LSAC GPA calculator
This LSAC GPA calculator applies the Law School Admission Council's grade scale - where A+ equals 4.33, not 4.0 - and counts all course attempts including repeats. Mark any retaken course with the Repeat checkbox. The result estimates the GPA that LSAC will report in your Credential Assembly Service (CAS) law school report.
LSAC GPA Rules
- All course attempts count - repeated courses are NOT replaced
- A+ = 4.33 (not 4.0 like the standard scale)
- WF (Withdrawal Failing) counts as attempted credits with 0 points
- Only undergraduate coursework is included
Your LSAC GPA
Enter your courses and grades above to calculate your LSAC GPA.
What Is an LSAC GPA Calculator?
An LSAC GPA calculator estimates the grade point average that the Law School Admission Council will compute for a law school applicant by recalculating all undergraduate grades using the LSAC's standardized conversion system.
- Applies LSAC's conversion system - not the transcript GPA - for law school admissions
- Includes all undergraduate courses and transcripts, including transfers and post-bac work
- Converts grades from any grading scale to the LSAC 4.0-equivalent system
- LSAC includes grades that the institution may have forgiven or excluded from the institutional GPA
- The LSAC GPA differs from the institutional cumulative GPA in most cases
The Law School Admission Council (LSAC) recalculates every applicant's undergraduate GPA using its own standardized formula. LSAC includes all undergraduate courses from all institutions attended, including courses the home institution may have excluded under grade forgiveness policies. LSAC also includes courses that were repeated - using the grade from every attempt, not just the most recent one. As a result, the LSAC GPA is often lower than the institutional transcript GPA.
How Does LSAC Calculate GPA for Law School Applications?
Gather all undergraduate transcripts
LSAC requires transcripts from every institution attended, including dual enrollment, transfer, and post-baccalaureate courses.
Convert all grades to LSAC's scale
LSAC uses a conversion chart to map grades from all grading systems to its 4.0 scale. Unique grade systems are converted according to LSAC guidelines.
Include all course attempts
LSAC includes every attempt at every course, including repeated courses where the institution replaced the original grade.
Exclude non-academic credits
LSAC excludes pass/fail courses, continuing education credits, and some professional certificate coursework.
Apply LSAC's weighted average formula
LSAC divides total quality points from all included courses by total semester hours attempted to produce the LSAC GPA.
Worked Example
Institutional GPA: 3.4 (after grade forgiveness). LSAC GPA: 3.1 (includes original failed course attempt and forgiven grade). LSAC GPA is typically lower.
LSAC GPA vs. Institutional GPA: Key Differences
| Factor | Institutional GPA | LSAC GPA |
|---|---|---|
| Transcripts included | Home institution only | All institutions attended |
| Grade forgiveness | Forgiven grades may be excluded | All original grades included regardless of forgiveness |
| Repeated courses | Latest grade (at most schools) | All attempts included |
| Pass/fail courses | Excluded from GPA | Excluded from LSAC calculation |
| Scale used | Institution's native scale | LSAC standardized 4.0 conversion |
| Result | Appears on transcript | Appears in LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS) report |
LSAC GPA calculator - Specialized GPA Systems
While the standard 4.0 scale is universal in the US, certain institutions and programs use specialized GPA calculations. Understanding these variations is critical for law school (LSAC), University of California system, or medical school (AMCAS) applicants.
LSAC GPA (Law School)
The Law School Admission Council (LSAC) calculates its own GPA for law school applicants. This LSAC GPA often differs from the school-reported GPA for several reasons:
- LSAC counts all undergraduate coursework, including transfer credits the school may have excluded
- Courses taken at multiple institutions are all included
- LSAC uses its own grade conversion table, which may differ from the school's
- Repeated courses: LSAC counts both the original and repeated grade, not just the better one
Full details on LSAC GPA methodology are available at lsac.org.
UC System GPA
The University of California system recalculates GPA from 10th and 11th grade a-g courses:
- Only a-g courses count (English, Math, Lab Science, Foreign Language, History, Elective, Visual/Performing Arts)
- Extra weight for up to 8 semesters of UC-approved Honors/AP/IB courses (+1.0 bonus per grade)
- 9th and 12th grade courses are not included in the UC GPA calculation
- Maximum honors points capped to prevent inflation
GPA Scales Around the World
United States
Scale: 0.0 – 4.0
Pass: 2.0 (C)
Top: 4.0 (A+)
United Kingdom
Scale: First / 2:1 / 2:2
Pass: Third Class
Top: First Class (70%+)
Canada
Scale: 0.0 – 4.0 (varies)
Pass: 2.0
Top: 4.0
Germany
Scale: 1.0 – 5.0 (reversed)
Pass: 4.0
Top: 1.0
India
Scale: Percentage / CGPA
Pass: 40–50%
Top: 90%+ / 9.0+
Australia
Scale: HD/D/C/P/F
Pass: Pass (50–64%)
Top: High Distinction (85%+)
Standard Grade Point Scale
| Grade | GPA Points | Percentage | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| A+ | 4.0 | 97–100% | Exceptional |
| A | 4.0 | 93–96% | Excellent |
| A− | 3.7 | 90–92% | Near Excellent |
| B+ | 3.3 | 87–89% | Above Average |
| B | 3.0 | 83–86% | Average |
| B− | 2.7 | 80–82% | Below Average |
| C+ | 2.3 | 77–79% | Satisfactory |
| C | 2.0 | 73–76% | Passing |
| C− | 1.7 | 70–72% | Near Passing |
| D+ | 1.3 | 67–69% | Below Passing |
| D | 1.0 | 63–66% | Minimal Pass |
| D− | 0.7 | 60–62% | Poor |
| F | 0.0 | 0–59% | Failing |
Specialized GPA Requirements by Program
| Purpose | Minimum GPA | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Law School (LSAC GPA) | 3.5+ | Median LSAC GPA for admitted students at top-14 law schools is 3.7–3.9. LSAC includes all undergraduate courses. |
| Medical School (AMCAS) | 3.5+ | AMCAS calculates overall GPA and a separate science GPA (BCPM: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Math). |
| UC System Admission | 3.0 (weighted) | UC calculates a capped and uncapped weighted GPA from 10th–11th grade a-g courses only. |
| Science GPA (pre-med) | 3.5+ | Medical schools evaluate science GPA separately. A low science GPA below 3.2 significantly reduces admission chances. |
| GPA Without Credit Hours | Varies | When courses have no credit value, use 1 credit per course for an equal-weight average. This calculator supports no-credit calculations. |
| GPA from Percentage Score | Varies | Convert percentage to letter grade first, then to grade points. 90%+ = A = 4.0, 80–89% = B = 3.0, etc. |
Common Mistakes With Specialized GPA Calculations
Assuming LSAC GPA equals the school-reported GPA
Problem: LSAC includes all undergraduate courses (repeated courses both counted, all institutions combined). The LSAC GPA is often lower than the school-reported GPA.
Fix: Calculate LSAC GPA early in the application process by entering all undergraduate coursework from all institutions, including repeated courses with both grades.
Not calculating science GPA separately for medical school
Problem: Medical school applicants who only track overall GPA miss the BCPM (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Math) science GPA, which is evaluated independently by AMCAS.
Fix: Enter only BCPM-classified courses into a separate calculator session to compute science GPA. Track it alongside overall GPA from sophomore year onward.
Including 9th or 12th grade courses in UC GPA calculation
Problem: The UC system uses only 10th and 11th grade a-g courses. Including 9th or 12th grade courses produces an incorrect UC GPA.
Fix: List only 10th and 11th grade a-g courses when calculating UC GPA. Apply the UC honors cap (maximum 8 semesters of bonus points).
Calculating GPA from percentage without using the correct conversion scale
Problem: Different institutions define letter grade cutoffs differently (some use 90% for A, others use 93%). Using the wrong conversion produces an inaccurate GPA.
Fix: Use the school's published grading scale for conversion. Most US schools: A = 90–100% or 93–100% depending on the policy. Apply the specific cutoffs from the institution's catalog.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my LSAC GPA lower than my college GPA?
Does LSAC count repeated courses?
Does grade forgiveness help my LSAC GPA?
Does LSAC use a 4.0 or 4.33 scale?
What LSAC GPA do I need for top law schools?
Are pass/fail courses included in the LSAC GPA?
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