How much does it cost to take the LSAT?
How much does it cost to take the LSAT?
$222 LSAT registration fee
$467 mandatory LSAT & CAS fees (including 1 report)
$1,200 – $3,000 average total LSAT costs (with exam prep)
LSAT cost
LSAT registration costs $222, and the mandatory Credential Assembly Service (CAS) subscription costs $200 plus $45 per law school report sent. Most students apply to a dozen law schools, bringing the total LSAT costs to nearly $1,000. With an optional LSAT prep course, your total LSAT will cost $1,200 to $3,000.
| Mandatory LSAT fees | Average cost |
|---|---|
| LSAT registration | $222 |
| Credential Assembly Service (CAS) | $200 |
| CAS report | $45 per school |
LSAT registration fees
The standard registration fee for the LSAT is $222, which includes the primary multiple-choice test along with the separate LSAT Writing section. The LSAT (Law School Admission Test) is a standardized exam necessary for entry into most law schools across the US and Canada.
CAS service & reports
The Credential Assembly Service (CAS), provided by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC), simplifies the law school application process. For a $200 subscription fee, CAS collects and compiles an applicant's key credentials, including transcripts, LSAT scores, letters of recommendation, and other required documents.
CAS then generates a standardized report that is sent to each law school the applicant applies to. Each CAS Report costs $45. The CAS subscription service is mandatory for almost all ABA-approved law schools in the United States and remains active for 5 years.
LSAC fee waivers
The LSAC (Law School Admission Council) Fee Waiver Program provides financial assistance to law school applicants who cannot afford the various fees associated with the law school application process. The program has two tiers that provide different levels of benefits based on the applicant's financial need:
Tier 1 fee waivers cover the costs of up to 2 LSAT exams, 1 LSAT Writing, Credential Assembly Service (CAS) registration, and 6 CAS law school reports. It also includes LSAT Prep Plus and Score Preview for 2 LSATs.
Tier 2 fee waivers cover the cost of 1 LSAT exam, 1 LSAT Writing, CAS registration, 3 CAS reports, and a Score Preview for one LSAT.
LSAT prep costs
Registration fees make up just a portion of your LSAT costs. Preparing for the test brings additional costs for study materials. While self-study prep books are available, many applicants invest in more structured study programs. Online prep courses cost $200 to $2,000, while private tutoring services range from $1,000 to $9,000.
| Study materials | Average cost |
|---|---|
| LSAT prep books | $20 – $100 |
| LSAT prep classes | $200 – $2,000 |
| LSAT tutoring services | $1,000 – $9,000 (10 to 30 tutoring hours) |
*Costs vary by location
There are a variety of LSAT study material options available, depending on your budget and study habits:
LSAT prep books: For the most disciplined students, LSAT prep books cost $20 to $100 and typically cover all of the tested material but require self-driven study habits.
Online prep courses: For students needing more structured learning, LSAT prep courses cost from $200 to $2,000, depending on the features and support provided. These courses include video lectures, practice questions, and instructor feedback.
LSAT Tutoring: For students wanting a more personalized study program, private LSAT tutors charge $100 to $300 per hour. Tutors can help you identify your weaknesses, develop a study plan, and stay motivated.
For those on a strict budget, LSAC offers a variety of free official LSAT prep resources, including practice tests, sample questions, and answer explanations. Students may also find free study guides and video tutorials online.
Additional LSAT fees
LSAT applicants have the option to pay additional fees, including $45 to $75 for an early preview of LSAT scores, $50 for an official score report, and $150 for a score audit. The following table details these common auxiliary fees.
| Optional fees | Average cost | Details |
|---|---|---|
| LSAT score preview | $45 – $75 |
Allows you to view your scores before they are officially released and cancel your test rather than have a low score appear on your report.
|
| Test date change | $Free – $222 (Varies with timing) |
You can change your test date free of charge up until the registration deadline.
|
| Official score report | $50 | Most law students use these reports for purposes outside of the law school application process. The reports include all the LSAT scores you’ve earned, including nonreportable scores (scores that are no longer valid for use in applying to law school). |
| Score audit | $150 | If you feel there are errors in your score, this is an optional service requesting the LSAC review your score to ensure it is accurate. |
While the exam registration fee can be partially or fully refunded before the test date, auxiliary LSAT fees are non-refundable.
How to save money on the LSAT
While most applicants will spend hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars to prepare for and take the LSAT, the exam costs are just a drop in the bucket compared to the $90,000 to $165,000 cost of law school. Test-takers can significantly reduce the financial burden of the LSAT by following these tips:
Apply for fee waivers through the LSAC fee waiver program.
Take advantage of military or GI Bill benefits that cover all LSAT costs and fees for eligible military members.
Use the available free and low-cost study materials to save money compared to the cost of online prep courses or private tutors.
Invest in quality study time to get a good score on your first test attempt. Test retakes are costly and limited.
LSAT exam FAQs
How long is the LSAT exam?
The LSAT is 3 hours and 45 minutes long in total, including a 15-minute break halfway through. Each scored section is 35 minutes long.
What is on the LSAT exam?
The LSAT currently contains 4 main sections:
Logical Reasoning: Assesses your ability to analyze arguments and critically evaluate them.
Analytical Reasoning (Logic Games): Tests your problem-solving and deductive reasoning skills.
Reading Comprehension: Measures your reading comprehension and comparative reading abilities.
Writing Sample: An unscored section that tests your persuasive writing skills, in which you'll receive a prompt and a limited amount of time to draft an essay response.
After August 2024, the LSAT will no longer have the logic games section but instead will have 2 Logical Reasoning (Arguments) sections.
How hard is the LSAT exam?
The LSAT is considered one of the most difficult standardized tests due to its unique focus on analytical and logical skills rather than content knowledge. Other factors contributing to the difficulty include the immense time commitment required to prepare and the high stakes involved in law school admissions. Scoring well on the LSAT is extremely challenging.
How many times can you take the LSAT?
Applicants can take the LSAT a maximum of 5 times within the current 5-year reporting period, and a total of 7 times over a lifetime, with some exceptions. Canceled LSAT scores count against the limit, while absences and withdrawals do not.
What is a good LSAT score?
For most accredited law schools, a score of at least 150 is usually necessary for acceptance. For the top 25 law schools, a score of 160 or better is considered competitive. For the top 10 law schools, a score of 170 or higher is the target to aim for.
What is the difference between the LSAT and the bar exam?
The LSAT is an aptitude test used for law school admission. The bar exam is a licensing exam that tests a law school graduate’s legal knowledge and ability to apply it, ensuring they are competent to practice law. A bar exam costs $100 to $1,000 in registration fees alone, depending on the state.
Questions to ask an LSAT tutor
When searching for an LSAT tutor near you, ask these questions to help you evaluate the tutor's expertise, teaching approach, and ability to support your exam preparation effectively:
How long have you been tutoring students for the LSAT?
What is your educational and professional background as it relates to the LSAT?
How many students have you successfully tutored for the LSAT? Can you provide any testimonials or references?
What is your overall LSAT tutoring approach and philosophy?
How do you assess a student's strengths and weaknesses on the LSAT?
What types of LSAT prep materials and resources do you use in your tutoring sessions?
How do you structure and customize your tutoring sessions to meet each student's individual needs?
What strategies do you teach for approaching the different LSAT question types?
How do you help students improve their timing and pacing on the LSAT?
What is your availability and scheduling flexibility for tutoring sessions?
Do you offer both in-person and online tutoring options?
What is your hourly rate for LSAT tutoring services?
Do you provide any guarantees or score improvement promises?
Using our proprietary cost database, in-depth research, and collaboration with industry experts, we deliver accurate, up-to-date pricing and insights you can trust, every time.