Columbia Law School LSAT Score: Requirements, Medians, and Admissions
Columbia Law School is one of the most prestigious law schools in the world and a core member of the T6 — the six most elite law schools in the United States. Located in New York City, it offers unmatched access to Wall Street, international law, finance, and media industries. For applicants targeting the very top tier of legal education, Columbia is a central target.
This guide covers Columbia’s LSAT requirements, admissions data, career outcomes, and what it takes to build a competitive application.
See where your score stands with the free LSAT Score Calculator.
Columbia Law LSAT Score Requirements (2024–2025)
| Metric | Score |
|---|---|
| Median LSAT | 174 |
| 25th Percentile LSAT | 172 |
| 75th Percentile LSAT | 175 |
| Median GPA | 3.92 |
| 25th Percentile GPA | 3.74 |
| 75th Percentile GPA | 3.98 |
Data from Columbia’s ABA 509 Required Disclosures. Verify against the latest LSAC data for the current cycle.
What LSAT Score Do You Need for Columbia Law?
- Below 172: Below Columbia’s 25th percentile. Admission is extremely difficult. Columbia does admit students below 172, but it requires extraordinary compensating factors — unusual work experience, academic distinction, or exceptional personal narrative.
- 172–173: You are near the 25th percentile. Your application faces stiff odds. A 3.90+ GPA and outstanding essays can put you in the running, but treat Columbia as a significant long shot.
- 174: At median. Your LSAT is not a liability and your application will receive full review. Other factors become determinative.
- 175: At or near the 75th percentile. You are a numerically strong candidate.
- 176+: Above the 75th percentile. Columbia is a realistic target, and you have scholarship leverage.
Columbia Law Acceptance Rate
Columbia’s acceptance rate is approximately 13–15%. It admits a relatively large class for a T6 school — roughly 370–380 students — which is larger than Yale or Stanford but allows Columbia to maintain a broad, diverse applicant pool. Despite the larger class, the numerical standards remain extremely high.
Columbia vs. Other T6 Schools
| School | Median LSAT | 25th Pct LSAT | Acceptance Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yale Law | 174 | 171 | ~5% |
| Harvard Law | 174 | 170 | ~11% |
| Stanford Law | 174 | 171 | ~10% |
| Columbia Law | 174 | 172 | ~13% |
| University of Chicago | 174 | 171 | ~17% |
| NYU Law | 173 | 170 | ~22% |
Columbia has the highest 25th percentile LSAT of any T6 school at 172 — meaning even its lowest-scoring admits are extremely competitive. This is partly a function of Columbia’s large class size, which paradoxically requires it to maintain high numerical floors across a broader group of students.
Columbia Law Career Outcomes
Columbia Law produces some of the best career outcomes of any law school in the country:
- BigLaw: Columbia places approximately 70–75% of its graduates in large law firms — among the highest rates of any law school. Its New York City location gives graduates direct access to the largest legal market in the world.
- Finance and transactions: Columbia is the top law school for graduates pursuing careers in private equity, M&A, leveraged finance, and securities — areas centered in New York where relationships with Wall Street firms are uniquely strong.
- International law: Columbia’s global perspective and international alumni network make it exceptional for international arbitration, trade law, and cross-border transactions.
- Federal clerkships: Columbia places graduates into federal circuit and district clerkships. SCOTUS clerkships are accessible from Columbia, particularly via the HLS-CLS pipeline.
- Academia: Columbia produces a significant share of legal academics, particularly in corporate law and international law.
Early Decision at Columbia
Columbia offers a binding Early Decision program for applicants for whom Columbia is their clear first choice. Applying ED is reported to improve admission odds, and Columbia explicitly uses it to build its class. If Columbia is unambiguously your top choice, Early Decision is worth strong consideration — especially if your numbers are near the median (174 LSAT, 3.90 GPA).
The binding nature means you must withdraw other applications upon acceptance, so only use ED if you are confident in your choice and have assessed the financial aid implications.
Scholarship Potential at Columbia
Columbia is a private school with high tuition (~$74,000/year). Scholarship awards are less generous than at some peer schools, but merit scholarships are awarded. With a 176+ LSAT and 3.95+ GPA, partial scholarship awards are possible.
Columbia also has a robust LRAP program for graduates in public interest and government roles, which significantly reduces effective cost for students choosing those careers.
Read the LSAT scholarship guide for more on financial aid at top-tier schools.
Next Steps
Use the LSAT Score Calculator to see where your score stands. Then:
- Read LSAT Score 170+ for guidance on T6 and T14 applications
- Compare NYU Law LSAT requirements — same city, slightly lower LSAT floor
- See What Is a Good LSAT Score? for full score context
- Explore whether a retake makes sense if you are below Columbia’s 25th percentile