Lsac Online Calculator

A precise tool to calculate your undergraduate GPA according to the official Law School Admission Council (LSAC) standards.

Calculate Your LSAC GPA

What is the LSAC Online Calculator?

An LSAC online calculator is a tool designed specifically for pre-law students to determine their undergraduate Grade Point Average (GPA) as the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) will see it. This is crucial because the GPA calculated by LSAC often differs from the one on your university transcript. LSAC standardizes grades from all U.S. and Canadian undergraduate institutions to create a uniform measure for law school admissions committees. This process involves using all undergraduate coursework, including from transfer colleges, community colleges, and even repeated courses, to calculate a final cumulative GPA on a 4.33 scale.

The LSAC GPA Formula and Explanation

The LSAC online calculator uses a weighted average formula to determine your GPA. The calculation is straightforward: for each course, the credit hours are multiplied by the numeric grade point value assigned by LSAC. These products (quality points) are summed up and then divided by the total number of credit hours attempted.

Formula: LSAC GPA = (Σ (Grade Points × Credit Hours)) / (Total Credit Hours)

LSAC Grade Conversion Table

Here is the standard table LSAC uses to convert letter grades into their numeric equivalents. Note the inclusion of A+ as a 4.33, which can sometimes result in a higher LSAC GPA than your school’s GPA if your institution caps grades at 4.0.

Official LSAC Grade to Point Value Conversions

Letter Grade	LSAC 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
D-	0.67
F	0.00

Practical Examples

Example 1: Standard Semester

A student completes a semester with the following grades:

• Intro to Philosophy (3 credits): A
• Calculus I (4 credits): B-
• American History (3 credits): A-
• Biology Lab (1 credit): B+

Calculation:

• Philosophy: 4.00 * 3 = 12.00 quality points
• Calculus I: 2.67 * 4 = 10.68 quality points
• American History: 3.67 * 3 = 11.01 quality points
• Biology Lab: 3.33 * 1 = 3.33 quality points
• Total Quality Points: 37.02
• Total Credits: 11
• LSAC GPA: 37.02 / 11 = 3.365

Example 2: A Semester with an A+

Another student has a very successful semester:

• Organic Chemistry (4 credits): A+
• Political Science (3 credits): A
• English Literature (3 credits): B+

Calculation:

• Organic Chemistry: 4.33 * 4 = 17.32 quality points
• Political Science: 4.00 * 3 = 12.00 quality points
• English Literature: 3.33 * 3 = 9.99 quality points
• Total Quality Points: 39.31
• Total Credits: 10
• LSAC GPA: 39.31 / 10 = 3.931

How to Use This LSAC Online Calculator

Using this calculator is simple and provides an instant, accurate estimate of your LSAC GPA.

1. Add Courses: Click the “+ Add Course” button to create a new row for each class on your undergraduate transcript.
2. Enter Credits: For each course, type the number of credit hours it was worth. Most standard courses are 3 or 4 credits.
3. Select Grade: Use the dropdown menu to select the letter grade you received for that course. The menu includes all standard grades from A+ to F.
4. Calculate: Once all your courses are entered, click the “Calculate GPA” button.
5. Review Results: The calculator will display your final LSAC GPA, along with intermediate values like total credits and total quality points, giving you a clear picture of the calculation. The grade distribution chart will also update automatically.

Understanding the LSAT score calculator can also provide a comprehensive view of your application.

Key Factors That Affect Your LSAC GPA

Several factors can cause your LSAC GPA to differ from your school’s GPA. Awareness of these is key for any law school applicant.

• Repeated Courses: Unlike many universities that may replace a grade when you retake a course, LSAC includes both the original and the new grade in its calculation. This can significantly lower your GPA if you had to repeat a class with a failing grade.
• Community College & Transfer Credits: LSAC considers all undergraduate coursework from any institution you’ve attended prior to the conferral of your first bachelor’s degree. This includes courses from community colleges, summer sessions at other universities, or dual-enrollment classes taken in high school.
• The A+ Grade: If your school issues A+ grades and you’ve received them, your LSAC GPA might be higher than your school’s GPA, as LSAC awards a 4.33 for an A+. Conversely, if your school doesn’t offer the A+ grade, you cannot benefit from this bump.
• Withdrawals: A simple “W” (Withdraw) on your transcript is typically non-punitive and won’t be factored into your GPA. However, a “WF” (Withdraw Fail) or any punitive withdrawal is treated as a 0.00 (an F) by LSAC, even if your school doesn’t include it in its GPA calculation.
• International Transcripts: Coursework from institutions outside the U.S. and Canada is not included in the GPA calculation. Instead, LSAC provides a qualitative evaluation.
• Pass/Fail Grades: Courses taken on a Pass/Fail basis are not included in the GPA calculation. However, if a “Fail” is assigned a punitive grade by the school (like an F), it will be included.

Learn more about how to navigate your law school admissions process effectively.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Why is my LSAC GPA different from my university GPA?

Your LSAC GPA can differ for many reasons. LSAC includes grades from all colleges attended, counts both attempts for repeated courses, and uses its own 4.33 grading scale.

2. How are Pass/Fail classes treated?

Passing grades from Pass/Fail courses are not factored into the GPA. However, a failing grade is treated as a 0.00 if the school considers it punitive.

3. Does LSAC round the final GPA?

LSAC calculates the GPA to three decimal places but does not round it up or down in the traditional sense on the report sent to law schools.

4. What about courses taken after I graduated?

Any coursework completed after the date your first bachelor’s degree was conferred is not included in the cumulative undergraduate GPA calculation. It will be reported separately.

5. Are graduate school grades included in the LSAC GPA?

No, graduate-level coursework (Master’s, PhD) is not included in the undergraduate GPA calculation but is reported to law schools separately.

6. How are quarter hours converted?

LSAC converts quarter hours to semester hours. Typically, a quarter hour is considered two-thirds of a semester hour (e.g., 3 quarter hours = 2 semester hours).

7. What if I have fewer than 60 credit hours?

LSAC will not calculate a GPA if you have fewer than 60 graded credit hours from a U.S./Canadian institution. Law schools will evaluate your transcript more holistically in this case.

8. Should I write an addendum to explain a low LSAC GPA?

If there’s a significant discrepancy between your school’s GPA and your LSAC GPA due to factors like a poor freshman year or a punitive withdrawal from a past institution, an addendum can provide helpful context.

A strong LSAT score is also a key component of your application.