Your LSAT score matters.
But your percentile is what tells admissions readers how that score compares to everyone else.
If two applicants both look strong on paper, percentile context can be the difference between "solid" and "statistically standout."
- LSAT percentile = the percentage of test scores below your score.
- Per LSAC's current 2023-2026 table, a 170 is the 94th percentile and a 160 is the 71st percentile.
- Percentile is different from a law school's own 25th/50th/75th LSAT bands.
- Use the most recent LSAC table. The window rolled in July 2026, so 2022-2025 charts are now out of date.
- Small score increases in the high 160s and 170s can shift admissions outcomes meaningfully.
Current LSAT Percentiles (LSAC 2023-2026 Data)
LSAC's current LSAT Percentiles table, read on October 1, 2026, covers the 2023-2024, 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 testing years and reports:
| Scaled score | Percent below |
|---|---|
| 180 | 99.85% |
| 175 | 98.72% |
| 172 | 96.72% |
| 171 | 95.77% |
| 170 | 94.48% |
| 167 | 89.53% |
| 165 | 85.17% |
| 160 | 71.06% |
| 155 | 54.03% |
| 154 | 50.43% |
| 150 | 36.56% |
These percentages are why a few points near the top of the scale can be such a big deal. For how the underlying scale works, and how many correct answers each band edge takes, see our guide to the LSAT score range. Differencing the top rows of this table also shows something the percentile column hides: a 179 is rarer than a perfect score, which we work through in our breakdown of the highest LSAT score. Running the same arithmetic across every row gives the midpoint of the whole distribution, which is how we get the average LSAT score of 153.
What Percentile Actually Means
A percentile does not mean "you got that percent correct."
It means how you performed relative to the score distribution.
Example:
- 170 at 94.48% means your score is higher than about 94% of test scores in the LSAC reporting period.
Quick Answers to Common Score Questions
Using LSAC's current table:
- What percentile is 172? About 96.72%.
- What percentile is 170? About 94.48%.
- What percentile is 165? About 85.17%.
- What percentile is 150? About 36.56%.
Note that 171, at 95.77%, is now the first score above the 95th percentile. A 170 no longer sits there.
These are the most searched conversions and usually drive application strategy discussions.
LSAC Percentiles vs Law School Medians
A school's 25th/50th/75th LSAT numbers are about its enrolled class, not the national LSAC test-score pool.
So you should read both together:
- LSAC percentile = national positioning
- school median bands = competitiveness for that school
This is why a score can be a strong national percentile but still below median at highly selective schools.
Why Older Percentile Charts Cause Bad Decisions
You will still find old LSAT percentile tables online, including the 2022-2025 window that was current until July 2026.
Those can shift enough to distort your planning if you are comparing schools in 2026.
Always anchor on the most current LSAC page and only use older PDFs for historical trend context.
How to Use Percentiles in Your Study Plan
Percentiles are useful only when tied to a target school band and timeline.
- Define your realistic school list.
- Identify median/75th LSAT zones for those schools.
- Compare your current score percentile to that target.
- Decide whether a retake is worth the time and cost.
Schools read your percentile next to your GPA, and LSAC recalculates that GPA rather than taking your transcript at face value. Our LSAC CAS GPA calculator returns the figure schools actually see and shows which LSAC rule moved it.
For timing and process, pair this with how long to study for LSAT and best way to study for the LSAT. To turn a percentile gap into a dated schedule, run our LSAT study plan generator, and start closing the gap with free LSAT practice questions.
FAQ: LSAT Percentiles
Is a 170 a good LSAT score?
Yes. On the current LSAC table, 170 is the 94th percentile. For what that means for a school list, see what a good LSAT score is.
Is a 160 competitive?
It can be, depending on school targets. On LSAC's current table, 160 is 71.06%.
Do schools care more about percentile or scaled score?
Schools usually report and compare scaled scores, but percentile provides useful context for how rare your score is.
Does LSAT percentile change every year?
Yes. LSAC rebuilds the table every year by the end of July from the previous three testing years, so the percentile attached to a score moves even when the score does not.
Should I retake based on percentile alone?
No. Use percentile plus school medians, GPA context, and timeline constraints.
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