LSAC GPA Calculator
Convert your grades to the standardized LSAC scale for your law school applications.
Grade Distribution
What is the LSAC GPA?
The LSAC GPA is a standardized grade point average calculated by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). Its purpose is to provide law schools with a uniform measure to compare applicants from different undergraduate institutions, which may have varying grading policies, grade inflation, and credit hour systems. Unlike your school’s GPA, the lsac gpa calculator includes grades from all undergraduate coursework you’ve ever taken, including from community colleges, transfer credits, and even repeated courses where your school may have replaced the original grade.
LSAC GPA Formula and Explanation
The formula for the lsac gpa calculator is straightforward: it is the sum of all your quality points divided by the sum of all your attempted credit hours for which a grade is awarded.
LSAC GPA = (Total Quality Points) / (Total Credit Hours)
Where:
- Quality Points (per course) = Grade Value (on LSAC’s 4.0 scale) × Credit Hours for the course.
- Total Quality Points = The sum of quality points from all your courses.
- Total Credit Hours = The sum of all credit hours for courses with grades on the LSAC scale.
LSAC converts every grade from your transcripts to a standard scale, as shown in the table below. This standardization is why your LSAC GPA might be different from the GPA on your transcript. For example, some schools don’t award “A+” grades, while LSAC does, giving them a value of 4.33 (though the GPA is reported on a 4.0 scale).
LSAC Grade Conversion Table
| Letter Grade | LSAC Grade Value |
|---|---|
| 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: The High-Achieving Student
A student has the following grades:
- Biology (A, 4 credits)
- Calculus I (A-, 4 credits)
- English Lit (B+, 3 credits)
- History (A, 3 credits)
Using the lsac gpa calculator:
- Quality Points = (4.00 * 4) + (3.67 * 4) + (3.33 * 3) + (4.00 * 3) = 16.00 + 14.68 + 9.99 + 12.00 = 52.67
- Total Credits = 4 + 4 + 3 + 3 = 14
- LSAC GPA = 52.67 / 14 = 3.762
Example 2: Student with a Repeated Course
A student failed a course and then retook it. Many universities would only count the new grade, but LSAC counts both.
- Chemistry (F, 4 credits) – First attempt
- Chemistry (B, 4 credits) – Second attempt
- Psychology (A, 3 credits)
The calculation would be:
- Quality Points = (0.00 * 4) + (3.00 * 4) + (4.00 * 3) = 0 + 12.00 + 12.00 = 24.00
- Total Credits = 4 + 4 + 3 = 11
- LSAC GPA = 24.00 / 11 = 2.182
This demonstrates how a single failed course, even if repeated, can significantly impact the cumulative GPA that law schools see. Check out this article on {related_keywords} for more info.
How to Use This LSAC GPA Calculator
Using our tool is simple:
- Enter Your Courses: For each course on your undergraduate transcripts, select the letter grade you received from the dropdown menu and enter the number of credit hours for that course.
- Add More Courses: Click the “Add Course” button to create new rows for all your classes. Remember to include courses from every undergraduate institution you attended.
- Calculate: Once all your courses are entered, click the “Calculate GPA” button.
- Review Your Results: The calculator will display your final LSAC GPA, along with intermediate values like total quality points and total credits. The grade distribution chart will also update automatically.
For more details on your application journey, explore {related_keywords}.
Key Factors That Affect Your LSAC GPA
Several factors can cause your LSAC GPA to differ from your school’s GPA. Understanding these is crucial for accurately predicting the score law schools will see.
- All Undergraduate Institutions Count: LSAC combines grades from every undergraduate institution you attended before your first bachelor’s degree was conferred. This includes community college courses taken in high school.
- Repeated Courses: Unlike many schools that practice “grade forgiveness,” LSAC includes both the original and the new grade in its calculation.
- A+ Grades: If your school awards A+ grades, LSAC will count them as a 4.33, potentially boosting your GPA compared to your school’s 4.0 scale.
- Withdrawals and Incompletes: A simple “Withdraw” does not affect your GPA. However, a “Withdraw/Fail” (WF) is counted as a 0.00 (an F) by LSAC, even if your school treats it as non-punitive.
- Pass/Fail Courses: Grades of “Pass” are not included in the GPA calculation. However, a “Fail” in a Pass/Fail course is treated as a 0.00 and is included.
- Study Abroad Courses: Grades from study abroad programs are included if they appear on your home institution’s transcript with credits and a letter grade.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is a good LSAC GPA for law school?
While “good” is subjective, for top-tier law schools (T14), a competitive LSAC GPA is typically 3.7 or higher. Many top schools like Yale, Harvard, and Stanford have median GPAs around 3.9.
Does the lsac gpa calculator account for quarter hours vs. semester hours?
LSAC has a standard conversion for quarter hours to semester hours (generally multiplying by 0.67), but for this calculator, you should enter your credits as they would be on a semester system for an accurate estimate.
Are graduate school grades included in the LSAC GPA?
No, the LSAC GPA only includes undergraduate coursework taken before your first bachelor’s degree is conferred. Graduate transcripts are sent to law schools but are not part of this specific GPA calculation.
How does LSAC treat AP or IB credits?
AP and IB credits that were granted by your undergraduate institution as a lump sum without a grade are not factored into the GPA. If you were given a specific course credit with a grade, it would be included. Generally, they have no impact. To learn more see {internal_links}.
Why is my LSAC GPA lower than my transcript GPA?
This is common and usually due to LSAC including grades that your school might exclude, such as repeated courses (where you failed first), grades from other institutions like community colleges, or punitive withdrawal grades (WF).
Can a high LSAT score make up for a low LSAC GPA?
Yes, to an extent. Law school admissions are a balancing act between your GPA and your LSAT score. A significantly high LSAT score can help offset a GPA that is below a school’s median. Read more about {related_keywords} here.
Where can I find my official LSAC GPA?
Your official LSAC GPA is calculated and reported to you after you sign up for the Credential Assembly Service (CAS) and submit all your official undergraduate transcripts to LSAC for processing.
Does this lsac gpa calculator handle all grading systems?
This calculator is designed for the most common A-F letter grade system. LSAC has conversion rules for numerical grades or other systems, which are detailed on their official website. This tool provides a very close estimate for most US applicants.