"What's a good LSAT score?" is the wrong question — or rather, it's an incomplete one. A good score is whatever score gets you into the schools on your list with the scholarship money you need. A 160 is a great score for one applicant and a retake trigger for another. This guide breaks the 120–180 scale into competitive tiers, shows what the top schools actually expect, and helps you set a target score grounded in real admissions data.
The Honest Answer: Good = At or Above Your Target Schools' Medians
Every ABA-approved law school publishes its entering class's 25th, 50th (median), and 75th percentile LSAT scores in its ABA Standard 509 disclosure. Your goal is simple: score at or above the median of the schools you most want to attend.
Why the median specifically? Law schools report medians to rankings like U.S. News, so medians drive their institutional incentives. An applicant at the median helps the school's numbers; an applicant below the 25th percentile hurts them unless something else in the application compensates. Scoring at or above the median doesn't guarantee admission, but it puts you in the strongest possible position.
LSAT Score Tiers
| Tier | Score Range | Approx. Percentile | What It Opens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elite | 170–180 | ~95th–99.9th | T14 contention, major merit scholarships elsewhere |
| Excellent | 165–169 | ~85th–93rd | Top 30 schools, strong scholarship leverage |
| Competitive | 160–164 | ~71st–83rd | Strong regional and Tier 1 schools |
| Solid | 155–159 | ~54th–71st | Many ABA schools, some scholarship money |
| Below median | 150–154 | ~37th–54th | Admission possible, uphill at ranked schools |
| Retake zone | Below 150 | Below ~37th | Seriously consider more prep and a retake |
Percentiles are approximate, based on LSAC's 2023–2026 data. For the full percentile table, see LSAT scoring explained.
170+: The T14 Tier
A 170 puts you around the 95th percentile; 172+ pushes past the 97th. This is the range where the top 14 law schools become realistic targets. But be clear-eyed: at schools like Yale (174 median), Harvard (174), Chicago (174), and Stanford (173), a 170 is the floor of competitiveness, not a comfortable admit score. In this tier, every point matters enormously — the difference between 170 and 173 can be the difference between a waitlist and an acceptance with money.
165–169: The Top-30 Tier
An 85th–93rd percentile score makes you a strong candidate at excellent schools outside the very top — think schools ranked roughly 15–30 nationally, plus serious scholarship offers from strong regional programs. Many applicants in this band face the best dilemma in law school admissions: a near-full ride at a great regional school versus sticker price at a T14.
160–164: The Strong Regional Tier
Around the 71st–83rd percentile. This range opens the doors to well-regarded Tier 1 schools and flagship state universities. For applicants targeting a specific legal market — practicing in their home state, for example — a low-160s score paired with a strong GPA is often more than enough.
155–159: The Solid Tier
The 54th–71st percentile. You'll get into law school — there are ABA-accredited schools admitting across this entire range — but merit scholarships thin out and the most selective programs are out of reach. If your diagnostic is here and your goals are higher, this is exactly the band where structured prep pays for itself LSAT prep.
What the T14 Actually Expects (2026 Medians)
T14 medians cluster tightly. Here are the most recent reported medians (LSD.law, September 2026):
| School | Median LSAT |
|---|---|
| Yale | 174 |
| Harvard | 174 |
| Chicago | 174 |
| Stanford | 173 |
| Columbia | 173 |
| Penn | 173 |
| UVA | 173 |
| NYU | 172 |
Across the T14, medians run roughly 169 to 174 — about the 93rd to 99th percentile. Fewer than 7–8% of all LSAT takers nationally score 168 or above. Two things to remember: the median is not a cutoff (roughly half of admitted students scored below it), and if your score falls at or above a school's 25th percentile with a strong GPA, you have a legitimate shot.
How to Set Your Target Score
- List your schools. Write down 5–10 realistic targets plus 2–3 reaches.
- Look up each school's median in its ABA 509 report.
- Set your target at the highest median on your list. If your dream school's median is 168, your target is 168 — not 165.
- Add a cushion for your diagnostic. If you're diagnostic-testing at 155 with three months to prep, a 10-point gain is ambitious but achievable with the right program. A 15-point gain is possible but rare.
- Factor in scholarships. Merit aid is heavily LSAT-driven. Even if you'd get in with a 163, a 167 might be worth tens of thousands in scholarship money. The LSAT has the highest ROI of any test you'll ever take.
The 170 Cliff
Look at the percentile table again: moving from 165 to 170 moves you from roughly the top 15% to the top 5% of test takers. That five-point span contains the densest concentration of high-ability competition on the entire scale, and it's where admissions outcomes swing hardest — the difference between a rejection and a full ride. If you're scoring in the high 160s on practice tests, squeezing out those last few points is the single highest-value studying you can do.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a 160 a good LSAT score?
It depends entirely on your goals. A 160 (about the 71st percentile) is a strong score for most regional and Tier 1 schools. It's below the median at every T14 school. Define "good" against your school list, not in the abstract.
What LSAT score do I need for a full scholarship?
There's no fixed number, but merit scholarships flow to applicants above a school's 75th percentile LSAT. At many strong regional schools, a score in the high 160s can unlock substantial — sometimes full-tuition — awards. Retaking to cross a school's 75th percentile is often worth five figures.
Is a 155 good enough for law school?
Yes — a 155 (about the 54th percentile) will get you into many ABA-accredited law schools. Whether it's "good enough" depends on which schools and how much debt you're willing to take on. Scholarship money is thinner in this band.
Do law schools care about my percentile or my score?
They report and compare the scaled score (120–180). The percentile is context for you; the score is what goes on their 509 reports. That said, they understand exactly what each score means competitively.
Should I retake a 168?
If your target schools' medians are 170+, and you believe you left points on the table (bad test day, under-preparation in one section), a retake can be worth it. Schools see all your scores but generally focus on the highest. Don't retake without a concrete plan to fix what went wrong the first time LSAT study schedule 3 month.
What score do I need for Yale?
Yale's median is 174 (about the 98th percentile), and it's the most selective law school in the country. Realistically, 173+ with an exceptional overall application. Even then, most 174+ scorers don't get in — Yale rejects the majority of its highest-scoring applicants.
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