Estimate your merit scholarship based on your LSAT score and GPA using official ABA 509 data
How We Calculate Estimates
Our scholarship estimates are based on official ABA 509 disclosure data, which includes the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile scholarship amounts for each school. We estimate your likely scholarship based on how your LSAT and GPA compare to each school's median admitted student profile. Students with stats above the median typically receive larger scholarships to attract them to the school.
Important Disclaimer:
This calculator provides estimates based on historical ABA 509 scholarship data and should be used as a general guide only. Actual scholarship offers depend on many factors including the applicant pool for your cycle, institutional priorities, diversity considerations, and other factors beyond LSAT and GPA. Merit scholarships are typically awarded at the time of admission and may come with conditions for renewal. Always verify current scholarship policies directly with each school.
Our Merit Scholarship Calculator uses official data from ABA 509 Information Reports, which all accredited law schools must publish annually. This data includes the 25th, 50th (median), and 75th percentile scholarship amounts awarded to students at each school. By comparing your LSAT score and GPA to each school's median admitted student profile, we estimate which percentile of scholarship you're likely to receive. Students with stats above the median typically receive larger scholarships as schools compete to attract them.
Merit scholarships are financial awards based primarily on your academic credentials—specifically your LSAT score and undergraduate GPA. Unlike need-based aid, merit scholarships are designed to attract high-performing students who could attend peer or higher-ranked schools. This means applicants with stats above a school's median often receive the most generous offers.
| Scholarship Level | Typical Profile | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | Stats well above median | Top 25% of scholarship recipients |
| 50th Percentile (Median) | Stats near median | Typical scholarship amount |
| 25th Percentile | Stats below median | Lower end of scholarship range |
While LSAT and GPA are the primary drivers of merit scholarships, other factors can influence your offer. Application timing matters—applying early when more scholarship funds are available can result in larger offers. Negotiation is also possible; if you have competing offers from peer schools, you may be able to negotiate a higher scholarship. Additionally, some schools offer named scholarshipswith specific criteria beyond academics, such as public interest commitment or geographic ties.
Yes, scholarship negotiation is common in law school admissions. If you have competing offers from peer or higher-ranked schools, you can often use these as leverage to request a reconsideration of your scholarship. Be professional and provide documentation of your other offers.
Most merit scholarships are renewable, but many come with conditions—typically maintaining a certain GPA (often top 50% or a specific GPA threshold). Before accepting a scholarship, carefully review the renewal conditions and the school's historical data on how many students lose their scholarships.
This depends on your career goals. A full scholarship at a regional school can be excellent if you want to practice in that region. However, if you're targeting BigLaw or national opportunities, the employment outcomes at higher-ranked schools may justify taking on some debt. Calculate your expected salary and debt load to make an informed decision.
Scholarship offers typically come with your admission decision or shortly after. Some schools include scholarship information in the initial acceptance letter, while others send a separate financial aid package within a few weeks. If you haven't received scholarship information within 2-3 weeks of acceptance, contact the admissions office.