Registering for the LSAT costs $253 for the August 2026 to June 2027 testing year. Most applicants also pay $219 for the Credential Assembly Service (CAS) and $45 for each law school report. If you apply to six law schools, the required fees come to $742.
The Law School Admission Council (LSAC) sets all of these fees, so they’re the same wherever you test. This guide explains each required and optional fee, who qualifies for a fee waiver, and how to keep your total down.
LSAT registration for the 2026–27 testing year
includes LSAT Argumentative Writing
What Fees Do You Have to Pay for the LSAT?
Two fees are close to unavoidable: the LSAT itself and the CAS subscription. Report fees then grow with the number of schools on your list. The table below shows every LSAC fee for the current testing year.
Official fees
LSAT and LSAC Fees for 2026–27
| Fee | Required? | Cost | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| LSAT registration | Yes | $253 | Includes LSAT Argumentative Writing |
| Credential Assembly Service (CAS) | For most ABA-approved schools | $219 | One subscription, active for five years |
| CAS law school report | One per school | $45 | Sent to each law school you apply to |
| LSAT-only law school report | Only if a school asks | $45 | For schools that don’t use CAS |
| LSAT Score Preview | No | $46 / $87 | $46 before testing, $87 after |
| Test date change | No | $0–$253 | Free until the registration deadline, then $153, then $253 |
| Official candidate score report | No | $50 | Lists all your reportable scores |
| Score audit | No | $150 | $75 with an approved fee waiver |
Fees for the August 2026 to June 2027 testing year, published by the Law School Admission Council and checked Oct 6, 2026. Full references in the Sources section.
LSAT Registration
The $253 registration fee covers one LSAT administration and LSAT Argumentative Writing. For the 2026–27 cycle, most people take the test in person at a Prometric test center. Remote testing is an exception, mainly for people who live more than 180 miles or three hours from a center.
The writing task is done online and opens in your LSAC account eight days before your test. You must finish it before LSAC releases your score, so don’t leave it to the last minute.
Credential Assembly Service and Law School Reports
CAS gathers your transcripts, letters of recommendation, and LSAT scores into one report for each law school. Most ABA-approved law schools require it. The $219 subscription stays active for five years, so a single payment can cover more than one application cycle.
Each law school report then costs $45, and you need one for every school you apply to. Ten applications mean $450 in reports, while four mean $180. Report fees are often the cost that grows fastest, so plan your school list with them in mind.
Which Optional LSAT Fees Might You Pay?
LSAC also charges for a handful of optional services. None of them is required, but a few can be useful if your plans change.
- LSAT Score Preview: $46 if you sign up before testing, or $87 after. It lets you see your score before deciding whether to keep it or cancel it.
- Test date change: free through the registration deadline, $153 up to seven days later, and $253 after that until the day before testing.
- Official candidate score report: $50 for a report of all your reportable scores.
- Score audit: $150, or $75 if LSAC has pre-approved you for a fee waiver.
Refunds follow clear rules. You can get a full refund of the LSAT fee by your test’s refund deadline. CAS fees have been nonrefundable since May 2024, and so are Score Preview, date changes, and score audits.
Who Qualifies for an LSAC Fee Waiver?
LSAC fee waivers go to applicants with limited income, based on federal poverty guidelines. Independent applicants earning up to 235% of those guidelines qualify for Tier 1, and those between 235% and 260% qualify for Tier 2. Dependent applicants must also meet thresholds based on their parents’ income.
- Tier 1: two LSATs, each with Argumentative Writing and Score Preview. It also covers a five-year CAS subscription, six law school reports, and one year of LawHub Advantage.
- Tier 2: one LSAT with Argumentative Writing and Score Preview. It also covers a five-year CAS subscription, three law school reports, and one year of LawHub Advantage.
A Tier 1 waiver covers more than $1,000 worth of LSAC fees and prep. You can check your eligibility and apply through the LSAC fee waiver program before you register.
How Much Does LSAT Prep Cost?
Prep is the most flexible part of your LSAT budget. LSAC offers free official prep through LawHub, where you can practice in the same interface you’ll see on test day. LawHub Advantage costs $124 a year and adds a large library of official LSAT PrepTests.
Prep books, courses, and private tutoring cost more, and prices vary widely. A private LSAT tutor can be a good fit if you want a plan built around your weakest question types. On Superprof, each tutor sets their own rate, so you can compare profiles and reviews before you book.
How Can You Save Money on the LSAT?
The LSAT is one of the smaller costs on the road to a law degree, next to the overall cost of law school. Still, a few habits can trim it noticeably.
- Apply for a fee waiver before you register, if your income qualifies.
- Use your GI Bill: the VA reimburses eligible veterans for LSAT registration and administrative fees, but not for prep or optional items.
- Start with free prep on LawHub before paying for courses or books.
- Pick your date carefully: date changes are free only until the registration deadline.
- Keep your school list focused: each extra application adds a $45 report.
Put your test’s refund deadline in your calendar the day you register. Until then, you can get the full $253 back. After it, withdrawing only keeps an absence off your record.
What Is on the LSAT Today?
Since August 2024, the LSAT has had no logic games section. The test now has two scored Logical Reasoning sections, one scored Reading Comprehension section, and one unscored section of either type. Each section lasts 35 minutes, with a 10-minute break after the second.
The LSAT will still assess reading comprehension, reasoning, and writing skills that are so important for success in law school and the legal profession.
Susan L. Krinsky, Executive Vice President for Operations and Chief of Staff, Law School Admission Council
Scores range from 120 to 180. Your fee buys one attempt, so time spent with official practice tests is time that protects your budget too.
Logical Reasoning asks you to analyze and evaluate short arguments. Reading Comprehension tests how well you understand dense, complex passages. The unscored section helps LSAC try out questions for future tests.
Questions to Ask an LSAT Tutor
The right tutor can make your prep budget go further. These questions help you judge a tutor’s experience, approach, and fit before you commit.
- How long have you tutored students for the LSAT?
- What is your own background with the LSAT and law school?
- Can you share reviews or references from past students?
- How do you assess a student’s strengths and weak spots?
- Which official LSAT materials do you use in your sessions?
- What strategies do you teach for Logical Reasoning and Reading Comprehension?
- How do you help students improve their timing and pacing?
- Do you offer online lessons, in-person lessons, or both?
- What is your hourly rate, and are there any extra costs?
Sources
- "LSAT & CAS Fees," Law School Admission Council. Available at: https://www.lsac.org/lsat/register-lsat/lsat-cas-fees. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.
- "Credential Assembly Service (CAS)," Law School Admission Council. Available at: https://www.lsac.org/applying-law-school/jd-application-process/credential-assembly-service-cas. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.
- "Fee Waivers for LSAC Programs and Services," Law School Admission Council. Available at: https://www.lsac.org/lsat/register-lsat/lsat-cas-fees/fee-waivers-lsac-programs-and-services. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.
- "JD Refunds," Law School Admission Council. Available at: https://www.lsac.org/about/lsac-policies/jd-refunds. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.
- "Frequently Asked Questions about the LSAT," Law School Admission Council. Available at: https://www.lsac.org/lsat/frequently-asked-questions-about-lsat. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.
- "Registration Is Open for the 2026-2027 LSAT Testing Cycle, Plus an Update on the Return to In-Person Testing," Law School Admission Council, 2026. Available at: https://www.lsac.org/blog/registration-open-2026-2027-lsat-testing-cycle-plus-update-return-person-testing. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.
- "What to Expect Starting With the August 2024 LSAT," Law School Admission Council, 2023. Available at: https://www.lsac.org/blog/what-to-expect-starting-with-august-2024-lsat. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.
- "LawHub," Law School Admission Council. Available at: https://www.lsac.org/lsat/prep/lawhub. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.
- "National Tests," U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Available at: https://www.va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/how-to-use-benefits/national-tests/. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.
- "Appendix A: Schedule of Charges and Deadlines," The State Bar of California, 2026. Available at: https://www.calbar.ca.gov/legal-professionals/rules/rules-state-bar/appendix-schedule-charges-and-deadlines. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.
- "New York State Bar Examination Information Guide," New York State Board of Law Examiners, 2026. Available at: https://www.nybarexam.org/thebar/NYBarExamInformationGuide.pdf. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.
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