What Is a Good LSAT Score?
"Good" has no single number — it depends on the schools you are targeting. The most useful benchmark is each school's median LSAT: a score at or above a school's median makes you a stronger-than-average applicant there. Here is what the data actually shows across all 196 ABA-accredited schools.
What counts as a good LSAT score?
The median LSAT across all 196 ABA-accredited schools is 159. That is the score that makes you a middle-of-the-pack applicant at a typical law school. Above it, you are in the stronger half of the class; below it, the weaker half. For the most selective schools the bar is far higher — T14 medians run 171–174 — while many regional schools sit in the low 150s.
Good LSAT score by percentile
Where common scores land in LSAC's official distribution (2023-2024, 2024-2025, 2025-2026 (combined distribution)).
| LSAT score | Percentile |
|---|---|
| 150 | 36.6% |
| 155 | 54% |
| 160 | 71.1% |
| 165 | 85.2% |
| 170 | 94.5% |
A good score depends on the school
Representative schools across the LSAT spectrum — the median LSAT at each is the score that counts as "good" there.
| School | State | Median LSAT |
|---|---|---|
| Washington University (St. Louis) | MO | 175 |
| University of Colorado | CO | 164 |
| Texas Tech University | TX | 159 |
| The University of Akron | OH | 154 |
| Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico | PR | 139 |
How to set your target
Start from the schools you actually want to attend, then aim for at or above each one's median. A 165 is competitive at many ranked schools but below every T14 median; a 170 reaches the T14 but is well above what most regional schools expect. Use each school's full 25th–75th LSAT range to see where you would land, and treat "good" as a moving target defined by your own list — not a fixed cutoff.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions
What is a good LSAT score?
Good is relative to your target schools. The median LSAT across all 196 ABA-accredited schools is 159, so a 159 makes you a middle-of-the-pack applicant at a typical school. A 165+ is competitive at many ranked schools, and a 170+ reaches T14 territory (their medians run 171–174). The score that matters most is the one at or above your own target schools' medians.
What percentile is a good LSAT score?
In LSAC's 2023-2024, 2024-2025, 2025-2026 (combined distribution) distribution, a 160 is about the 71.1th percentile, 165 about the 85.2th, and 170 about the 94.5th. There is no single "good" percentile — it depends on where the schools you are targeting sit.
Is 165 a good LSAT score?
For most law schools, yes: 165 is about the 85.2th percentile and above the median of the typical ABA school. It falls short of T14 medians (171–174), so for the most selective schools you would want to score higher.
What is a competitive LSAT score?
Competitive means at or above your target schools' medians. Nationally, 165+ is competitive at many schools and 170+ at the T14. Check each school's published 25th–75th LSAT range rather than aiming for one universal number.
What is a good LSAT score for law school?
The same answer applies: it depends on the schools you apply to. Use each school's median LSAT as your benchmark — a score equal to a school's median makes you a median applicant there, and above it you are in the stronger half of the class.
Related pages
- LSAT Percentiles Chart (120–180) — where any score ranks
- LSAT Score Range by Law School — the 25th–75th LSAT range at all 196 schools
- Law Schools Ranked by Median LSAT — every school's median in one list
- Free LSAT & Law School Tools