If you’ve started researching the law school admissions process, you’ve probably come across the term LSAC GPA. And if you’re wondering why law schools don’t just use the GPA printed on your college transcript(s), you’re not alone. The Law School Admission Council (LSAC) recalculates undergraduate GPAs using a standardized method so law schools can compare applicants from different colleges and universities on a more equal playing field.
Here’s what you need to know about how your LSAC GPA is calculated, what classes count (and don’t count), and how it can affect your law school applications.
What Is an LSAC GPA?
Your LSAC GPA is a standardized GPA calculated by LSAC after it receives all of your official undergraduate transcripts through the Credential Assembly Service (CAS).
Different universities have their own grading systems, transcripts, formats, and academic policies. For example, schools might:
- Count A+ grades as a 4.3. Others treat an A+ exactly the same as an A.
- Replace grades when you retake a course. Others average every attempt.
- Exclude certain credits from GPA calculations entirely.
So, to try to keep evaluation standardized, LSAC applies its own grading scale and rules to every applicant.
For many applicants, the LSAC GPA ends up very similar to their institutional GPA. However, depending on your school’s grading policies, repeated coursework, transfer credits, and other factors, it can be noticeably higher or lower.
Which Grades Count Toward Your LSAC GPA?
Generally, LSAC includes all undergrad coursework completed while earning your first bachelor’s degree. If you attended a different college for a semester or transferred schools altogether, they count those too.
Other coursework that contributes to your LSAC GPA includes:
- Study abroad coursework that appears on a transcript from a U.S. or Canadian institution
- Repeated courses
- Withdrawals with grades (such as WF when treated as failing)
- Incompletes that later receive a final letter grade
Which Grades Don’t Count Toward Your LSAC GPA?
There is some coursework that LSAC doesn’t include in their GPA calculations, though most of them are post-grad courses.
Generally, LSAC does not include:
- College-level courses taken while in high school
- Graduate or professional school coursework
- Courses completed after your first bachelor’s degree is awarded
- Non-graded withdrawals
- Audited courses
- Passing grades from Pass/Fail, Credit/No Credit, or Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading systems (reported as unconverted credits)
- Noncredit or remedial courses (when identified as such by the institution)
- Certain grades that cannot be converted under LSAC’s grading policies
- Most continuing education coursework
However, just because a course doesn’t factor into the calculation doesn’t mean it disappears. Many excluded courses and grades still appear on your Academic Summary Report as unconverted credits or academic notes that law schools can review.
Remember, law schools still receive your original transcripts. LSAC standardizes grades for comparison, but admissions committees can still see your institutional GPA, transcript, grade trends, majors, and academic history.
LSAC GPA Calculator
LSAC assigns numerical values to letter grades using its own conversion scale.
| Letter Grade | LSAC GPA Value |
| A+ | 4.33 |
| A | 4 |
| A− | 3.67 |
| B+ | 3.33 |
| B | 3 |
| B− | 2.67 |
| C+ | 2.33 |
| C | 2 |
| C− | 1.67 |
| D+ | 1.33 |
| D | 1 |
| D− | 0.67 |
| F | 0 |
How Much Does Your LSAC GPA Matter?
GPA and LSAT score remain two of the most important quantitative factors in law school admissions. Your LSAC GPA is typically the number admissions committees focus on during the application process.
So, your LSAC GPA does matter just as much or even more than the college GPA on your transcripts. Both tell (roughly the same) story about your academic history.
Further Reading
Can You Appeal Your LSAC GPA?
If you believe LSAC made an error while processing your transcript or applying its published conversion policies, you can contact LSAC and request a review. However, LSAC generally will not make exceptions to its standardized GPA calculation policies. LSAC follows its published conversion rules consistently across applicants.
If the calculation accurately reflects those policies, the GPA usually will not be changed.
Where to Find Your LSAC GPA
When you’re starting the law school admissions process, you’ll need to register for the Credential Assembly Service (CAS) and request schools to submit all your transcripts to it. After your transcripts have been processed, LSAC generates your Academic Summary Report, which includes your standardized GPA.
Final Thoughts
If your LSAC GPA doesn’t match your college GPA exactly, that’s normal. The good news is that your GPA is only one part of your application. If your GPA ends up lower than expected, a strong LSAT score, compelling personal statement, and thoughtful application materials can still make you a competitive applicant.
As all college students know, after a certain point, you’ve done all you can to improve your GPA. However, you can always improve your LSAT score! A competitive LSAT score can often balance a lower GPA. Need help getting started?
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