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Last Updated on August 1, 2024
The American Bar Association officially decided to allow law schools to accept the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) in December 2021. So, you may be wondering what is a good GRE score for law school.
In this article, you’ll learn what kinds of GRE scores law schools want to see and get answers to some common questions about submitting GRE scores in law school applications.
Here’s what we’ll cover:
- How Law Schools Evaluate GRE Scores
- What Are Good GRE Scores for Law School?
- GRE for Law School FAQs
- GRE Scores for Law School: Key Takeaways
- What’s Next?
To start, let’s discuss how law schools evaluate GRE scores.
How Law Schools Evaluate GRE Scores
Given that the GRE is a relative newcomer to the law school admissions process, there isn’t much information yet about specific GRE scores that various schools look for from students. For example, for other types of graduate school programs that have been accepting the GRE for many years, you can often find average GRE score and GRE score range information in class profiles published on the program websites. So, you can see what kinds of GRE scores admitted students have.
For law schools, the score information you find in class profiles, at this point, is likely to be related to the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). And at this point, law schools tend to evaluate GRE scores based on how they stack up against LSAT scores. Of course, the GRE and LSAT are very different tests. So, there is no 1:1 comparison between numerical GRE and LSAT scores. In other words, a 167 on the LSAT is not the same as a 167 on, for instance, GRE Verbal.
KEY FACT:
There is no 1:1 comparison between numerical GRE and LSAT scores.
The Importance of Percentile Rankings
Because numerical scores are not equivalent between the LSAT and GRE, law schools use score percentile rankings as the basis for comparison. So, you’ll want to use percentile rankings to set your score goals.
For example, Georgetown Law states that its median LSAT is 167, which falls within the 94th to 95th percentile. So, Georgetown considers GRE scores that fall within the 94th to 95th percentile competitive (i.e., comparable to the median LSAT score of its admitted students). Incidentally, GRE scores that fall within the 94th to 95th percentile are 164-165 for Verbal and 169-170 for Quant, for a total GRE score of 333-335. (Note that the maximum possible GRE total score is 340. The maximum possible LSAT score is 180.)
KEY FACT:
Law schools use score percentile rankings to compare GRE and LSAT scores.
So, what does this method of comparing percentiles indicate about what good GRE scores for law school are? Let’s discuss.
What Are Good GRE Scores for Law School?
Generally speaking, good GRE scores for law school will be scores that at least match the percentile rankings of the median LSAT score of the school’s most recent incoming class. So, as we saw with our earlier Georgetown Law example, if the median LSAT score at the school you’re interested in falls in the 94th to 95th percentile, then GRE scores in the 94th to 95th percentile are considered roughly equivalent.
KEY FACT:
Generally speaking, good GRE scores for law school will be scores that at least match the percentile rankings of the median LSAT score of the most recent incoming class.
Of course, depending on the other aspects of your applicant profile (GPA, recommendations, etc.), you may want to shoot for GRE scores in percentile ranges that beat the median LSAT percentile. For instance, if your GPA is lower than the median at a program you’re interested in, test scores that beat the median could help compensate for that weak point.
School-Reported Score Data
Here is some good news: law schools report not only median LSAT scores but also 25th percentile and 75th percentile LSAT scores. This variety of score data makes determining what GRE score to shoot for even easier.
Keep in mind that school-reported percentiles are not the same as the LSAT score percentile rankings. A school-reported 25th percentile tells you that 25% of admitted students scored below the indicated LSAT score. The 75th percentile tells you that 75% of admitted students scored below the indicated score. So, 25% of admitted students scored at or above the 75th percentile score.
As an example, let’s look at the LSAT data Cornell Law reported for its class of 2024:
Median LSAT: 171 (roughly 98th LSAT percentile rank)
25%: 169 (roughly 96th LSAT percentile rank)
75%: 173 (roughly 99th LSAT percentile rank)
If you were shooting to at least match the class median of a 98th percentile score, you’d aim for a GRE score of 167-168 in Verbal and 170 in Quant.
However, let’s say your GPA falls slightly below the Cornell class median. In that case, a smart play would be to bring your GRE Verbal score up to the 169-170 range, to match the 99th percentile LSAT score associated with the top 25% of LSAT scores of Cornell’s admitted students.
The 75th Percentile Benchmark
In general, if you achieve GRE scores whose percentiles match those of the LSAT scores falling between a class median and 75th percentile scores, all else equal, you will probably be considered a solidly competitive applicant. You might call that a “very good” GRE score for a school. On the other hand, a score that matches the median could be considered just a “good” score.
If your GRE score percentiles match or exceed that of the LSAT score associated with a class’s 75th percentile, all else equal, you will probably be considered very competitive. You might call that a “great” GRE score for a school. Keep in mind that if your GPA is on the low end, you’ll probably want your GRE scores to be in that “great” category.
It’s important to note that, at this stage, even equating GRE and LSAT percentile rankings still involves some rough math. So, if you’re unsure about what GRE score you should target for a particular program, it doesn’t hurt to give admissions a call to gain some direct insight into what GRE scores they’re looking for.
Good GRE Scores for Top Law Schools
Just as schools vary widely in what they consider good LSAT scores, law schools have varied standards for what they consider good GRE scores. That said, good GRE scores for top law schools tend to fall within a fairly tight range.
For example, let’s say you’re interested in T6 law schools (the top 6 law schools as ranked by U.S. News & World Report). Here are the median LSAT scores reported for the 2022 T6:
- Yale Law School: 174
- Stanford Law School: 172
- Harvard Law School: 174
- Columbia Law School: 174
- University of Chicago Law School: 172
- NYU School of Law: 172
Notice a pattern? The most recent incoming classes at the T6 law schools all have median LSAT scores of 172-174, which translates to the 98th to 99th percentile rank. In GRE terms, you’re looking at a score of 167+ in Verbal and 170 in Quant to hit equivalent percentile rankings.
KEY FACT:
The 2022 T6 law schools had median LSAT scores in the 98th to 99th percentile.
Of course, those are just medians. So, if your GPA is below the median or your application is weak in some other way, you’ll want to look at the 75th percentile LSAT scores reported by the schools and aim there. In other words, you’ll want to bump up your Verbal score (170 is already the highest possible Quant score).
Thus, the question becomes, do you need a 340 GRE for law school — i.e., a perfect score?
Do You Need a 340 GRE for Law School?
If you’re applying to T6 schools, it appears that a near-perfect GRE score will land you in the middle of the pack. Furthermore, if you’re set on T6 schools and you need to compensate for any weaknesses in your application, you should seriously consider aiming for a score as close to 340 as possible.
Of course, plenty of law schools — including highly ranked ones — do not expect perfect or near-perfect GRE scores from applicants. As we’ve already seen, Georgetown Law, which was ranked #15 by U.S. News & World Report in 2022, considers GRE scores in the 333-335 range competitive. Similarly, Boston University School of Law, ranked #20, has a median LSAT of 169 (roughly 96th percentile), which translates to a GRE score of approximately 335. Fordham University School of Law, ranked #35, has a median LSAT of 166 (roughly 91st to 92nd percentile), which translates to a GRE score of approximately 331.
So, once again, standards vary from school to school. And of course, your GPA and other aspects of your application play an important part in what sort of GRE score you’ll need to be a competitive candidate overall. But, if you’re planning to apply to law school with a GRE score, you shouldn’t worry that there is some sort of “unwritten rule” that you must have a 340 score to be admitted.
KEY FACT:
There is no “unwritten rule” that you must have a 340 GRE score for law school.
Looking for further guidance on using your GRE score to apply to law schools? Schedule a free consultation with a TTP GRE admissions expert today.
We now understand how to figure out what are considered good GRE scores for particular law schools. So, let’s answer some common questions about submitting GRE scores with law school applications.
GRE for Law School FAQs
Do you need to take the GRE for law school?
Generally speaking, law schools do not require multiple admissions tests from applicants. So, for the most part, JD programs will require either the LSAT or GRE (or possibly just the LSAT).
One exception may be dual or joint degree programs. Such programs sometimes require applicants to submit scores from more than one type of admissions test or specifically require, for instance, either a GRE or GMAT score. Columbia University’s Three-Year JD/MBA program, for example, does not consider an LSAT score sufficient for admission; either a GRE or GMAT score is required.
Regardless of what type of program you’re interested in, you should always check the individual program websites to confirm the testing requirements. Every school has its own requirements.
TTP PRO TIP:
Always check individual program websites to confirm a school’s testing requirements, because every school has its own requirements.
Do you have to submit GRE scores if you take the test?
GRE scores are not subject to the same kind of automatic reporting as LSAT scores.
LSAT scores are automatically sent to schools through the Credential Assembly Service (CAS), an online system administered by the Law School Admission Council that most American Bar Association-approved law schools require applicants to use to submit their application materials.
The GRE is administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS), which allows test-takers to choose exactly which GRE scores they send to schools, using a feature called ScoreSelect. So, if you take the GRE and are not satisfied with your score, you do not have to send that score to any schools. Furthermore, if you don’t send your score, schools will never know that you sat for the GRE.
Thus, it is totally up to you whether you submit GRE scores with your law school applications, regardless of whether you sit for the exam. (Check out this article to learn more about sending GRE scores.)
KEY FACT:
If you take the GRE and are not satisfied with your score, you do not have to send that score to any schools or inform schools that you ever sat for the GRE.
Is there a list of law schools that accept the GRE?
ETS, the maker of the GRE, maintains a list of law schools that accept the GRE for their JD programs. As of this writing, that list contains 80 law schools in the U.S. and one in China. Notably, most of the top 14 law schools in the U.S. and all of the top 6 are included in that list.
However, not every law school currently accepting the GRE is on the ETS list. Furthermore, the number of law schools accepting the GRE is still growing. Thus, you should consider the ETS list a starting point. The only way to know for sure whether schools accept GRE scores is to check the individual websites of the programs in which you’re interested.
Even if a school is on the ETS list, check the program website just to make sure the school’s GRE policy hasn’t changed. (You can link to the school websites directly from the ETS list.) Likewise, if you don’t see a school you’re interested in on the ETS list, don’t assume that the school does not accept the GRE. Confirm the current policy yourself.
KEY FACT:
Most of the top 10 and all of the top 5 law schools in the U.S. accept GRE scores.
Do law schools prefer GRE or LSAT scores?
When it comes to submitting LSAT or GRE scores, each law school has its own policies and preferences. So, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of whether law schools prefer to see GRE or LSAT scores. The LSAT is the long-established “standard” admissions test used by law schools. However, many law schools are hoping to broaden their applicant pools by accepting the GRE, and thus they’re welcoming GRE-takers with open arms.
Fortunately, it is generally easy to find information about a particular program’s test requirements and preferences on the program’s website. For example, Georgetown Law explicitly states that it has no preference between the GRE and LSAT.
If you can’t find information about test preferences on a school’s website, or if you need clarification about something stated on a school website, don’t hesitate to email or call the folks in admissions. They’re there to help!
TTP PRO TIP:
Check individual program websites or contact admissions directly to determine whether the programs you’re interested in have particular test preferences.
Is the GRE or LSAT harder?
Some law school applicants may think that they can make the admissions process easier on themselves by taking the GRE instead of the LSAT. The fact is, whether you’re preparing for the GRE or the LSAT, a significant commitment of time and effort is required.
Both the GRE and LSAT are challenging in their own ways. Moreover, since the exams are quite different in much of the content they test and the ways they test concepts, trying to determine which exam is generally harder is like comparing apples to oranges. Furthermore, every test-taker has different strengths and weaknesses. So, what seems “hard” to one person may seem “easy” to another.
Thus, you need to determine which exam is harder FOR YOU. To that end, research the content and format of each exam. (Here is a helpful article on the GRE format to get you started.) You may also want to try a handful of LSAT and GRE practice questions of various types. That research may quickly clarify for you which exam will play to your strengths. However, if you’re still unsure which exam you’ll have the best chance of scoring highest on, take a free, official practice LSAT and a free, official practice GRE. The results of those exams should give you a clear picture of whether you’re better suited to the LSAT or GRE.
TTP PRO TIP:
To determine whether the LSAT or GRE is harder for you, try practice questions from each test.
Remember, both the GRE and LSAT are used for law school admissions, so neither is a walk in the park. After all, you don’t expect law school to be easy, right? That said, depending on your strengths, it’s quite possible that you’ll find one exam “easier” than the other.
GRE Scores for Law School: Key Takeaways
Here’s a quick rundown of key points to keep in mind when setting your GRE score goal for law school:
- Check class profiles on individual program websites for median test score information.
- Use score percentile rankings, not numerical scores, to determine your GRE score goal.
- Reach out to admissions if you’re unsure about what kinds of GRE scores will be competitive for a program.
- In general, a “good” GRE score at least matches in terms of percentile ranking a school’s LSAT median score.
- In general, a “very good” GRE score has a percentile ranking somewhere between that of a school’s LSAT median and that of the school’s 75th percentile LSAT score.
- In general, a “great” GRE score matches or exceeds the overall LSAT percentile ranking of a school’s 75th percentile LSAT score.
- GRE scores of V167+/Q170 equate to the 98th to 99th percentile rankings associated with median LSAT scores at T6 law schools.
- If your GPA is below the incoming class’s median, aim for a GRE percentile ranking above the class LSAT median.
What’s Next?
If you have decided that the GRE is the right test for you, you may want to check out this helpful guide to getting started with your GRE prep.
If you’re still not sure whether to take LSAT or GRE, this article can help.
Wondering what kinds of GRE scores you’d need for other types of graduate school programs? Check out the Grad Schools section of our blog.
