How to Calculate Your LSAC GPA for Law School
When applying to law school in the United States or Canada, your undergraduate GPA is completely recalculated by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) through the Credential Assembly Service (CAS). According to the official LSAC Transcript Summarization policies, this standardizes transcripts from thousands of different universities. Our LSAC GPA Calculator uses the exact 4.33 scale conversion matrix that the LSAC employs.
The 4.33 Scale Advantage
Unlike medical school admissions (which strictly cap grades at 4.0), the LSAC rewards students who attend undergraduate institutions that award A+ grades. Under the LSAC conversion matrix, an A+ is worth a massive 4.33 grade points.
This means if you attended an undergraduate university that grants A+ grades, it is mathematically possible to achieve a cumulative LSAC GPA higher than a 4.0. If your university caps grades at a standard A (4.0), you are at a slight statistical disadvantage. You can check if your undergraduate institution awards A+ grades using our College GPA Calculators directory.
How Retaken Classes Are Handled
The LSAC is notoriously unforgiving when it comes to retaken courses. Even if your undergraduate university has a "grade forgiveness" policy where they wipe a failed class off your transcript upon retaking it, the LSAC will count both grades. The original 'F' (0.0 points) and the new 'A' (4.0 points) will both be averaged into your cumulative LSAC GPA.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Every single college-level course you took prior to the conferral of your first bachelor's degree will be factored into your LSAC GPA, regardless of whether those credits transferred to your primary degree-granting institution.
No. Grades earned in a Master's or PhD program are not factored into your LSAC GPA. Law school admissions committees will see your graduate transcript, but they rely almost exclusively on your undergraduate GPA for rankings and medians.
Law school admissions are heavily numbers-based, primarily focusing on two metrics: your LSAC GPA and your LSAT score. If your GPA is below the median for your target school, you must compensate with an LSAT score that is significantly above their median (often referred to as being a "splitter"). If you are still in undergrad, focus on acing your remaining courses. Use our Final Grade Calculator to ensure you secure the highest grades possible before graduation.