LSAT Guides

170 LSAT Score Percentile, T14 Odds and Scholarships

By Andrew Collins / April 9, 2026

A 170 LSAT is about the 94th percentile. See which law schools fit a 170 and if a retake is worth it.

A 170 LSAT score is exceptional. It places you in approximately the 94th to 95th percentile — meaning you scored higher than about 94% of all test-takers. This is the threshold that puts every law school in the country within reach, including Yale, Harvard, Stanford, and the rest of the T14.

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This guide covers exactly what a 170+ means, which schools you should target, how to approach your application, and what kind of scholarships are realistic at this score level.

Check your exact percentile with the free LSAT Score Calculator.

What Percentile Is a 170 LSAT Score?

LSAT Score Approximate Percentile
165 85th
167 90th
169 93rd
170 94th
172 97th
174 98th
175 99th
180 99.8th

See the complete picture in the full LSAT percentile chart.

T14 Law School Medians and How a 170 Fits

A 170 is at or above the median at 1 of the 14 T14 schools, and inside the 25th to median range at 9 more. T14 medians run from 170 to 174.

School 25th Median 75th Acceptance rate A 170 is
Yale Law 171 174 177 4.1% Below the 25th
Harvard Law School 171 174 176 9.2% Below the 25th
University of Chicago Law 171 174 176 9.7% Below the 25th
Stanford Law 171 173 176 6.1% Below the 25th
Penn Carey Law 167 173 174 8.1% Inside the range
UVA Law 168 173 175 10.2% Inside the range
Columbia Law 169 173 175 11.8% Inside the range
Northwestern Law 167 173 175 12.3% Inside the range
Cornell Law 168 173 175 18.2% Inside the range
NYU Law 169 172 174 13.4% Inside the range
Michigan Law 168 171 173 8.6% Inside the range
Duke Law 169 171 172 12.9% Inside the range
Georgetown Law 166 171 173 15.7% Inside the range
Berkeley Law 167 170 172 14.8% At or above median

Is a 170 Enough for Harvard, Yale, or Stanford?

A 170 is below the 25th percentile at all three, which is 171 at Harvard, 171 at Yale and 171 at Stanford. Their acceptance rates were 9.2%, 4.1% and 6.1% in 2025. Admission with a 170 is possible, but it usually takes a very high GPA and a strong application. Check your odds with the law school admissions calculator.

Scholarship Potential with a 170

A 170 is at or above the 75th percentile at 172 of the 196 ABA schools, which is where merit money is most likely. These are the highest by median LSAT:

Law school 25th Median 75th Median GPA
Texas A&M Law 161 169 170 4.00
USC Gould 165 169 170 3.91
University of Florida Law 165 169 170 3.91
UC Irvine Law 166 169 170 3.80
Ohio State Law 163 168 169 3.91
UNC Law 165 168 169 3.89

Try the law school scholarship calculator with your GPA.

Application Strategy for 170+ Scorers

Apply broadly at the top

Even with a 170+, the very top schools admit fewer than 15% of applicants. Apply to all the T14 schools that fit your career goals — application fees are worth it at this score level. Do not self-select out of schools where you have a real shot.

Include scholarship targets

Your list should include 2–3 schools ranked 15–30 where your numbers put you above the 75th percentile. These schools will compete for you. That competition creates leverage — both for your actual enrollment decision and as a negotiating chip.

Do not neglect your essays

With so many applicants at 170+, non-score factors differentiate. A generic personal statement costs you. A distinctive one — with a clear, specific narrative that adds something your resume does not — can be decisive.

Consider applying early decision

Several T14 schools — including Yale, Columbia, and Penn — have binding early decision programs. Applying ED signals strong commitment and can improve admission odds. If one school is clearly your top choice and you can afford to commit, ED is worth considering.

What Careers Does a 170+ Open?

A 170+ LSAT, combined with a T14 degree, opens the full range of legal career paths:

  • BigLaw — T14 schools place 50–80% of their graduates in large law firms. Starting salaries at Big Law firms are $230,000+ in major markets.
  • Federal clerkships — Among the most prestigious early-career positions. Federal district and circuit court clerkships are accessible from T14 schools with strong academic records.
  • Government and public interest — DOJ, SEC, FTC, public defenders, non-profits. T14 schools have loan repayment assistance programs (LRAP) for graduates going into public service.
  • Academia — Law school teaching pipelines almost exclusively run through T14 schools and federal clerkships.

170 vs 175: Does It Matter?

A 175 is at or above the median at 196 of the 196 schools, and a 170 at 179. The gap matters most at the very top, where T14 medians reach 174, and for scholarships at schools whose 75th percentile sits between the two scores. See the 175 LSAT score page.

Law Schools for a 170 LSAT Score

We compared a 170 with the LSAT ranges at all 196 ABA law schools:

Where a 170 falls Number of schools What it means
At or above the 75th percentile 172 Strong for admission and scholarships
Between the median and 75th 7 A solid match
Between the 25th and median 13 Possible, but your GPA matters more
Below the 25th percentile 4 A long shot

Your GPA changes these odds. Enter your LSAT and GPA in the law school admissions calculator to sort every school into likely, target and reach.

Scholarship targets for a 170

A 170 is at or above the 75th percentile here. These are the highest ranked by median LSAT:

Law school 25th Median 75th Median GPA
Texas A&M Law 161 169 170 4.00
USC Gould 165 169 170 3.91
University of Florida Law 165 169 170 3.91
UC Irvine Law 166 169 170 3.80
Ohio State Law 163 168 169 3.91
UNC Law 165 168 169 3.89

Good matches for a 170

A 170 is at or above the median here:

Law school 25th Median 75th Median GPA
BYU Law 168 170 172 3.95
Berkeley Law 167 170 172 3.92
Vanderbilt Law 167 170 171 3.91
Notre Dame Law 166 170 171 3.89
Boston University Law 164 170 171 3.88
George Mason Law (Scalia Law) 162 169 171 3.93

Reach schools for a 170

A 170 is in the lower part of the range here:

Law school 25th Median 75th Median GPA
WashU Law 165 175 176 3.96
UVA Law 168 173 175 3.99
Northwestern Law 167 173 175 3.96
Penn Carey Law 167 173 174 3.95
Columbia Law 169 173 175 3.92
Cornell Law 168 173 175 3.92

Next Steps

Run your score through the LSAT Score Calculator to see your percentile and school-tier breakdown. Then:

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