Some law schools do accept GRE scores as an alternate test score to the LSAT when evaluating graduate applications. For example, the University of Dayton (UD) School of Law’s American Bar Association-approved Online Hybrid Juris Doctor (J.D.) program accepts valid GRE scores from applicants who have not taken the LSAT. Only scores earned within five years of the expected date of entry into law school will be considered.

While you only need to take either the GRE or the LSAT, UD will consider both scores if you have taken both tests. If you decide to take the LSAT,¹ keep in mind that UD considers it to be the primary admission test, regardless of if you submit a GRE score in addition.

Prepare to serve your community with integrity through UD’s School of Law. Experience the school’s innovative approach to legal education through a blend of live online classes, interactive online coursework and a total of 10 campus visits spread across your four years in the program. Upon graduation, you will be prepared to sit for the bar exam in most states.

Apply to the Online Hybrid J.D. program with your GRE score.

For decades, the LSAT has been the only admission test accepted by law schools across the nation and a rite of passage for aspiring law students. In recent years, several institutions have concluded that the GRE is as valid and reliable a predictor of law school success as the LSAT.

Part of the shift toward accepting GRE scores for law school admission is recognition of the need for greater accessibility to aspiring graduate students. It also broadens and diversifies the applicant pool in law school admissions.

The GRE is widely accepted as the standard test for graduate school admissions. In fact, many business schools accept it as a substitute for the GMAT.

The versatility of the GRE means prospective graduates can take a single exam even while considering a variety of graduate program options and career paths. With law school among those options, you can now get accepted into law school without having to take the LSAT.

Acceptance of the GRE for law school as an alternate to the LSAT is acknowledgment that high-quality law school candidates can come from a variety of backgrounds. Admissions departments can also reach more applicants and law schools can build more diverse student bodies, including those who might not have previously considered pursuing a law degree.

This also allows for an increased opportunity to combine fields of expertise for a rewarding career. For example, if you are an undergraduate STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) major, you have the chance to apply to law school with your GRE score and pursue a career that combines your STEM educational background with legal affairs.

You may still be wondering if you should take the GRE or the LSAT. Here are some things to consider while deciding which test is right for you:

The GRE is administered nearly every day, and more than 1,000 test centers are available worldwide, so you have many opportunities to fulfill the test requirement for our Online Hybrid J.D. application.

In contrast, the LSAT is offered a limited number of times per year.

The GRE measures your verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking and analytical writing skills you have developed over a long period of time and is not related to a specific field of study.

The LSAT is specifically designed to assess key skills associated with law school curricula and measures reading comprehension, analytical reasoning and logical reasoning.

If you take The GRE for law school, you can view your preliminary scores immediately upon completion, which helps you determine how competitive your application will be or if you may need to retake the exam.

If you take the LSAT, your scores will take three to four weeks for delivery.

Are you interested in taking the LSAT instead of the GRE? Prepare for the LSAT by starting a two- or four-month study plan.

Are you wondering what GRE scores correspond to on the LSAT? View a table created by PowerScore that shows all of the possible combinations and outcomes. The data was taken from ETS, the maker of the GRE, who created a tool for converting your GRE Verbal and Quantitative scores into an LSAT score.

To apply to the Online Hybrid J.D. program with your GRE score, take the following next steps:

Questions about submitting your application with your GRE score? Connect with an admissions counselor at 855-992-9059 or email us at admissions@onlinelaw.udayton.edu.

¹ Please note that if you take the LSAT, your score will be part of your Credential Assembly Service (CAS) file and will be automatically reported.arrow_upwardReturn to footnote reference