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Average LSAT Scores by Major

How long should you study for the LSAT - image by Magoosh

Are some majors better prepared for the LSAT than others? While law schools don’t require students to have any particular major, Derek T. Muller, Associate Professor of Law at Pepperdine University School of Law, set out to find the answer.

Muller requested data from the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) for all 2013 applicants to law school. Applicants self-identified their major(s) from 142 majors, and Muller calculated the average GPAs and average LSAT scores by major.

Muller found that Classics majors are the best law school applicants, numbers-wise; this small group of students earned both the highest average LSAT (159.8) and the highest average GPA (3.477).

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Photo courtesy of excessofdemocracy.com

Source: Derek T. Muller, Excess of Democracy: “The Best Prospective Law Students Read Homer”

Muller also identified a correlation between LSAT and GPA, though there were some exceptions. Science majors, for example, typically reported high LSAT scores but low GPAs. In contrast, students majoring in accounting, law, social work, and Spanish generally earned low LSAT scores but high GPAs.

Average LSAT Scores by Major in 2018

For an updated look at this analysis, here are the LSAT scores and GPAs by major for 2017-2018 law school applicants based on numbers reported by the LSAC. The general trends identified by Muller remain the same with one notable difference—Math majors’ LSAT scores and GPAs are now the highest among all the majors!

Major Number of Applicants LSAT Score GPA
Mathematics 293 162.8 3.64
Classics 264 160.3 3.64
Policy Studies 339 158.9 3.55
Art History 245 157.4 3.51
International Relations 1,104 156.7 3.51
Economics 2,757 158.9 3.49
Philosophy 2,238 157.2 3.44
International Studies 725 157.3 3.58
Government/Service 469 157.2 3.46
Biology (Specialization) 355 157.8 3.35
Music 314 155.7 3.54
History 3,138 156.3 3.47
Mechanical Engineering 197 157.95 3.38
Anthropology 432 156.0 3.45
Religion 330 155.95 3.52
Foreign Languages 327 157.3 3.57
Literature 220 157.3 3.56
Environmental Sciences 420 156.4 3.39
English 3,151 154.8 3.44
Political Science 11,947 153.6 3.40
Chemistry, General 246 156.02 3.38
Interdisciplinary Studies 489 155.7 3.49
Spanish 874 154.03 3.52
Electrical Engineering 177 158.8 3.23
Arts & Humanities 3,151 154.8 3.44
Finance 1,471 154.96 3.39
Journalism 713 153.7 3.47
Business & Management- Other 2,757 158.99 3.49
Psychology 3,736 152.5 3.36
International Business 369 151.9 3.36
Biology (General) 746 154.3 3.20
Communications 1,838 150.8 3.34
Social Sciences – Other 626 154.5 3.49
Accounting 919 153.3 3.43
Criminology 934 149.4 3.3
Liberal Arts 830 151.68 3.27
Sociology 1,870 150.59 3.3
Marketing 1,002 151.29 3.26
Law Enforcement 29 146 3.36
Pre-law 660 148.09 3.24
Business Management 986 150.3 3.26
Business Administration 1,489 149.32 3.21
Business Mgmt/Admin 517 151.49 3.33
Social Work 261 147.68 3.36
Criminal Justice 3,629 145.87 3.23
Any area not listed – other 4537 148.41 3.23

Source: Law School Admissions Council, Applicants by Major: “2017–2018”

What does this data mean?

It could mean some majors prepare their students for the content on the LSAT better than others. Or it could mean students who select certain majors already have a set of academic strengths and weaknesses that affect performance on the LSAT. While there is generally a correlation between major and LSAT, take the data with a grain of salt – these data points are self-identified, and some of these students choose other career options outside of law and don’t matriculate in law school.

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One thing is for certain-your GPA matters when applying to law schools, especially a top 14 law school (or even a top 100 law school!). So, study hard, no matter your major, and do the best you can!

Do you know what the average LSAT score is across all test takers?

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Author

  • Catherine

    Catherine supports Magoosh’s future grad school students by unlocking tricks of the test prep and application trade. She specializes in the LSAT, but also brings her experience in test prep and higher ed admissions to Magoosh students. Catherine spends her free time checking out local farmer’s markets, reading food and lifestyle blogs, and watching Bravo. She is forever in search of the best Mexican and Italian food in any given city.

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