LSAC GPA Calculator
Calculate your LSAC GPA using the official Credential Assembly Service conversion scale. Enter your courses from all undergraduate transcripts to see your standardized law school admission GPA, including the A+ to 4.33 conversion that many institutions do not use.
Calculate Your LSAC GPA
Enter each course from all undergraduate transcripts. Select the letter grade and credit hours. Pass/fail courses are excluded from the LSAC GPA calculation.
Your LSAC GPA Results
Grade Distribution
What Is the LSAC GPA
The LSAC GPA is a standardized grade point average calculated by the Law School Admission Council as part of the Credential Assembly Service. Unlike the GPA printed on your undergraduate transcript, the LSAC GPA uses a uniform conversion scale applied consistently across all applicants, regardless of the grading policies at their undergraduate institutions. This creates a level playing field for law school admissions committees who must compare candidates from thousands of different colleges and universities.
The Law School Admission Council processes transcripts from every undergraduate institution an applicant attended and recalculates all grades using their standardized scale. This means the GPA you see on your CAS report may differ, sometimes significantly, from the GPA your college calculated. The LSAC GPA is the number that law schools actually use when evaluating your academic record, making it one of the most important numbers in your law school application.
Understanding the distinction between your institutional GPA and your LSAC GPA is essential for anyone planning to apply to law school. Many pre-law advisors recommend calculating your projected LSAC GPA early in your undergraduate career so you can make informed decisions about course selection, academic planning, and which law schools represent realistic targets for admission.
LSAC Grade Conversion Scale
The LSAC uses a specific numerical value for each letter grade. This scale is applied uniformly to all transcripts processed through the Credential Assembly Service. The following table shows the complete LSAC grade conversion scale from the highest possible grade to the lowest.
| Letter Grade | LSAC Grade Points | Description |
|---|---|---|
| A+ | 4.33 | Exceptional performance, highest possible value |
| A | 4.00 | Excellent performance |
| A- | 3.67 | Excellent with minor reservations |
| B+ | 3.33 | Very good performance |
| B | 3.00 | Good performance |
| B- | 2.67 | Good with some reservations |
| C+ | 2.33 | Above average performance |
| C | 2.00 | Average performance |
| C- | 1.67 | Below average performance |
| D+ | 1.33 | Marginal performance |
| D | 1.00 | Minimum passing |
| D- | 0.67 | Barely passing |
| F | 0.00 | Failing |
LSAC GPA vs Institutional GPA
The differences between your LSAC GPA and your institutional GPA can be surprising, and they do not always work in your favor. Several factors contribute to these differences, and understanding them will help you set realistic expectations for your CAS report.
A+ Grade Treatment
The most commonly discussed difference involves A+ grades. If your undergraduate institution awarded A+ grades and you earned several of them, your LSAC GPA could be higher than your institutional GPA because LSAC values A+ at 4.33 rather than capping it at 4.0. Conversely, if your school did not award A+ grades at all, this factor provides no benefit.
Grade Replacement Policies
Many colleges allow students to retake a course and replace the original grade with the new one when calculating the institutional GPA. LSAC does not honor these policies. If you received a D in organic chemistry, retook it for an A, your school might only count the A. LSAC counts both grades. This single policy difference can lower your LSAC GPA compared to your institutional GPA, sometimes by a significant margin if you retook multiple courses.
Academic Forgiveness Programs
Some institutions offer academic fresh start or academic bankruptcy programs that allow students to reset their GPA under certain conditions, often after a period of absence from school. LSAC does not recognize these programs. All original grades remain part of the LSAC GPA calculation regardless of any institutional forgiveness that may have been granted.
Transfer Credit Handling
When you transfer between undergraduate institutions, the receiving school typically accepts credits but does not include transfer grades in your institutional GPA. LSAC, however, includes grades from every undergraduate institution. If you had poor grades at a community college before transferring to a four-year university, those community college grades will be part of your LSAC GPA even if your university transcript shows only transfer credit.
How LSAC Calculates Your GPA
The LSAC GPA calculation follows a straightforward formula, but the inputs are what make it different from your institutional calculation. Understanding the mechanics helps you predict your LSAC GPA accurately.
The Basic Formula
LSAC GPA equals the sum of all quality points divided by the sum of all credit hours. Quality points for each course are calculated by multiplying the LSAC grade point value by the number of credit hours for that course. For example, an A (4.00) in a 3-credit course produces 12.00 quality points, while a B+ (3.33) in a 4-credit course produces 13.32 quality points.
LSAC GPA = Total Quality Points / Total Credit Hours
Quality Points per Course = LSAC Grade Value x Credit Hours
What Gets Included
LSAC includes all courses taken at any undergraduate institution where you attempted coursework for degree credit. This includes courses at community colleges, four-year universities, summer programs, and any other institution where you enrolled as an undergraduate student. Post-baccalaureate coursework and graduate-level courses are generally excluded from the LSAC undergraduate GPA calculation.
What Gets Excluded
Pass/fail courses, credit/no-credit courses, and courses with withdrawal (W) grades are excluded from the GPA calculation because they do not carry grade point values. However, courses with WF (withdrawal failing) grades are included because the WF is treated as equivalent to an F. Audited courses and courses with incomplete grades that were never resolved may also be excluded.
Why All Transcripts Count
One of the most important aspects of the LSAC GPA that pre-law students need to understand is the requirement that all undergraduate transcripts be submitted. This is not optional. LSAC requires a transcript from every institution where you attempted undergraduate coursework, even if you only attended for one semester, even if you did not earn a degree, and even if the credits did not transfer to your degree-granting institution.
This requirement exists because the LSAC GPA is meant to represent your complete undergraduate academic record. Law schools want to see the full picture of your academic history, including any stumbles along the way. Failing to disclose an institution or transcript can result in serious consequences, including revocation of admission or even revocation of a law degree if discovered later.
Common scenarios where students forget or are tempted to omit transcripts include dual enrollment courses taken in high school at a community college, summer courses taken at a different university while home on break, study abroad programs where grades appear on a separate transcript, and brief enrollment at an institution before transferring. All of these must be reported to LSAC.
The CAS Report Explained
The Credential Assembly Service report is the document that LSAC sends to every law school you apply to. It contains far more than just your GPA. Understanding what the CAS report includes helps you prepare a stronger overall application.
The CAS report includes your LSAC-calculated GPA, an academic summary with semester-by-semester breakdowns, copies of all your undergraduate transcripts, your LSAT score or scores if you took the test multiple times, letters of recommendation submitted through LSAC, and basic biographical information. Law school admissions committees review the complete CAS report, not just the GPA number.
Your LSAC GPA on the CAS report is displayed alongside your degree-granting GPA, so admissions committees can see both numbers. If there is a significant discrepancy, this may prompt additional scrutiny. An addendum explaining the difference, particularly if it relates to grade replacement or transfer credits, can be helpful in these situations.
The CAS report also categorizes your coursework by subject area and shows the distribution of your grades. Admissions committees can see whether your lower grades were concentrated in a particular area or semester, which can be relevant context for evaluating your academic trajectory.
How LSAC GPA Affects Admissions
Your LSAC GPA is one of the two most important quantitative factors in law school admissions, alongside your LSAT score. These two numbers largely determine your competitiveness at any given law school, though the weight each school places on GPA versus LSAT varies.
Median GPA Targets
Law schools report their entering class GPA statistics, which factor into their U.S. News and World Report rankings. Most schools publish 25th percentile, median, and 75th percentile GPAs. The median GPA represents the number where half the admitted students scored above and half scored below. Being at or above a school's median GPA significantly improves your chances of admission.
GPA and LSAT Combinations
Admissions decisions are rarely made on GPA alone. A strong LSAT score can compensate for a lower GPA, and vice versa. However, the degree of compensation varies by school. Some schools are more GPA-focused while others weight the LSAT more heavily. Understanding your target school's priorities helps you allocate preparation time effectively between GPA improvement and LSAT study.
Scholarship Implications
Merit-based scholarships at law schools are heavily influenced by your LSAC GPA and LSAT score. Students with numbers above a school's median may receive substantial scholarship offers, while those below the median may receive less financial aid. The difference of even 0.1 in GPA can translate to thousands of dollars in scholarship funding over three years of law school.
Tips for Improving Your LSAC GPA
If you are still completing your undergraduate degree or considering post-baccalaureate coursework, there are strategies that can help maximize your LSAC GPA.
Earn A+ Grades Where Possible
Since LSAC values A+ at 4.33, earning A+ grades in courses where your institution awards them can push your LSAC GPA above the 4.0 ceiling. Not all schools award A+ grades, but if yours does, aim for the highest possible mark in every course. Even a few A+ grades can make a meaningful difference.
Take Additional Credit Hours Strategically
Because GPA is a weighted average based on credit hours, earning high grades in additional courses dilutes the impact of earlier low grades. If you have a 3.2 GPA with 90 credit hours and earn straight A grades in 30 more credit hours, your GPA will rise more than if you only add 15 credit hours. More credits with strong grades provide more weight to pull the average upward.
Avoid Pass/Fail for Courses You Would Ace
Since pass/fail courses are excluded from the LSAC GPA, taking a course pass/fail when you would have earned an A is a missed opportunity to boost your GPA. Reserve pass/fail options for courses where you are uncertain about your performance and the risk of a low grade outweighs the potential benefit.
Understand That Retakes Count Twice
Before retaking a course to improve a grade, understand that LSAC will count both the original grade and the retake grade. Retaking a course only makes mathematical sense if the new grade is high enough that the average of the two attempts, weighted by credit hours, still helps your overall GPA. Retaking a D course and earning a B means your effective grade for those combined credit hours is the average of 1.0 and 3.0, not the replacement B.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Pre-law students frequently make errors when estimating their LSAC GPA or preparing their CAS application. Awareness of these common pitfalls helps you avoid them.
Assuming Your Institutional GPA Is Your LSAC GPA
This is the most common mistake. Students see a 3.7 on their transcript and assume that is the number law schools will see. The LSAC GPA may be higher or lower depending on the factors discussed above. Always calculate your estimated LSAC GPA separately.
Forgetting to Request All Transcripts
Every institution must be reported to LSAC. Missing even one can delay your application processing or result in an incomplete CAS report. Make a list of every college or university where you took courses, including dual enrollment, summer sessions, and study abroad programs, and request transcripts from each one.
Waiting Too Long to Check
Many students wait until their senior year or even after graduation to calculate their LSAC GPA. By that point, there is limited ability to improve it. Calculate your estimated LSAC GPA early and often so you can make strategic academic decisions while you still have semesters remaining.
Ignoring Grade Trends
While the LSAC GPA is a single cumulative number, admissions committees also look at grade trends. A strong upward trend, where your grades improved significantly over time, can partially mitigate a lower overall GPA. Conversely, a downward trend raises concerns even if the cumulative number looks acceptable.
Grade Trends and Addendum Strategies
When your LSAC GPA does not tell the whole story, you have tools at your disposal to provide context. Understanding when and how to use these tools is an important part of the application strategy.
The GPA Addendum
A GPA addendum is a brief supplementary essay that explains circumstances affecting your GPA. Valid reasons for a GPA addendum include a documented medical issue that affected a particular semester, a significant upward trend that demonstrates your true academic ability, grade replacement at your institution that creates a discrepancy with your LSAC GPA, or a clearly identifiable period of underperformance followed by substantial improvement.
A GPA addendum should be factual, concise, and forward-looking. It should explain what happened, what you learned, and how you demonstrated growth. It should not make excuses, blame professors, or minimize your responsibility for lower grades.
Demonstrating Academic Capability
If your LSAC GPA is below a target school's range, other parts of your application can demonstrate academic capability. A strong LSAT score is the most direct evidence that you can handle rigorous academic work. Additionally, strong grades in your major courses, completion of challenging coursework, academic awards or honors, and strong letters of recommendation from professors all contribute to a picture of academic competence that goes beyond a single GPA number.
Splitter Strategies
In law school admissions, a "splitter" is an applicant with a significant gap between their GPA and LSAT score, such as a 3.3 GPA with a 175 LSAT. Splitters face unique challenges and opportunities. Some schools favor high LSAT scores more than others, and understanding which schools are more LSAT-friendly can help splitters build a more strategic school list.