Is a 3.9 GPA good for grad school?
Asked by: Hermann Reichert | Last update: December 21, 2025Score: 4.4/5 (70 votes)
A good GPA is often considered to be at least a 3.0, although most graduate programs and graduate school require a minimum GPA of 3.5 for admission. The highest GPA you can achieve is a 4.0, so having an overall GPA at or above this level is what's usually considered a good GPA.
Is 3.9 GPA good enough for grad school?
GPA to get into grad school should usually be 3.5-4.0, unless you have exceptional performance that's not captured in GPA.
How impressive is a 3.9 GPA?
A 3.9 GPA on a 4.0 scale is indicative of exceptional academic achievement. It typically corresponds to an average grade in the 'A' range, suggesting that the student has consistently achieved high marks, primarily A's, with very few B's in their coursework.
What is it called when you graduate with a 3.9 GPA?
cum laude (GPA of 3.5–3.69); magna cum laude (GPA of 3.7–3.89); or. summa cum laude (GPA of 3.9–4.0).
What is a good GPA for a masters degree?
However, as a general guideline, an acceptable Master's GPA often falls from 3.0 to 3.7. Some highly competitive PhD programs may expect even higher GPAs, approaching or exceeding 3.8.
Is it worth being a Graphic Designer in 2025? Salary, college, portfolio and job vacancy!
What GPA do Masters look at?
Many grad schools have a GPA requirement that is around 3.0. However, that number can vary from school to school and program to program.
What is the average GPA for a PhD?
While requirements vary by field and institution, most reputable PhD programs expect at least a 3.0 GPA in master's coursework, with many preferring a GPA of 3.5 or higher. Top-tier, highly competitive programs often have even higher GPA expectations, sometimes 3.7+, such as those offered by MIT.
How rare is a 3.9 GPA?
3.9 GPA is equivalent to 94% or A letter grade. The national average GPA is 3.0 which means a 3.9 is far above average. A 3.9 is so high that it can be hard to raise it any higher!
Is 3.9 GPA high honors?
A GPA of at least 3.9 earns the honor of summa cum laude (meaning, with highest honors), a GPA of at least 3.7 and less than 3.9 earns magna cum laude (with high honors), and a GPA of at least 3.5 and less than 3.7 earns cum laude (with honors).
Is a 3.9 GPA good for Harvard?
In truth, you need close to a 4.0 unweighted GPA to get into Harvard. That means nearly straight As in every class, while also taking the highest rigor classes available to you at your high school.
Is a 3.8 GPA bad for grad school?
It depends on the type of program you are applying to.
These requirements can also vary depending on your profile and experience. To generalize, a good GPA typically falls between 3.0 and 3.5. However, for top graduate schools and their premier programs, the bar is much higher.
How many A's do you need for a 3.9 GPA?
If you are asking about the grades you need to make a 3.9, it would roughly be 9 As to every B you make. If you are doing an undergraduate, and you need 120 credits to graduate, you need 108 credits of A, and 12 credits of B minimum to make a 3.9 GPA.
How many b's is a 3.9 GPA?
Subtract the total grade points needed to achieve a 3.9 GPA from the total grade points for all A's: 32 - 31.2 = 0.8. 4. Lastly, divide this number by the difference between points for an A and a B (4-3 = 1): 0.8 / 1 = 0.8. This means you can have close to one B throughout your high school career to maintain a 3.9 GPA.
Should I put 3.9 GPA on resume?
“You do not need to include your GPA or graduation date once you've been in the workforce for over 3-5 years,” Warzel says. The other factor is how high your GPA is. Typically, it's only best to include a GPA above 3.5. Here's a flow chart to help determine whether to include your GPA on your resume.
What is a good master's grade?
A typical masters degree will be graded using four terms: Distinction: a final grade of 70% or above. Merit: a final grade of 60-69% Pass: a final grade of 50-59%
What GPA do you need for Harvard Phd?
Harvard University: Harvard's graduate programs typically look for students with a GPA of 4.18 or higher. However, some programs may accept students with slightly lower GPAs if they have other strong qualifications.
Is a 3.9 GPA good in masters?
In general, a 3.0 GPA or higher is widely accepted by college advisors, internship programs, and potential employers. Anything above a 3.5 is often considered outstanding and may lead to honors designations at graduation and special distinctions/designations on your actual diploma.
What is it called when you graduate with a 4.0 in grad school?
Summa cum laude: “With highest honor,” typically 3.9–4.0 GPA or top 1-5% of class.
What is the award for 3.9 GPA?
Summa Cum Laude (with highest praise) GPA: 3.9 – or higher. Magna Cum Laude (with great praise) GPA: 3.7 – 3.89. Cum Laude (with praise) GPA: 3.5 – 3.69.
Is 3.9 GPA impressive?
Assuming an unweighted GPA, a 3.9 means that you're doing exceptionally well. This GPA indicates that you've earned all As on average across all of your classes. If you've been taking high level classes, this is all the more impressive.
Can you get into an Ivy with a 3.9 GPA?
The minimum GPA for getting into an IVY League school is 3.9. The more you're on the higher side, the more chances you have of getting in.
What is it called when you get a 3.9 GPA?
What is a 3.9 GPA? A 3.9 GPA stands for a Grade Point Average of 3.9 on a 4.0 scale. It indicates that you've earned a predominantly A average in your courses. A 3.9 GPA is considered a very good GPA and is an indicator of strong academic performance.
What is a good GPA for a master's degree?
MS in the US – What's a good GPA for graduate school
If you're planning to apply to the elite top tier programs or the Ivy League programs, you'd need to have a competitive GPA of 3.5 or above whereas for other schools, with a GPA between 3.0 and 3.5, you'd still have a good chance of getting in.
What do professors look for in PhD students?
Indeed in US many times professors also look if the student can be a good fit for the potential fundin… Necessary abilities of a PhD student - Learn quickly - Diligent work - Reliable and responsible (in case of lab work) - Related technical skills (programming etc.)
Is a 3.5 GPA bad for a PhD?
Your GPA in undergrad is the single most important factor in PhD admissions. If your GPA is too low your application will be dismissed out of hand. While there are no hard limits, we suggest a minimum GPA of 3.5 for serious contention, especially at top schools.