What LSAT score do you need for New York University?
New York University (New York, NY) had a median LSAT of 172 and a median GPA of 3.92 for its Fall 2025 entering class. Here is what that means for your score, as rough rules of thumb. They are rules of thumb, not guarantees.
Score tools: the score converter translates practice scores, and the what-if chances tool shows what a higher score buys you.
The short answer
- Target: score at or above 172. You sit at the median or higher, which is where you want to be for a target school.
- Strong: score 175 or higher. A few points above the median puts you in a strong spot, as long as the rest of your file holds up.
- Reach: score around 169 or lower. The median runs above you. People get in from reach territory every cycle, but it takes a stronger file elsewhere to do it.
How to read these bands
A median is the middle of the admitted class, not a cutoff. Schools admit students on both sides of it every year. The bands above come from a common rough rule of thumb: at the median you are competitive, about 3 points below you are reaching, and about 3 points above you are strong. It is a sorting tool for your school list, not a prediction of any individual decision.
Your GPA works as a pair with your score. This school's median GPA was 3.92. A GPA above that median can help balance an LSAT below 172. A GPA below it puts more weight on your LSAT. Admissions offices read the whole file, but these two numbers are the fastest read on where you stand.
If your score is below the median
Two options, and they are not exclusive. First, a retake: a few more LSAT points move New York University from reach to target, and the score you submit is the one that counts. Second, apply anyway: strong essays, a strong GPA, and work experience have carried applicants below the median. The cost of an application is small next to the cost of not applying.
Frequently asked questions
Is the LSAT median a cutoff?
No. About half of the Fall 2025 class scored below 172 and still got in. Treat the median as a guidepost, not a wall.
Can a high GPA make up for a lower LSAT?
Sometimes. A GPA above the 3.92 median helps offset a score under 172. The two numbers work together, not alone.
Should I retake if I score below the median?
If you are several points under 172 and have time to prepare, a retake is usually worth it. If the rest of your file is strong, apply anyway and let the school decide.
Next steps
Take the free LSAT diagnostic to get your baseline, then compare it against this school's median of 172.
Medians from ABA Standard 509 disclosures via ILRG, Fall 2025 entering class. Score bands are rough rules of thumb, not guarantees.
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Last updated October 12, 2026