NYU Law School LSAT Score: Requirements, Medians, and Admissions
New York University School of Law is a T6 law school and one of the most prestigious in the world. It is particularly dominant in international law, public interest, and BigLaw — especially in the New York market. For applicants targeting the top tier of legal education, NYU is a key benchmark with a slightly lower LSAT floor than Columbia, Chicago, or HYS.
This guide covers NYU Law’s LSAT requirements, admissions data, career outcomes, and application strategy.
Check where your score lands with the free LSAT Score Calculator.
NYU Law LSAT Score Requirements (2024–2025)
| Metric | Score |
|---|---|
| Median LSAT | 173 |
| 25th Percentile LSAT | 170 |
| 75th Percentile LSAT | 175 |
| Median GPA | 3.86 |
| 25th Percentile GPA | 3.69 |
| 75th Percentile GPA | 3.95 |
Data from NYU’s ABA 509 Required Disclosures. Verify against current LSAC data for the most up-to-date figures.
What LSAT Score Do You Need for NYU Law?
- Below 169: Below NYU’s 25th percentile. Admission is very difficult. Apply only if your overall application has genuinely exceptional elements.
- 169–171: Near or just above the 25th percentile. With a 3.85+ GPA and strong essays, you are a plausible applicant — but NYU will be a significant reach.
- 172–173: Approaching and at median. Your LSAT is competitive. Essays, recommendations, and background become the determining factors.
- 174–175: Above median. You are a strong numerical candidate. Scholarship consideration becomes realistic.
- 176+: Above the 75th percentile. You are among NYU’s most competitive applicants from a numbers standpoint.
NYU Law Acceptance Rate
NYU Law’s acceptance rate is approximately 20–24%. It admits a class of roughly 380–400 students — the largest class in the T6 by a significant margin. This larger class size means NYU admits more students with scores across the distribution, making it slightly more accessible than Columbia or the HYS schools at lower score ranges.
NYU vs. Columbia: Same City, Similar Tier
| School | Median LSAT | 25th Pct LSAT | Class Size | BigLaw % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NYU Law | 173 | 170 | ~390 | ~65% |
| Columbia Law | 174 | 172 | ~375 | ~72% |
NYU and Columbia are fierce rivals in the same city. Their career outcomes are nearly identical in the New York market. NYU has a slight edge in public interest culture and international law; Columbia has a slight edge in BigLaw finance and transactions. For most applicants, the choice between them comes down to campus culture, scholarship offers, and which school you would prefer to attend — not a meaningful career outcomes gap.
NYU’s lower 25th percentile LSAT (170 vs. Columbia’s 172) means it is slightly more accessible for applicants in the 170–171 range.
NYU Law Career Outcomes
- BigLaw: NYU places approximately 60–65% of its graduates in large law firms, predominantly in New York. The school has deep relationships with every major firm on Wall Street and in Midtown.
- International law: NYU is arguably the top law school in the country for international law, international human rights, and comparative law. Its Hauser Global Law School Program is unique in U.S. legal education.
- Public interest: NYU has one of the strongest public interest cultures in the T6. Its Root-Tilden-Kern Scholarship program recruits students explicitly committed to public service. LRAP is robust.
- Federal clerkships: NYU places a meaningful number of graduates into federal clerkships, including circuit courts and occasional SCOTUS.
- Finance and securities law: Like Columbia, NYU’s New York location gives graduates exceptional proximity to the financial services industry. Securities regulation, private equity, and hedge fund law are natural placements.
NYU Law Scholarships
NYU offers several notable scholarship programs:
- Root-Tilden-Kern Scholarship: Full-tuition scholarships for students committed to public service law. Highly competitive and prestigious.
- Merit scholarships: NYU awards partial merit scholarships to applicants with numbers significantly above its median. With a 175+ LSAT and 3.90+ GPA, partial awards are realistic.
- LRAP: NYU’s Loan Repayment Assistance Program covers a significant portion of loan obligations for graduates in qualifying public interest roles.
NYU is known to negotiate scholarship offers. If you have a competing offer from Columbia or another peer school, NYU may improve its offer. See the LSAT scholarship guide for full negotiation strategy.
Should You Apply to NYU with a 170?
Yes — a 170 is at NYU’s 25th percentile, making you a legitimate applicant. Admission at exactly the 25th percentile is competitive, but NYU does admit students there with the right application. Apply with a strong personal statement, solid recommendations, and a clear narrative for why NYU.
With a 170, pair NYU as a reach with Georgetown (median 168) as a target and Cornell (median 170) as another target.
Next Steps
Use the LSAT Score Calculator to see your full school-tier breakdown. Then:
- Compare Columbia Law — same city, slightly higher LSAT floor
- Read LSAT Score 170+ for full T6 and T14 context
- See LSAT and scholarships to understand NYU’s financial aid landscape
- Review What Is a Good LSAT Score? for full benchmarks