What Law Schools Can I Get Into With a 159?
A 159 on the LSAT sits between about the 54th and 71st percentile of recent LSAT scores (LSAC published table, 2023-2024 through 2025-2026 testing years). Below is every ABA school in our data whose Fall 2025 median LSAT sits at or below your score. Those are your targets: a score at or above the median makes you competitive.
This is around or above the national median. It clears the bar at many accredited schools. Whether it is enough depends on your list: compare it to each target school’s median, not to a national average.
Target schools for a 159 (most selective first)
| School | Rank | Median LSAT | Median GPA | Est. annual tuition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Penn State University (Dickinson) | #92 | 159 | 3.71 | $60,048 |
| Santa Clara University | #92 | 159 | 3.50 | $68,790 |
| Seattle University | #92 | 159 | 3.60 | $62,558 |
| Stetson University | #92 | 159 | 3.63 | $56,521 |
| Texas Tech University | #92 | 159 | 3.69 | $22,590 |
| University of Cincinnati | #92 | 159 | 3.80 | $24,010 |
| University of Kentucky | #92 | 159 | 3.72 | $25,685 |
| University of St. Thomas | #92 | 159 | 3.72 | $50,998 |
| Albany Law School Union U. | #100 | 158 | 3.54 | $63,994 |
| DePaul University | #100 | 158 | 3.61 | $55,328 |
| Marquette University | #100 | 158 | 3.70 | $51,970 |
| Regent University | #100 | 158 | 3.68 | $44,854 |
| Rutgers Law School (SUNJ) | #100 | 158 | 3.66 | $31,577 |
| Syracuse University | #100 | 158 | 3.60 | $64,650 |
| University of Arkansas, Fayetteville | #100 | 158 | 3.71 | $18,773 |
Showing the 15 most selective of 105 target schools.
Reach schools (median 160-162)
American University (162), Case Western Reserve U. (162), Michigan State University (162), University of Connecticut (162), University of Kansas (162), University of Oklahoma (162), University of South Carolina (162), Belmont University (161) and 17 more. Reach means your score sits just under the median. These are worth applications if the rest of your file is strong, especially with a GPA above their median.
How to read this list
- Target: your score is at or above the school's median. You are competitive there.
- Reach: your score is 1 to 3 points below the median. Apply if you like the school, but know it is a stretch.
- Long shot: 4 or more points below the median. Only worth the application fee if something else in your file is exceptional.
These are rules of thumb, not guarantees. Schools admit full classes, not medians: every school takes students above and below its median each year.
What to do with a 159
- Should you retake a 159? - the honest math on retaking vs. applying.
- Take a free diagnostic - find your real starting point if this score was a first attempt.
- Free LSAT prep - study plans and practice to raise the score.
Law schools for a 154 · Law schools for a 164
Common questions
Is a 159 a good LSAT score?
A 159 sits between about the 54th and 71st percentile of recent LSAT scores (LSAC, 2023-2026 testing years). Whether it is good depends on your target schools: compare it to each school’s published median LSAT, not to a single national cutoff. This is around or above the national median. It clears the bar at many accredited schools. Whether it is enough depends on your list: compare it to each target school’s median, not to a national average.
How many law schools can I get into with a 159?
In our data set of 196 ABA schools, 105 have a Fall 2025 median LSAT at or below 159. Those are your target schools: a score at or above the median makes you competitive. Another 25 sit within 3 points above, which counts as reach territory.
Should I retake a 159 on the LSAT?
Retake if your score sits below the medians of the schools you actually want to attend and you have time to prepare. Apply if you are at or above your target schools’ medians and the rest of your application is strong. Our page on whether to retake a 159 walks through the math: /should-i-retake/159
Medians from ABA Standard 509 disclosures via ILRG, Fall 2025 entering class. Tuition is the 2025-2026 sticker price. All cost figures are estimates, not guarantees.
Last updated October 12, 2026