there on the LSAT; below it, the rest of your application has to do more work. A 165 is an excellent score against the field and a below-median score at a handful of the very top schools, which is why good only means something next to a target.
The benchmark that matters. A school's median LSAT, from its ABA 509 report, is the number to compare against. At or above it, your score helps you; below it, the rest of your file has to carry more.
A good score by school tier
As a rough map, here is how scores line up with school tiers. These are general bands, not promises, and they move with each year's applicant pool.
- Top 14 schools: roughly 170 and up puts you at or above many of their medians.
- Schools ranked about 15 to 50: the mid-160s are competitive at many of them.
- Top-100 and strong regional schools: around 160 is competitive at a wide range.
- Merit aid: clearing a school's 75th-percentile score, often a few points above its median, is what tends to pull scholarship money.
Good for the test vs good for you
A score in the 160s is a strong result against the field. Whether it is good for your plan is a separate question, and it comes down to two things: where you want to go and your GPA. A high GPA can offset a score a point or two under a school's median, while a lower GPA usually means you want to be at or above it.
This is where real odds beat a single cutoff. ScoreGap's admissions probability calculator estimates your chances at 195 ABA-accredited schools from your LSAT and GPA using official ABA 509 data, and the score prediction guide covers how to read where your practice scores are heading before test day. Both are estimates of competitiveness, not guarantees.
If you are still studying, the useful target is the median of your top-choice schools, not a percentile. Find that number, then work back to the practice score you need, and if you land short, a retake may be worth it. To see what each individual score means in raw-count and percentile terms, the score guide for 120 to 180 breaks it down point by point.
Score range and scoring details from LSAC; school medians come from each school's ABA 509 disclosure and change yearly.
FAQs
What is a good LSAT score?
A good score is one at or above the median LSAT of the schools you are targeting. As a general benchmark on the 120 to 180 scale, the median is about 152, a 160 is near the 73rd percentile, and anything from the mid-160s up is competitive at most schools. The right number for you depends on your target schools and GPA.
What is the average LSAT score?
The average is about 151 and the median is roughly 152, so the middle of the field sits in the low 150s. About 70 percent of test-takers score between 140 and 160, and scores above 170 are rare.
Is 160 a good LSAT score?
A 160 is above average, around the 73rd percentile, so you scored higher than roughly 73 percent of test-takers. It is competitive at a wide range of regional and top-100 schools and below median at the very top programs. Whether it is good for you depends on your target schools' medians.
What LSAT score do I need for a T14 law school?
The top-14 schools report medians mostly in the 170 to 175 range, so a score around 170 or above puts you near or above many of their medians. Below that, a strong GPA and the rest of your application carry more weight. Check each school's current ABA 509 median for the exact target.
Is 170 a good LSAT score?
Yes. A 170 is about the 95th percentile, so you scored higher than roughly 95 percent of test-takers, and it sits in the range of many top-14 medians. It is a strong score for almost any school, though the most competitive programs still weigh GPA and the full application.