This article was last updated April 2026.
We recently posted an article analyzing the 165-172 LSAT score band and we’re continuing our series with scores in the 150 range. As with our last post in the series, we’re going to take a closer look at what different LSAT scores mean for you – the types of law schools (and law school scholarships) you might want to aim for, and how those factors can have an impact on your job prospects and potential salary range.
So grab a snack and get to scrolling: the 155-159 review is here!
Law Schools for LSAT Scores in the 155-159 Range
First off, if you’re in this score range, you’re already officially above the mean (and above median, though we can’t speak to mode—sorry stats fans). Within this score range, you’re besting 64-78 percent of your peers, putting you solidly within the top half of test takers! So, what does that mean in practical terms?
Scoring in this range makes you a competitive applicant for a variety of law schools. It’s not going to be sufficient for top law schools, but there are plenty of law schools that will be happy to see these scores!
The following table represents the schools with median LSAT scores in the 155-159 range for admitted full-time student populations at these schools as of Fall 2025.
Don’t forget, this list isn’t exclusive or exhaustive. In terms of US News rankings, some schools in this range actually have higher average admittance scores than 159, and some schools are excluded as their average entering score is actually lower than 155.
| Law School | Median LSAT Score | Ranking |
| University of South Dakota (Knudson) | 152 | 122 (tie) |
| University of Arkansas–Little Rock (Bowen) | 153 | 140 (tie) |
| Northern Kentucky University (Chase) | 154 | 131 (tie) |
| University of Akron | 154 | 131 (tie) |
| Loyola University New Orleans | 154 | 135 |
| Washburn University | 155 | 108 (tie) |
| University of Dayton | 155 | 112 (tie) |
| Indiana University Indianapolis (McKinney) | 155 | 124 (tie) |
| West Virginia University | 155 | 124 (tie) |
| South Texas College of Law Houston | 155 | 128 (tie) |
| Suffolk University | 155 | 128 (tie) |
| University of Montana (Blewett) | 156 | 90 |
| Drake University | 156 | 91 (tie) |
| University of Missouri–Kansas City | 156 | 100 (tie) |
| University of Wyoming | 156 | 112 (tie) |
| Howard University | 156 | 117 (tie) |
| Samford University (Cumberland) | 156 | 122 (tie) |
| University at Buffalo–SUNY | 157 | 82 (tie) |
| Duquesne University (Kline) | 157 | 85 (tie) |
| Louisiana State University–Baton Rouge (Hebert) | 157 | 85 (tie) |
| Saint Louis University | 157 | 91 (tie) |
| University of Hawaii–Manoa (Richardson) | 157 | 91 (tie) |
| Mercer University (George) | 157 | 108 (tie) |
| New York Law School | 157 | 112 (tie) |
| Hofstra University (Deane) | 157 | 117 (tie) |
| University of New Mexico | 157 | 117 (tie) |
| University of Tulsa | 157 | 120 (tie) |
| University of Louisville (Brandeis) | 157 | 124 (tie) |
| University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) | 157 | 124 (tie) |
| Marquette University | 158 | 59 (tie) |
| University of Maine | 158 | 91 (tie) |
| Rutgers University | 158 | 100 (tie) |
| Syracuse University | 158 | 100 (tie) |
| School of Law at University of Arkansas–Fayetteville | 158 | 100 (tie) |
| Albany Law School | 158 | 120 (tie) |
| Pennsylvania State University | 159 | 62 (tie) |
| University of Kentucky (Rosenberg) | 159 | 70 (tie) |
| University of Cincinnati | 159 | 82 (tie) |
| Texas Tech University | 159 | 85 (tie) |
| University of St. Thomas | 159 | 105 (tie) |
Sources: U.S. Department of Education, U.S. News & World Report.
As you can see, you’ve got a lot of options! If you’re surprised that this list is mostly made up of state schools and less exclusive programs, we recommend taking a look at the overall school rankings and seeing the average of scores of the programs you were hoping to apply to. Remember that these are average score values, so an exceptional application may squeeze you into a more prestigious program with a lower LSAT score — though by the same token, having the average score isn’t a guarantee you’ll get in, especially if your application is otherwise lacking.
Salaries and Career
But what about that sweet, sweet cash awaiting you at the far end of the law school rainbow? Are you looking at a life like the Rose family before moving to Schitt’s Creek? In addition to money, job security is a big issue — how do these scores and schools correlate to immediate employment at graduation? Let’s take a deep dive into some of the schools listed above:
| School | Employed at Graduation | Median Private Salary | Median Public Salary |
| Marquette University | 63.9% | $77,373 | $74,640 |
| Texas Tech University | 66.9% | $100,004 |
$74,906
|
| University of New Mexico | 56.3% |
$82,500
|
$74,500
|
| University at Buffalo–SUNY | 73.8% | $80,000 |
$61,000
|
| Syracuse University | 57.9% |
$91,800
|
$80,000
|
| Drake University | 61% | $82,000 |
$60,500
|
Sources: U.S. Department of Education, U.S. News & World Report.
As you can see, there’s some variance from school to school across all of these metrics. Across the board, though, you’ve got something like a 50/50 shot at a job straight after graduation, and even though compensation in both the public and private sectors isn’t maxed out, it’ll definitely help you repay your potential future law school loans.
By the way, we’re not trying to pull a fast one on you by dropping a common fallacy in your lap. The correlation between LSAT score and salary still hold when all law schools are taken into account. As you can see, pay starts to change more dramatically once you’re past the 160:
Sources: U.S. Department of Education, U.S. News & World Report.
But how do those private sector median salaries compare to overall starting salaries? This data set is a bit older, but still very indicative of the distribution of JD starting salary for graduates:
Sources: U.S. Department of Education, U.S. News & World Report.
As you can see, you likely won’t be starting out at the top of your field in terms of salary, though there is always variability based on specific details. Note that, with programs like the ones you’re looking at with your LSAT score, you’re going to want to make sure the school has good prospects within your individual area of interest and a history of matching people to jobs in the area you’re interested in. The programs in your score range are going to be a bit more variable in terms of reputation across disciplines, so whether you’re ultimately planning for a public or private career, you will want to make sure to choose a program built for your needs.
Scholarships and Financial Aid
While we’re talking about money: what about LSAT scores and scholarships? This data gets a lot more complex, as most scholarships (both those specific to a program and those not associated with a specific school) rely on several metrics outside of LSAT score. While you’re competitive to get into programs, the most competitive individuals for scholarships offered by your school will likely have LSAT scores significantly higher than the admissions median.
Final Thoughts
So, if you’re in this range of scores, you’ve got some options when it comes to schools, your pay outlook as a lawyer is about average, and you’re probably going to be in debt for a while if you don’t qualify for other forms of financial aid (or other help) to pay for law school. You may actually need to compensate for your LSAT score with other parts of your application, so make sure you’re really polishing every element of your application as much as you can (i.e. write a stellar personal statement), and you’ve got decent odds of getting into a moderately ranked school.
If, however, you’ve decided to retake the LSAT and shoot for a higher score, we can help! Download our Guide to Retaking the LSAT for more targeted advice and don’t hesitate to reach out for more targeted support! Blueprint LSAT students increase their LSAT scores by 15 points, on average.
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