LSAC GPA Calculator

Calculate your GPA according to the Law School Admission Council’s standardized formula.

Enter Your Courses

Add each course from your undergraduate transcripts. The calculator will use the official LSAC conversion scale.

Your Calculated LSAC GPA is:

0.00

Total Credits: 0 |
Total Quality Points: 0

What is the LSAC GPA?

The LSAC GPA is a standardized grade point average calculated by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) through its Credential Assembly Service (CAS). Law schools use this standardized GPA to create a uniform basis for comparing applicants from different undergraduate institutions, which may have varying grading policies. Your LSAC GPA might differ from the GPA on your university transcript because LSAC includes all undergraduate coursework, counts repeated courses differently, and uses its own specific grade conversion table. This ensures that every applicant is evaluated on a level playing field. To properly lsac calculate gpa, one must consider every undergraduate course taken before the conferral of a first bachelor’s degree.

LSAC GPA Formula and Explanation

The formula to lsac calculate gpa is straightforward. It is the sum of all “quality points” divided by the sum of all “credit hours” for all undergraduate courses.

Formula: LSAC GPA = (Total Quality Points) / (Total Credit Hours)

Where Quality Points for a single course are calculated as: (LSAC Grade Value) x (Credit Hours for the course).

The key is using the correct LSAC grade values, as shown in the conversion table below. This process differs from many universities, especially regarding ‘A+’ grades, which LSAC values at 4.33.

LSAC Grade Conversion Table

This table shows the standard values LSAC assigns to letter grades.

Letter Grade	LSAC Point Value
A+	4.33
A	4.00
A-	3.67
B+	3.33
B	3.00
B-	2.67
C+	2.33
C	2.00
C-	1.67
D+	1.33
D	1.00
F	0.00

For more detailed information, consider reviewing an interpretive guide to undergraduate grading systems.

Practical Examples

Example 1: The High Achiever

An applicant has completed the following four courses:

• Intro to Political Science: A (4.00) for 3 credits -> 12.00 quality points
• Calculus I: A- (3.67) for 4 credits -> 14.68 quality points
• American History: B+ (3.33) for 3 credits -> 9.99 quality points
• English Composition: A+ (4.33) for 3 credits -> 12.99 quality points

Total Quality Points: 49.66
Total Credits: 13

LSAC GPA: 49.66 / 13 = 3.82

Example 2: A Semester of Mixed Results

Another applicant shows more varied performance:

• Organic Chemistry: C+ (2.33) for 4 credits -> 9.32 quality points
• Philosophy 101: A- (3.67) for 3 credits -> 11.01 quality points
• Public Speaking: B (3.00) for 3 credits -> 9.00 quality points
• Statistics (retake): D (1.00) for 3 credits -> 3.00 quality points

Total Quality Points: 32.33
Total Credits: 13

LSAC GPA: 32.33 / 13 = 2.49. Note that even if the student’s home university has a grade forgiveness policy for the retaken Statistics course, LSAC will still include both grades in its calculation.

How to Use This LSAC GPA Calculator

1. Add Courses: Click the “+ Add Course” button to create a new row for each class on your transcript.
2. Select Grade: For each course, choose the letter grade you received from the dropdown menu.
3. Enter Credits: Input the number of credit hours for that course. Ensure you use semester hours. If your school uses quarter hours, consult the LSAC website for the correct conversion.
4. Calculate: Click the “Calculate GPA” button. The tool will automatically perform the lsac calculate gpa logic.
5. Review Results: Your cumulative LSAC GPA will be displayed prominently, along with total credits and quality points. The bar chart will also update to show your grade distribution.

Key Factors That Affect Your LSAC GPA

• A+ Grades: Since LSAC awards a 4.33 for an A+, but many universities cap at 4.0, your LSAC GPA may be higher than your school’s GPA if you have A+ grades.
• Repeated Courses: LSAC includes both the original and repeated grade in its calculation, even if your school only uses the higher grade. This is a crucial point when you lsac calculate gpa.
• Community College / Transfer Credits: All grades from all undergraduate institutions attended before your first bachelor’s degree are included.
• Withdrawals: A simple “Withdraw” (W) is typically not included. However, a “Withdraw/Fail” (WF) is counted as a 0.00 F.
• Pass/Fail Grades: Courses taken on a Pass/Fail basis are not included in the GPA calculation unless the transcript equates “Pass” to a specific letter grade.
• International Coursework: Grades from institutions outside the US and Canada are generally not included in the GPA calculation but are still reviewed by admissions committees.

Understanding these nuances is essential for anyone trying to accurately lsac calculate gpa. Another helpful tool could be a CAS GPA calculator.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Why is my LSAC GPA different from my school’s GPA?

Your LSAC GPA can differ for several reasons: LSAC includes grades from all undergraduate institutions, counts repeated courses that your school might forgive, and uses a standardized 4.33 scale that may not match your school’s.

2. Does LSAC count graduate school grades?

No, the LSAC GPA calculation only includes courses taken before your first bachelor’s degree is conferred. Graduate coursework is sent to law schools but not factored into the GPA.

3. What happens with a “Withdraw” on my transcript?

A non-punitive withdrawal (e.g., “W”) is excluded from the GPA calculation. However, a punitive withdrawal, such as a “Withdraw/Fail” (WF), is treated as an F (0.00).

4. How are Pass/Fail classes handled?

Grades of “Pass” are not factored into the GPA. A “Fail” grade, however, is counted as an F (0.00).

5. Is it possible to have an LSAC GPA above 4.0?

Yes. Because LSAC assigns a value of 4.33 to A+ grades, a student with many A+ grades can achieve a cumulative GPA above 4.00.

6. What is a good GPA for law school?

While this varies, top-tier law schools often have median GPAs of 3.8 or higher. However, admissions are holistic, and a strong LSAT score can help offset a lower GPA.

7. Will this calculator be 100% accurate?

This calculator uses the standard LSAC formula. For a definitive calculation, you must submit your official transcripts to LSAC’s Credential Assembly Service (CAS). This tool provides a very reliable estimate to help you lsac calculate gpa in advance.

8. Where can I find the official LSAC grade conversion table?

The official LSAC grade conversion table is available on the LSAC website and is the basis for all official calculations.