Quick answer: the best law schools for a 165 LSAT are the ones where 165 is at or above the median. That is 153 of the 196 ABA schools. Another 22 are reach schools, where a 165 is between the 25th percentile and the median. A 165 is a serious score for many highly ranked schools. It is above the median at most ABA schools and can bring real scholarship offers.
The lists below use each school’s LSAT numbers from its ABA 509 disclosure, sorted by median LSAT. A higher median does not always mean a better fit for you, so also weigh location, cost and job results. Want your GPA included? Use the law school admissions calculator.
How to Use a 165 LSAT Score
| Where a 165 falls at a school | How to treat it | Schools |
|---|---|---|
| Below the 25th percentile | Long shot | 21 |
| Between the 25th and median | Reach | 22 |
| Between the median and 75th | Target | 16 |
| At or above the 75th | Likely, and a scholarship target | 137 |
Reach Schools for a 165 LSAT
Possible, especially with a GPA above the school’s median.
| Law school | 25th | Median | 75th | Median GPA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WashU Law | 165 | 175 | 176 | 3.96 |
| Boston University Law | 164 | 170 | 171 | 3.88 |
| Texas A&M Law | 161 | 169 | 170 | 4.00 |
| George Mason Law (Scalia Law) | 162 | 169 | 171 | 3.93 |
| University of Georgia Law | 159 | 169 | 171 | 3.92 |
| USC Gould | 165 | 169 | 170 | 3.91 |
| University of Florida Law | 165 | 169 | 170 | 3.91 |
| Ohio State Law | 163 | 168 | 169 | 3.91 |
| UNC Law | 165 | 168 | 169 | 3.89 |
| George Washington Law | 162 | 168 | 170 | 3.86 |
| Boston College Law | 162 | 168 | 169 | 3.83 |
| Fordham Law | 165 | 168 | 170 | 3.79 |
Target Schools for a 165 LSAT
A 165 is at or above the median here.
| Law school | 25th | Median | 75th | Median GPA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona State Law | 158 | 165 | 167 | 3.91 |
| Cardozo Law | 162 | 165 | 167 | 3.78 |
| Temple Law | 162 | 165 | 168 | 3.76 |
| University of Washington Law | 162 | 165 | 167 | 3.76 |
| UC Davis Law | 160 | 165 | 167 | 3.70 |
| Indiana Maurer Law | 158 | 164 | 166 | 3.91 |
| Tennessee Law | 160 | 164 | 166 | 3.89 |
| Wayne State Law | 157 | 164 | 166 | 3.89 |
| Pepperdine Caruso Law | 161 | 164 | 167 | 3.85 |
| Colorado Law | 161 | 164 | 167 | 3.81 |
| Richmond Law | 159 | 164 | 167 | 3.81 |
| St. John’s Law | 156 | 164 | 166 | 3.81 |
Scholarship Schools for a 165 LSAT
A 165 is at or above the 75th percentile here, which is where merit money is most likely. Check your odds with the law school scholarship calculator.
| Law school | 25th | Median | 75th | Median GPA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami Law | 160 | 164 | 165 | 3.79 |
| Iowa Law | 161 | 164 | 165 | 3.78 |
| Baylor Law | 159 | 164 | 165 | 3.77 |
| San Diego Law | 160 | 163 | 165 | 3.84 |
| Houston Law | 160 | 163 | 165 | 3.79 |
| Arizona Law | 162 | 163 | 165 | 3.78 |
| Loyola Law School Los Angeles | 160 | 163 | 165 | 3.74 |
| Chapman Law | 156 | 163 | 164 | 3.70 |
| Kansas Law | 158 | 162 | 164 | 3.85 |
| UConn Law | 160 | 162 | 164 | 3.78 |
| Case Western Reserve Law | 156 | 162 | 164 | 3.76 |
| Michigan State Law | 158 | 162 | 164 | 3.73 |
| Oklahoma Law | 159 | 162 | 164 | 3.73 |
| South Carolina Law | 160 | 162 | 164 | 3.67 |
| American University Law | 157 | 162 | 163 | 3.63 |
How to Build Your School List
- Pick 2 to 4 reach schools, 3 to 5 targets and 2 to 3 scholarship schools.
- Check your GPA against each school’s median. If it is lower, you may need a higher LSAT to stay competitive.
- Think about where you want to work. Many schools place most graduates close to home.
- Compare debt and job results, not just rank. Each school’s ABA disclosures show them.
See the full 165 LSAT score guide, should I retake the LSAT and LSAT medians for the top 100 law schools.