2026 CLASS PROFILE AND ABA 509 DATA
USC Law School Admissions: LSAT, GPA, Cost, and Jobs (2026)
65.2% of USC's 2024 class went straight into biglaw. The median LSAT is 169, the median GPA a 3.9, and the acceptance rate is 11.2%, but tuition runs $84,034 a year, and that number needs weighing against the biglaw signing bonus you're betting on.
The 2026 entering class
USC Law School's 2026 entering class had a median LSAT of 170, up 1 from 169 in 2025. The median GPA was 3.93.
| Year | LSAT 25th | LSAT 50th | LSAT 75th | GPA 25th | GPA 50th | GPA 75th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 166 | 170 | 171 | 3.81 | 3.93 | 4.00 |
Source: the school's own 2026 class profile, as of September 26, 2026. These numbers can shift until the 2026 ABA 509 reports publish. Everything below this section is 2025 ABA 509 data.
What it takes to get in
These are the school's own reported 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile LSAT and GPA numbers from its ABA Standard 509 filing, the same disclosure every accredited law school has to file each year. The 50th percentile is the median: half the admitted class scored above it, half below.
| Year | LSAT 25th | LSAT 50th | LSAT 75th | GPA 25th | GPA 50th | GPA 75th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 165 | 169 | 170 | 3.7 | 3.9 | 4.0 |
| 2019 | 163 | 166 | 167 | 3.6 | 3.8 | 3.9 |
| 2015 | 161 | 166 | 167 | 3.5 | 3.8 | 3.9 |
The median LSAT is up 3 points since 2019 and the median GPA moved +0.1. The bar moved here.
Your odds
A 169 LSAT lands you at USC's median, with the middle 50% running 165 to 170. At 11.2%, the acceptance rate rejects the large majority of a strong applicant pool. Run your own numbers through the calculator before you assume your file clears the bar.
See where you land: the LSAT Unplugged law school chances calculator. What is 1 LSAT point worth here? See the scholarship math.
What it costs
| Sticker tuition (2025) | $84,034/yr |
| 3-year sticker total | $252,102 |
| Pays full sticker | 4.9% |
| Gets some grant | 95.1% |
95.1% of the class received some grant and only 4.9% paid full sticker, and a score above the 170 75th percentile is the strongest bargaining position you'll have for merit aid at a school this expensive.
What you get out (Class of 2024)
| Class year reported | 2024 |
| FT/LT employed, 10 months out | 94.6% |
| Biglaw (101+ lawyer firms) | 65.2% |
| Federal clerkships | 1.4% |
| Government + public interest | 9.5% |
| Bar pass rate | 82.4% |
94.6% of the 2024 class landed a full-time, long-term job within 10 months, 65.2% went to biglaw, and at that placement rate, the debt on $252,102 in sticker tuition gets serviced about as fast as it can.
Schools like USC
These 6 are the closest match by median LSAT, then median GPA, out of all 196 schools in the 509 master (as of 2026). Use them as your realistic comparison set, not the list of "reach" schools everyone starts with.
FAQ
What LSAT score do you need for USC Law School?
The median LSAT for USC's 2025 class is 169. The 25th percentile is 165 and the 75th is 170.
What GPA do you need for USC Law School?
The median GPA is 3.9. The 25th percentile is 3.7 and the 75th is 4.0.
What is USC Law School's acceptance rate?
11.2% for the 2025 cycle, based on 805 offers out of 7,204 applications.
How much does USC Law School cost with and without aid?
Sticker tuition is $84,034 a year, or $252,102 over 3 years before living costs. 95.1% of the class gets some grant, and only 4.9% pays full price.
What jobs do USC Law School graduates get?
94.6% of the 2024 graduating class had a full-time, long-term job within 10 months. 65.2% went to biglaw and 1.4% landed a federal clerkship.
Is USC Law School worth it at sticker?
For most admitted students, yes. A 94.6% placement rate and 65.2% biglaw share mean the debt from $252,102 in sticker tuition gets paid down fast for most graduates, and 95.1% grant coverage keeps most students from paying that full number in the first place.
Source: ABA Standard 509 Information Reports, 2015 to 2025, via LSAT Unplugged's 509 master. Verify against the school's filing before relying on it. Last updated 2026-09-30.
