A single LSAT score falls within a range of scores which an applicant would likely earn if s/he retook the test. For example, if you scored a 159 on the LSAT and then retook the test, you would likely score between a 156 and a 162. Law schools take these ranges into consideration when choosing applicants and you should take this into consideration when choosing law schools.
In the chart below you will see schools grouped together by median LSAT score with group 1 being the highest LSAT score and group 32 being the lowest LSAT score. If you think about these groups as your options when setting your expectations, you can reduce some of the stress out of the application process.
Lets use our 159 LSAT score for an example. A 159 falls into group 14. Group 14 is now the base for selecting your match schools. There are only nine schools in group 14 so you don't have many options; however, you should expand your match schools up two groups to include groups 13 and 12 and then down two groups to include 15 and 16. Now you have 52 schools that would be a likely match school for you based on your LSAT score. You can now expect schools in groups 11 through 1 to be reach schools and schools in groups 17 through 32 to be safety schools.
Although there are always exceptions to this method, it is a useful tool when you are in the initial stages of researching law schools in order for you to help set your expectations during the application process. After you set your expectations and goals you enter a whole other phase of the admissions process and any importance you place on a school's median LSAT score should diminish.
Group
|
School
|
Bottom 25%
|
Median
|
Top 75%
|
1
|
Harvard University
|
170
|
173
|
175
|
1
|
Yale University
|
170
|
173
|
176
|
2
|
Columbia University
|
169
|
171
|
173
|
2
|
Stanford University
|
169
|
171
|
173
|
3
|
Chicago, University of
|
166
|
170
|
172
|
3
|
New York University
|
168
|
170
|
172
|
4
|
Duke University
|
165
|
169
|
170
|
4
|
Pennsylvania, University of
|
165
|
169
|
171
|
4
|
Virginia, University of
|
164
|
169
|
170
|
5
|
Georgetown University
|
163
|
168
|
169
|
5
|
Michigan, University of
|
165
|
168
|
170
|
5
|
Northwestern University
|
161
|
168
|
171
|
6
|
California-Berkeley, University of
|
163
|
167
|
169
|
6
|
California-Los Angeles, University of
|
162
|
167
|
169
|
6
|
Cornell University
|
165
|
167
|
167
|
6
|
Vanderbilt University
|
163
|
167
|
169
|
7
|
Southern California, University of
|
163
|
166
|
167
|
7
|
Texas At Austin, University of
|
163
|
166
|
168
|
7
|
Washington University
|
160
|
166
|
167
|
8
|
Boston University
|
161
|
165
|
166
|
8
|
Emory University
|
157
|
165
|
166
|
8
|
George Washington University
|
159
|
165
|
167
|
9
|
Alabama, University of
|
157
|
164
|
166
|
9
|
Boston College
|
160
|
164
|
165
|
9
|
California-Irvine, University of
|
162
|
164
|
166
|
9
|
Minnesota, University of
|
156
|
164
|
167
|
9
|
Washington And Lee University
|
160
|
164
|
165
|
9
|
Washington, University of
|
161
|
164
|
165
|
9
|
William And Mary Law School
|
161
|
164
|
165
|
10
|
Fordham University
|
161
|
163
|
165
|
10
|
Georgia, University of
|
158
|
163
|
164
|
10
|
Notre Dame, University of
|
160
|
163
|
165
|
11
|
Arizona State University
|
158
|
162
|
164
|
11
|
California-Davis, University of
|
159
|
162
|
164
|
11
|
Colorado, University of
|
158
|
162
|
164
|
11
|
Indiana University - Bloomington
|
154
|
162
|
164
|
11
|
Southern Methodist University
|
157
|
162
|
163
|
11
|
Wake Forest University
|
157
|
162
|
164
|
12
|
Brigham Young University
|
158
|
161
|
164
|
12
|
George Mason University
|
157
|
161
|
163
|
12
|
Iowa, University of
|
158
|
161
|
163
|
12
|
North Carolina, University of
|
159
|
161
|
163
|
12
|
Northeastern University
|
153
|
161
|
162
|
12
|
Richmond, University of
|
157
|
161
|
163
|
12
|
Wisconsin, University of
|
156
|
161
|
163
|
13
|
Arizona, University of
|
155
|
160
|
163
|
13
|
Baylor University
|
156
|
160
|
162
|
13
|
Cardozo School of Law
|
156
|
160
|
162
|
13
|
Florida, University of
|
156
|
160
|
162
|
13
|
Houston, University of
|
157
|
160
|
162
|
13
|
Illinois, University of
|
157
|
160
|
163
|
13
|
Ohio State University
|
157
|
160
|
162
|
13
|
Pepperdine University
|
154
|
160
|
162
|
13
|
Temple University
|
156
|
160
|
162
|
13
|
Tulane University
|
156
|
160
|
162
|
14
|
Brooklyn Law School
|
157
|
159
|
161
|
14
|
California-Hastings, University of
|
155
|
159
|
163
|
14
|
Case Western Reserve University
|
155
|
159
|
161
|
14
|
Florida State University
|
157
|
159
|
161
|
14
|
Georgia State University
|
157
|
159
|
160
|
14
|
Loyola Marymount University-Los Angeles
|
156
|
159
|
161
|
14
|
Maryland, University of
|
154
|
159
|
162
|
14
|
San Diego, University of
|
156
|
159
|
161
|
14
|
Utah, University of
|
155
|
159
|
161
|
15
|
Chapman University
|
155
|
158
|
160
|
15
|
Chicago-Kent College of Law
|
153
|
158
|
159
|
15
|
Cincinnati, University of
|
155
|
158
|
159
|
15
|
Connecticut, University of
|
154
|
158
|
160
|
15
|
Denver, University of
|
154
|
158
|
160
|
15
|
Lewis And Clark College
|
154
|
158
|
161
|
15
|
Loyola University-Chicago
|
155
|
158
|
160
|
15
|
Nevada - Las Vegas, University of
|
154
|
158
|
160
|
15
|
Oregon, University of
|
156
|
158
|
161
|
15
|
Penn State University
|
154
|
158
|
160
|
15
|
Pittsburgh, University of
|
154
|
158
|
161
|
15
|
Rutgers University-Camden
|
154
|
158
|
160
|
16
|
American University
|
153
|
157
|
159
|
16
|
Hawaii, University of
|
155
|
157
|
159
|
16
|
Kentucky, University of
|
154
|
157
|
160
|
16
|
Miami, University of
|
155
|
157
|
160
|
16
|
Michigan State University
|
152
|
157
|
159
|
16
|
Missouri, University of
|
155
|
157
|
160
|
16
|
New Hampshire University of
|
153
|
157
|
159
|
16
|
Oklahoma, University of
|
155
|
157
|
159
|
16
|
Rutgers University-Newark
|
154
|
157
|
159
|
16
|
Santa Clara University
|
155
|
157
|
160
|
16
|
Seton Hall University
|
152
|
157
|
159
|
16
|
Tennessee, University of
|
153
|
157
|
160
|
16
|
Villanova University
|
153
|
157
|
160
|
16
|
Wayne State University
|
153
|
157
|
159
|
17
|
Florida International University
|
151
|
156
|
158
|
17
|
Kansas, University of
|
153
|
156
|
159
|
17
|
Louisiana State University
|
153
|
156
|
159
|
17
|
Nebraska, University of
|
152
|
156
|
159
|
17
|
Seattle University
|
153
|
156
|
158
|
17
|
St. John's University
|
153
|
156
|
158
|
18
|
Belmont University
|
152
|
155
|
159
|
18
|
Drexel University
|
152
|
155
|
157
|
18
|
Louisville, University of
|
152
|
155
|
157
|
18
|
Maine, University of
|
152
|
155
|
158
|
18
|
Marquette University
|
151
|
155
|
157
|
18
|
Mississippi, University of
|
152
|
155
|
157
|
18
|
Saint Louis University
|
151
|
155
|
158
|
18
|
South Carolina, University of
|
153
|
155
|
158
|
18
|
St. Thomas, University of (Minnesota)
|
150
|
155
|
159
|
18
|
Syracuse University
|
152
|
155
|
156
|
18
|
Texas Tech University
|
152
|
155
|
158
|
18
|
Tulsa, University of
|
152
|
155
|
158
|
19
|
Arkansas, Fayetteville, University of
|
152
|
154
|
157
|
19
|
Buffalo-SUNY, University of
|
150
|
154
|
158
|
19
|
Catholic University of America
|
151
|
154
|
157
|
19
|
City University of New York
|
153
|
154
|
157
|
19
|
DePaul University
|
151
|
154
|
156
|
19
|
Gonzaga University
|
152
|
154
|
156
|
19
|
Hofstra University
|
151
|
154
|
157
|
19
|
Indiana University - Indianapolis
|
150
|
154
|
157
|
19
|
McGeorge School of Law
|
151
|
154
|
159
|
19
|
Montana, University of
|
151
|
154
|
157
|
19
|
New Mexico, University of
|
151
|
154
|
158
|
19
|
Quinnipiac University
|
151
|
154
|
157
|
19
|
Stetson University
|
152
|
154
|
158
|
19
|
William Mitchell College of Law
|
149
|
154
|
157
|
20
|
Akron, University Of
|
150
|
153
|
156
|
20
|
Albany Law School of Union University
|
150
|
153
|
156
|
20
|
Drake University
|
149
|
153
|
158
|
20
|
Hamline University
|
149
|
153
|
156
|
20
|
Memphis, University of
|
151
|
153
|
155
|
20
|
Regent University
|
150
|
153
|
157
|
20
|
San Francisco, University of
|
151
|
153
|
158
|
20
|
Washburn University
|
149
|
153
|
155
|
20
|
West Virginia University
|
151
|
153
|
157
|
21
|
Baltimore, University of
|
150
|
152
|
155
|
21
|
Campbell University
|
151
|
152
|
156
|
21
|
Cleveland State University
|
150
|
152
|
155
|
21
|
Creighton University
|
149
|
152
|
155
|
21
|
Duquesne University
|
150
|
152
|
155
|
21
|
Idaho, University of
|
148
|
152
|
156
|
21
|
Mercer University
|
148
|
152
|
154
|
21
|
Missouri-Kansas City, University of
|
150
|
152
|
155
|
21
|
Northern Kentucky University
|
149
|
152
|
155
|
21
|
Southwestern Law School
|
150
|
152
|
155
|
21
|
Texas A&M University
|
150
|
152
|
155
|
21
|
Toledo, University of
|
148
|
152
|
155
|
22
|
Savannah Law School
|
148
|
151
|
155
|
22
|
Arkansas, Little Rock, University of
|
147
|
151
|
155
|
22
|
California Western School of Law
|
148
|
151
|
154
|
22
|
Detroit Mercy, University of
|
147
|
151
|
156
|
22
|
Howard University
|
148
|
151
|
154
|
22
|
Liberty University
|
148
|
151
|
155
|
22
|
Loyola University-New Orleans
|
147
|
151
|
154
|
22
|
New York Law School
|
149
|
151
|
153
|
22
|
Pace University
|
147
|
151
|
153
|
22
|
South Texas College of Law
|
148
|
151
|
154
|
22
|
St. Mary’s University
|
148
|
151
|
153
|
22
|
Vermont Law School
|
147
|
151
|
155
|
22
|
Willamette University
|
148
|
151
|
154
|
22
|
Wyoming, University of
|
149
|
151
|
155
|
23
|
Charleston School of Law
|
146
|
150
|
153
|
23
|
Elon University
|
146
|
150
|
153
|
23
|
Golden Gate University
|
147
|
150
|
153
|
23
|
Northern Illinois University
|
146
|
150
|
153
|
23
|
Ohio Northern University
|
145
|
150
|
152
|
23
|
Samford University
|
148
|
150
|
155
|
23
|
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
|
147
|
150
|
153
|
23
|
Western State College of Law
|
148
|
150
|
152
|
23
|
Widener University-Delaware
|
147
|
150
|
152
|
24
|
District of Columbia
|
147
|
149
|
152
|
24
|
John Marshall Law School - Atlanta
|
146
|
149
|
152
|
24
|
John Marshall Law School - Chicago
|
146
|
149
|
152
|
24
|
Mississippi College
|
145
|
149
|
153
|
24
|
New England Law | Boston
|
145
|
149
|
153
|
24
|
Nova Southeastern University
|
146
|
149
|
152
|
24
|
Oklahoma City University
|
145
|
149
|
153
|
24
|
Roger Williams University
|
146
|
149
|
154
|
24
|
Suffolk University
|
145
|
149
|
153
|
24
|
Western New England University
|
145
|
149
|
152
|
24
|
Whittier Law School
|
145
|
149
|
152
|
25
|
Capital University
|
145
|
148
|
151
|
25
|
Dayton, University of
|
145
|
148
|
150
|
25
|
Massachusetts Dartmouth, University of
|
145
|
148
|
151
|
25
|
North Dakota, University of
|
145
|
148
|
153
|
25
|
Touro College
|
145
|
148
|
150
|
25
|
Widener University-Harrisburg
|
145
|
148
|
151
|
26
|
Barry University
|
145
|
147
|
151
|
26
|
La Verne, University of
|
146
|
147
|
152
|
26
|
South Dakota, University of
|
144
|
147
|
150
|
26
|
St. Thomas University (Florida)
|
145
|
147
|
150
|
27
|
Ave Maria School of Law
|
141
|
146
|
148
|
27
|
Faulkner University
|
142
|
146
|
151
|
27
|
Florida A&M University
|
144
|
146
|
150
|
27
|
Thomas Jefferson School of Law
|
143
|
146
|
149
|
28
|
Appalachian School of Law
|
143
|
145
|
149
|
28
|
North Carolina Central University
|
142
|
145
|
149
|
28
|
Puerto Rico, University of
|
142
|
145
|
149
|
28
|
Thomas M. Cooley Law School
|
141
|
145
|
150
|
29
|
Arizona Summit Law School
|
141
|
144
|
148
|
29
|
Charlotte School of Law
|
141
|
144
|
149
|
29
|
Florida Coastal School of Law
|
141
|
144
|
148
|
29
|
Southern University
|
142
|
144
|
148
|
29
|
Texas Southern University
|
141
|
144
|
147
|
30
|
Valparaiso University
|
141
|
143
|
148
|
31
|
Inter American University Of Puerto Rico
|
135
|
138
|
142
|
32
|
Pontifical Catholic University Of P.R.
|
132
|
135
|
139
|
