LSAT Statistics: Understanding Test Taker Volumes and Applicant Percentiles
The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is a crucial step for aspiring law students. Understanding the statistics surrounding the LSAT, including the number of test-takers each year and the distribution of scores, is essential for navigating the law school application process. This article provides a comprehensive overview of LSAT statistics, focusing on test-taker volumes, applicant percentiles, and factors influencing admissions.
LSAT Test Taker Volume
Each year, a significant number of individuals take the LSAT. Approximately 100,000 people take the LSAT every year, but only about 70,000 people actually apply to law school. According to the Law School Admission Council (LSAC), the 2023-24 testing year saw the third-highest number of test takers in LSAC’s data set since 2001, with 155,070 LSATs administered. This represents a substantial increase of 17.7% over the previous year.
Historical Trends in LSAT Test Takers
LSAC resources provide open statistics related to law school admissions and test-taker data. There was a peak of students taking the LSAT from 2009-2010, with 171,514 test-takers in total. After 2010, there was a decline in test-takers for 5 straight years. The biggest decline was from 2011 to 2012, when numbers dropped by -16.2%, the largest negative change since 1987. In 2014 to 2015, the LSAC saw it’s absolute lowest numbers since the modern LSAT era. After those years of decline, in the 2015-2016 test period, there was an increase in test-takers by 4.1%. 105,883 students took the LSAT in that time.
Historical data indicates fluctuations in test-taker volume, influenced by various factors. For instance, the Great Recession's tail end in 2009-10 saw 171,896 LSATs administered. The following years experienced drop-offs of over 13%. Similarly, the 2020-21 cycle had 169,599 tests administered, a record increase of 35.7% year over year, followed by subsequent decreases.
LSAC data shows that the 2023-24 testing cycle saw the third-highest number of test administrations since 2001. Because of this, we can expect admissions to get more competitive.
Read also: Enrollment at Notre Dame
Factors Influencing LSAT Test Taker Volume
Several factors can influence the number of people taking the LSAT each year:
- Economic conditions: Economic downturns may lead more people to consider law school, resulting in increased test-taker volume.
- Political climate: Significant political events can motivate individuals to pursue legal education, impacting LSAT participation. For example, the 2016 presidential election influenced some students to apply to law school.
- Changes in LSAT format: Modifications to the LSAT, such as the removal of the analytical reasoning section, can affect test-taker interest and performance.
- Accessibility of the GRE: As more law schools accept the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE), some prospective students may opt for the GRE over the LSAT.
LSAT Scores and Admissions Competitiveness
With more test-takers, the number of testers with higher LSAT scores is likely to increase as well. In 2021, after the second-largest test administration recorded, a 170 was now a 25th percentile score.
LSAT Scores and Applicant Percentiles
Understanding the difference between LSAT test taker percentiles and applicant LSAT percentiles is crucial for law school applicants. LSAC shares LSAT percentile of all test takers in score reports, however, the article analyzes the highest LSAT score that applicants had when they applied.
The Distinction Between Test Takers and Applicants
About 100,000 people take the LSAT every year, but only about 70,000 people actually apply to law school. There are several reasons for this discrepancy:
- Multiple attempts: People often take the LSAT more than once, aiming for a higher score.
- Score performance: Individuals who score very low on the LSAT may choose not to apply to law school.
Impact on Percentiles
The distinction between test taker and applicant percentiles can significantly impact an applicant's perceived performance. For example, a US applicant who scored a 153 on the LSAT in 2022 would be in the ~50th percentile of LSAT takers over the past three years. However, that same applicant would need an LSAT score of ~177 to be in the 99th percentile of applicants.
Read also: A Look at Penn State's Enrollment Numbers
Applicant LSAT Percentiles
The effect is even worse at higher LSAT scores. A US applicant who scored a 172 on the LSAT in 2022 would be in the ~99th percentile of LSAT takers over the past three years.
In the 2022 school year, there were 5,379 US and Canadian applicants with a top score of 170 or better. In 2022 there were 4693 students in the 1L class of all the T14 schools combined.
The Importance of LSAT Score
Students are focusing more and more on the LSAT when applying to a US Law School over the past few years. Very few applicants get above a 177 on their first try at the LSAT, but many students work up to it after their first try. We know this is true because a higher percentage of students apply to law school with a 177 than score a 177. There are more applicants with a top score of 170 or better than there are spots at T14 law schools. This means two things: First, students with great LSAT scores don’t only go to T14 schools (T14 is not the only thing that matters). Second, the LSAT is not the only thing that matters (if you don’t do amazing on the LSAT you can still get into a T14 school).
Additional Factors in Law School Admissions
While the LSAT is a significant factor, it is not the only determinant of admission. Law schools consider a range of factors, including:
- GPA: A high GPA can offset a lower LSAT score, and vice versa. If you have a GPA above a law school’s 75th percentile then your LSAT score will matter less. If you have an LSAT score above a school’s 75th percentile then your GPA will matter less.
- Personal statements: These essays provide an opportunity to showcase your writing skills, experiences, and motivations for pursuing law.
- Letters of recommendation: Strong recommendations from professors or professionals can attest to your academic abilities and character.
- Extracurricular activities: Involvement in extracurriculars demonstrates leadership, teamwork, and commitment.
- Diversity and inclusion: Law schools strive to create diverse student bodies, considering factors such as race, ethnicity, gender, and socioeconomic background.
Rolling Admissions and Application Strategy
One thing to keep in mind is that most law schools use rolling admissions so it is important to apply early. One thing that people often forget is that you can take the LSAT again after you apply.
Read also: Analyzing Ole Miss Enrollment Trends
Trends in Law School Admissions
Legal education has faced changes in standards, policies, and legal practices. As schools navigated these changes during the 2024-25 cycle, candidates took the LSAT and applied to law school in record numbers.
Motivations for Attending Law School
During a record year for testing and applicants, individuals are motivated to pursue legal education, wanting to do good. Compared to 2023-24 test takers, 2024-25 test takers’ motivation to “help others” increased by about 20%, while their motivation to “advocate for social justice” increased by more than 30%.
Barriers to Law School
If admitted to their preferred law school, test takers say the top three barriers that would stop them from attending are (1) the overall cost of attendance, (2) not receiving sufficient financial aid, and (3) having to take out too many loans. Such financial concerns reverberated across test takers in the 2024-25 testing cycle. For example, when 2023-24 test takers were asked what would hold them back if they were admitted to their preferred law school, 30% reported nothing would stop them, but in the 2024-25 cycle, that rate dropped to only 18% - a decrease of 40% (or 12 percentage points). For example, if admitted to their preferred law school, 38% of test takers in 2023-24 reported that the total cost to attend would stop them from going, but this increased by 45% (or 17 percentage points) in 2024-25, with 55% of test takers reporting that the overall cost of attending their preferred law school would stop them from enrolling. These trends are significantly pronounced based on Pell Grant Status.
Retaking the LSAT
Deciding whether to retake the test is fraught; there is the hopeful promise of a higher score balanced against the reality of a considerable expenditure of time and money, not to mention the haunting possibility that one’s score might actually decrease.
Repeat Test-Takers
On average, LSAC tells us, repeat test-takers gain an average of 2.8 points on their second try, and 2.1 the third time.
LSAT Repeater Data
As you might expect, the people with the lowest scores were most likely to see their scores go up on a retake: 10,058 people who originally had a score of 141 or below (the bottom 15th percentile) retook the test, and 70% of them had their scores go up. By stark-and I do mean stark-contrast, 68 people with scores of 172 and above (the 99th percentile) retook, and only 37% of them saw their scores go up.
Recent Trends in LSAT Popularity
Just like boba tea, Chappel Roan, and Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce (i.e. Tayvis), it seems like the LSAT has been getting more popular in the past year. According to the Law School Admission Council (LSAC), there has been a steady increase in registered test takers recently.
Test-Takers This Year
The 2023-24 testing year had the third-highest number of test takers in LSAC’s data set (since 2001). 155,070 LSATs were administered, a massive increase of 17.7% over last year. In 2009-10, at the tail end of the Great Recession, there were 171,896 LSAT’s administered. In 2020-21, LSAC administered 169,599 tests, a record increase of 35.7% year over year. But each year after these record highs, there was a corresponding decrease in tests administered. After the 2009-10 testing year, the three following years all experienced drop-offs of over 13%. Given this, one might expect a similar drop in test-takers for the 2024-25 test administration, but this does not appear to be happening. We might see even further increases in LSAT takers and law school applications due to the current political climate and the result of the 2024 election. Subsequent surveys confirmed that the “Trump Bump,” was real. A significant proportion of students surveyed indicated that the 2016 presidential election influenced them to apply to law school.
LSAT Score Averages and Ranges
The typical LSAT score for 2022 law school enrollees was about 159, but top programs require scores in the 170-175 range.
National LSAT Scores of Full-Time, First-Year JD Student Enrollees, Fall 2022
| Percentile | All-School Average |
|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | 160.9 |
| 50th Percentile | 158.5 |
| 25th Percentile | 154.8 |
LSAT Scores by School
While the typical LSAT score is about 159, more selective universities may only accept much higher scores.
LSAT Score Ranges for Ivy League Law Schools
To gain admittance to an Ivy League law school, you should score in the 172-175 range. In addition to a stellar LSAT score, many Ivy League law schools also require near-perfect GPAs.
LSAT Scores and GPAs at Ivy League Law Schools, Fall 2022
| School | Median LSAT Score | 25th-75th Percentile | Median GPA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yale University | 175 | 171-178 | 3.94 |
| Harvard University | 174 | 170-176 | 3.92 |
| Columbia University | 173 | 171-175 | 3.87 |
| Cornell University | 172 | 170-174 | 3.87 |
| University of Pennsylvania (Carey) | 172 | 167-173 | 3.90 |
LSAT Scores for More Top Law Schools, Fall 2022
| School | Median LSAT Score | 25th-75th Percentile | Median GPA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stanford University | 173 | 170-176 | 3.92 |
| University of Chicago | 173 | 169-175 | 3.91 |
| New York University | 172 | 169-174 | 3.88 |
| Washington University in St. Louis | 172 | 164-173 | 3.94 |
| University of Virginia | 171 | 166-173 | 3.94 |
| University of California, Los Angeles | 171 | 166-172 | 3.90 |
| Northwestern University (Pritzker) | 171 | 166-172 | 3.89 |
| Georgetown University | 171 | 166-172 | 3.87 |
| University of Michigan, Ann Arbor | 171 | 166-172 | 3.83 |
| Duke University | 170 | 168-171 | 3.85 |
| University of California, Berkeley | 170 | 167-172 | 3.83 |
| Boston University | 170 | 164-171 | 3.84 |
| University of Texas, Austin | 170 | 166-171 | 3.84 |
| Vanderbilt University | 170 | 163-170 | 3.90 |
| University of Florida (Levin) | 169 | 162-170 | 3.90 |
| University of Southern California (Gould) | 168 | 165-169 | 3.87 |
| University of Georgia | 168 | 156-169 | 3.87 |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | 166 | 162-167 | 3.77 |
Law Schools With Average LSAT Scores, Fall 2022
| School | Median LSAT Score | 25th-75th Percentile | Acceptance Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Nebraska | 158 | 155-161 | 61% |
| University of Oregon | 158 | 155-161 | 55% |
| University of Kansas | 158 | 153-160 | 55% |
| University of Maine | 158 | 153-162 | 55% |
| University of Cincinnati | 158 | 156-161 | 45% |
| University of Hawaii | 157 | 155-160 | 30% |
| Louisiana State University | 157 | 154-159 | 53% |
| Hofstra University | 156 | 151-158 | 45% |
Law Schools With the Highest Acceptance Rates, Fall 2022
| School | Median LSAT Score | 25th-75th Percentile | Acceptance Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drake University | 154 | 151-157 | 71% |
| Creighton University | 153 | 149-157 | 68% |
| Capital University | 150 | 148-155 | 67% |
| University of South Dakota | 151 | 148-155 | 67% |
| University of Idaho | 152 | 149-156 | 67% |
| Widener University, Delaware | 150 | 148-152 | 66% |
| University of Akron | 153 | 151-156 | 63% |
| University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth | 152 | 147-154 | 59% |
| Willamette University | 154 | 151-156 | 59% |
| University of Baltimore | 154 | 151-157 | 57% |
| University of Arkansas, Little Rock | 152 | 150-156 | 56% |
| Campbell University | 154 | 152-158 | 56% |
| Duquesne University | 155 | 154-158 | 56% |
LSAT Takers by Gender and Race/Ethnicity
More women than men applied to law school every year since at least 2018. Almost 10,000 more women applied to law school than men in 2021. The gap slightly lessened in 2022 when roughly 8,000 more women than men applied to law school. Broken down by race/ethnicity, white folks make up the majority of applicants. Hispanic/Latino/a people make up the second-biggest group to apply to law school.
Key Considerations for Aspiring Law Students
- Prepare thoroughly: Focus on preparing for the LSAT as hard as possible. Find someone to keep you accountable and study.
- Understand applicant percentiles: Recognize the distinction between test taker and applicant percentiles to gauge your performance accurately.
- Consider multiple factors: Remember that law schools evaluate applicants holistically, considering GPA, personal statements, recommendations, and extracurriculars.
- Apply strategically: Apply early due to rolling admissions and consider retaking the LSAT to improve your score.
- Address financial concerns: Be aware of the rising costs of law school and explore financial aid options.
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