LSAC GPA Calculator
Convert your undergraduate grades to the standardized 4.33 scale used by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC).
Enter Your Courses
Add each course from your undergraduate transcript(s) below. The calculator will update your LSAC GPA in real-time.
| Course Grade | Credit Hours | Action |
|---|
Your Calculated LSAC GPA
Total Credits
Total Grade Points
Courses Entered
Grade Distribution
What is the LSAC GPA?
The LSAC GPA is a standardized measure of your academic performance calculated by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) as part of their Credential Assembly Service (CAS). Law schools use this standardized GPA to fairly compare applicants from different undergraduate institutions, which may have varying grading policies, credit hour systems, or levels of grade inflation. The official LSAC GPA is often different from the GPA on your transcript because LSAC includes every undergraduate course you’ve ever taken and uses its own specific 4.33 grading scale. This lsac calculator gpa helps you estimate what your GPA will be after this conversion.
LSAC GPA Formula and Explanation
The calculation is straightforward: for each class, the LSAC-converted grade point value is multiplied by the number of credit hours for that class to get the “Quality Points.” All quality points are summed up and then divided by the total number of credit hours attempted.
LSAC GPA = ( Σ (Grade Points × Credit Hours) ) / ( Total Credit Hours )
LSAC Grade Conversion Table
LSAC converts grades to a standard scale where an A+ is worth 4.33 points. This can benefit students whose schools award A+ grades. Use this table to understand how your grades convert.
| Letter Grade | LSAC Grade Points |
|---|---|
| A+ | 4.33 |
| A | 4.00 |
| A- | 3.67 |
| B+ | 3.33 |
| B | 3.00 |
| B- | 2.67 |
| C+ | 2.33 |
| C | 2.00 |
| C- | 1.67 |
| D+ | 1.33 |
| D | 1.00 |
| D- | 0.67 |
| F | 0.00 |
Practical Examples
Example 1: Standard Transcript
A student has completed the following four courses:
- Biology (4 Credits): Grade A
- Calculus (4 Credits): Grade B+
- History (3 Credits): Grade A-
- English (3 Credits): Grade B
Calculation:
- Biology: 4.00 (A) × 4 Credits = 16.00 points
- Calculus: 3.33 (B+) × 4 Credits = 13.32 points
- History: 3.67 (A-) × 3 Credits = 11.01 points
- English: 3.00 (B) × 3 Credits = 9.00 points
Total Points: 16.00 + 13.32 + 11.01 + 9.00 = 49.33
Total Credits: 4 + 4 + 3 + 3 = 14
LSAC GPA: 49.33 / 14 = 3.52
A great resource for understanding this better is learning about your law school admission chances.
Example 2: Transcript with an A+ and a C
A student has the following record:
- Organic Chemistry (4 Credits): Grade A+
- Physics (4 Credits): Grade C
- Ethics (3 Credits): Grade A
- Statistics (3 Credits): Grade B-
Calculation:
- Org. Chem: 4.33 (A+) × 4 Credits = 17.32 points
- Physics: 2.00 (C) × 4 Credits = 8.00 points
- Ethics: 4.00 (A) × 3 Credits = 12.00 points
- Statistics: 2.67 (B-) × 3 Credits = 8.01 points
Total Points: 17.32 + 8.00 + 12.00 + 8.01 = 45.33
Total Credits: 4 + 4 + 3 + 3 = 14
LSAC GPA: 45.33 / 14 = 3.23
How to Use This LSAC GPA Calculator
Using this tool is designed to be simple and intuitive. Follow these steps to get an accurate estimation of your LSAC GPA.
- Add Courses: For every graded undergraduate course on your transcript(s), click the “Add Course” button to create a new input row.
- Select Grade: In each row, use the dropdown menu to select the letter grade you received for that course.
- Enter Credits: In the “Credit Hours” field, type the number of credits the course was worth.
- Review Real-Time Results: The calculator automatically updates your cumulative LSAC GPA, total credits, and total grade points in the results section as you add or modify courses.
- Analyze Distribution: The bar chart provides a visual breakdown of your grades, helping you see where your academic strengths lie.
For more detailed planning, consider using an LSAT prep course to complement your GPA.
Key Factors That Affect the LSAC GPA Calculation
Several factors can cause your LSAC GPA to differ from your school’s GPA. Understanding them is crucial for accurately predicting your standing.
- All Undergraduate Courses: LSAC includes grades from every undergraduate institution you have ever attended, including community college courses taken in high school or summer courses at a different university.
- Repeated Courses: This is a major difference. If you retook a class, most universities will replace the old grade. LSAC does not; it averages both grades into your GPA.
- A+ Grades: As shown in the conversion table, LSAC awards a 4.33 for an A+. If your school gives A+ grades, this can boost your LSAC GPA above a 4.0.
- Withdrawals (W): A standard “W” on your transcript is considered non-punitive and does not affect your LSAC GPA. However, a “WF” (Withdraw Fail) is treated as an ‘F’ (0.00 points).
- Incomplete Grades: An “Incomplete” that is not resolved is typically converted to an ‘F’ by LSAC, even if your school treats it differently.
- Pass/Fail Grades: Courses taken on a Pass/Fail basis are generally excluded from the GPA calculation unless the school equates “Pass” to a specific letter grade.
- Study Abroad Credits: Grades from study abroad programs are included if they appear on your primary undergraduate transcript with credits and a clear grade. If processed by CAS, they will be converted. Explore your law school scholarship options to make study abroad more affordable.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why is my LSAC GPA different from my school’s GPA?
The two most common reasons are LSAC’s policy on repeated courses (they average both grades) and their use of a 4.33 scale for A+ grades. This lsac calculator gpa uses the official LSAC conversion to provide a more accurate estimate.
Does LSAC round the GPA?
No, LSAC does not round. It calculates the GPA to three decimal places and then truncates (cuts off) the third decimal, reporting the final GPA to two decimal places. For example, a 3.759 becomes a 3.75.
What is considered a “good” LSAC GPA?
This heavily depends on the law schools you are targeting. For top-tier (T14) schools, a GPA of 3.8 or higher is generally considered competitive. For top 50 schools, a GPA above 3.5 is a strong starting point. It’s best to check the median GPA for admitted students at your target schools. Maybe check a list of top law schools.
How are grades from a quarter system handled?
LSAC converts quarter hours to semester hours by multiplying them by 0.67. This calculator assumes you are entering semester credit hours. If you have quarter hours, you should convert them first for the most accurate result.
Do graduate school grades count towards my LSAC GPA?
No, the LSAC GPA calculation only includes coursework taken towards your first bachelor’s degree. Graduate-level transcripts are sent to law schools, but the grades are not factored into the cumulative undergraduate GPA.
What if my school doesn’t use plus/minus (+/-) grades?
LSAC will use the grade as reported. For example, if your school only gives a ‘B’ (not a B+ or B-), LSAC will convert that to a 3.00. You cannot “guess” what the plus/minus equivalent would have been.
How should I enter a repeated course in this calculator?
You must enter it as two separate courses. For instance, if you got a ‘C’ in a 3-credit class and then retook it for an ‘A’, you should add one row with a ‘C’ and 3 credits, and a second row with an ‘A’ and 3 credits.
What about lab courses that are 0 or 1 credit?
You should enter them exactly as they appear on your transcript. If a lab has a separate grade and credit value (even if it’s 0 or 1), it needs to be included as its own entry in the lsac calculator gpa.