UCLA Law LSAT Score: Requirements, Medians, and Admissions
UCLA School of Law is consistently ranked among the top 15–18 law schools in the country. It offers exceptional value for California residents, strong placement in California’s legal market, and competitive outcomes in BigLaw, public interest, and entertainment law. For applicants targeting top law schools on the West Coast, UCLA is a central benchmark.
This guide covers UCLA Law’s LSAT requirements, GPA medians, acceptance rate, and how to build a competitive application.
See where your score stands with the free LSAT Score Calculator.
UCLA Law LSAT Score Requirements (2024–2025)
| Metric | Score |
|---|---|
| Median LSAT | 171 |
| 25th Percentile LSAT | 167 |
| 75th Percentile LSAT | 173 |
| Median GPA | 3.80 |
| 25th Percentile GPA | 3.60 |
| 75th Percentile GPA | 3.92 |
Numbers are based on the most recent ABA 509 Required Disclosures. Verify against the latest LSAC data for the current cycle.
What LSAT Score Do You Need for UCLA Law?
UCLA’s median LSAT is 171 and their 25th percentile is 167. Here is how to interpret those numbers:
- Below 167: You are below UCLA’s 25th percentile. Admission is very difficult without exceptional compensating factors. UCLA is a realistic long shot only, not a target.
- 167–170: You are in the 25th–50th percentile range. A strong GPA (3.80+) and excellent application materials put you in play. Treat UCLA as a high-reach.
- 171: You are at median. Your LSAT is not a liability, and other application elements can push you over the line. UCLA is a reasonable target.
- 172–173: You are approaching or at the 75th percentile. Your application is numerically strong and you may qualify for merit scholarships.
- 174+: Above the 75th percentile. You are an excellent candidate and have strong scholarship leverage.
UCLA Law Acceptance Rate
UCLA Law’s acceptance rate is approximately 16–20% depending on the year. The school receives a large volume of applications given its reputation and relatively reasonable tuition for California residents, but it admits a small class of roughly 270–280 students per year.
UCLA Law vs. Other West Coast and T20 Schools
| School | Median LSAT | 25th Pct LSAT | Notable Strength |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stanford Law | 174 | 171 | All areas; HYS tier |
| UCLA Law | 171 | 167 | California BigLaw, entertainment, public interest |
| USC Gould | 167 | 163 | Southern California market |
| UC Berkeley | 173 | 168 | Bay Area/tech law, public interest |
| UC Davis | 162 | 157 | California bar, regional practice |
| University of Washington | 166 | 161 | Pacific Northwest market |
Among California law schools, UCLA sits second only to Stanford in selectivity and outcomes. UC Berkeley (Boalt Hall) is slightly above UCLA in median LSAT. USC Gould is a step below in both LSAT medians and national placement.
UCLA Law Career Outcomes
UCLA Law places graduates into:
- BigLaw: Approximately 50–55% of UCLA graduates enter large law firms, with particularly strong placement in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York.
- Entertainment and media law: UCLA’s Los Angeles location makes it the top law school for graduates pursuing entertainment, IP, and media law careers. This is a distinctive advantage over East Coast T14 schools.
- Public interest: UCLA has a strong public interest culture and robust LRAP for graduates entering qualifying public service roles.
- Government: Strong placement in California state government and federal agencies, particularly those with California offices.
- Judicial clerkships: UCLA places a meaningful number of graduates into federal clerkships, especially in the Ninth Circuit.
Is UCLA a Public or Private School — and Does Tuition Matter?
UCLA Law is a public law school. For California residents, the tuition is significantly lower than most peer private law schools — making it exceptional value for in-state students. Out-of-state tuition is still competitive with T14 private schools but slightly lower.
The cost difference between UCLA (in-state) and a private T14 school can be $60,000–$80,000 over three years. For graduates entering public interest or government work — where salaries are lower — this distinction is financially significant.
Scholarship Potential at UCLA
UCLA awards merit scholarships to applicants with numbers above their 75th percentile. With a 174+ LSAT and a 3.90+ GPA, scholarship offers of $20,000–$40,000 per year are realistic. Full-tuition awards are rare but do occur for exceptional applicants.
UCLA also uses UCLA Law’s LRAP for graduates entering public service, which provides loan repayment support for qualifying roles. This can significantly reduce the net cost of attendance for students with public interest goals.
See the full LSAT scholarship guide for strategy on maximizing financial aid.
Should You Apply to UCLA with a 167?
Yes — a 167 is above UCLA’s 25th percentile, making you a legitimate applicant. Your odds are not high, but UCLA does admit students at 167, particularly when GPA and other factors are strong.
With a 167, apply to UCLA as a high-reach. Pair it with targets like Georgetown (median 168), Cornell (median 170), and UT Austin (median 170), and have clear safety schools where your numbers are above median.
Next Steps
Use the LSAT Score Calculator to see your full school-tier breakdown. Then:
- Read LSAT Score 170+ for guidance on applying to top-tier schools
- See Georgetown Law LSAT Requirements to compare T14 options
- Review What Is a Good LSAT Score? for context across all score bands
- Explore whether to retake if your score is near but below UCLA’s 25th percentile