Average LSAT Score
"Average" depends on who you mean. The average test taker scores about 151–152, but the average law school has a median around 160. Both numbers are real — they just describe different groups. Here is what the data actually shows.
Two different averages
| What you are averaging | Approximate average | Source / basis |
|---|---|---|
| All LSAT test takers | 151–152 | LSAC national mean (first-time ~151) |
| All 196 ABA schools' median LSAT | 159.6 | Mean of each school's median, from ABA 509 data (range 139–175) |
Why the two numbers differ
The national average includes everyone who sits for the LSAT — including people who never apply to law school and those still building up to their target score. A law school's median, by contrast, reflects only the students that school admits and enrolls: a self-selected, higher-scoring group. So it is normal, and expected, for school medians to sit above the test-taker average.
Average LSAT by law school (representative range)
Where the 196 ABA schools fall across the LSAT scale, from the lowest median to the highest.
| School | State | Median LSAT |
|---|---|---|
| Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico | PR | 139 |
| Ave Maria School of Law | FL | 155 |
| University of Kentucky | KY | 159 |
| Wayne State University | MI | 164 |
| Washington University (St. Louis) | MO | 175 |
The median school sits at about 159, while the national test-taker average is 151–152.
What this means for your target score
If your goal is simply "around average," a 151–152 puts you in the middle of all test takers. But because schools admit from the top of the score distribution, a score near the national average lands below most schools' medians. To be a median applicant at a typical ABA school you generally need to clear ~160; the most selective schools sit far higher. Use each school's median — not the national average — as your benchmark.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions
What is the average LSAT score?
Among all LSAT test takers, the average score is about 151–152 (LSAC reports a first-time-taker mean near 151 and an overall test-taker mean around 152). That is the score an "average" test taker earns — well below what most law schools' entering classes post.
What is the average LSAT score for law schools?
Across all 196 ABA-accredited schools, the average of their median LSAT scores is about 160 (the mean of each school's median, computed from ABA 509 data). Individual school medians range from 139 at the lowest to 175 at the highest.
Why is the average law school median higher than the national average?
The two numbers measure different groups. The national average (~151–152) includes everyone who takes the LSAT, including those who never enroll. A school's median reflects only the students it actually admits and enrolls — a self-selected, higher-scoring group — so school medians naturally sit above the test-taker average.
Is 150 a good LSAT score?
A 150 is right around the national test-taker average, but below the median of nearly every ABA-accredited law school (the typical school median is about 160). It can be enough for admission at less selective schools; for most ranked programs you would want to score above their published median. See the "good LSAT score" guide for school-by-school context.
What LSAT score is considered average?
If you mean the typical test taker, 151–152. If you mean the typical law school's entering class, about 160 (the average of ABA school medians). They are not the same number, and the distinction matters when you set a target score.
Related pages
- What Is a Good LSAT Score? — how scores compare to school medians
- LSAT Score Range by Law School — the 25th–75th LSAT range at all 196 schools
- LSAT Percentiles Chart (120–180) — where any score ranks
- Law Schools Ranked by Median LSAT