What GPA is best for Harvard?

Asked by: Elva Ward  |  Last update: October 5, 2025
Score: 4.5/5 (39 votes)

At Harvard, the standard GPA is 4.18. (While some schools publish an unweighted GPA, most utilize a weighted GPA out of 4.0.) Harvard needs you to be at the top of your class with a GPA of 4.18. To compete with other applications, you'll need to receive almost all A's.

Is a 5.0 GPA good for Harvard?

Harvard is highly competitive, and the average unweighted GPA of successful applicants is around 3.9, with most admitted students having an unweighted GPA of 4.0. Likewise, the average weighted GPAs tend to be in the 4.5 to 4.8 range.

Can a 3.5 GPA get into Harvard?

In summary, while a GPA of 3.5 is less than average for Harvard admits, you shouldn't count yourself out automatically. Focus on strengthening the other components of your application, demonstrating dedication through your extracurriculars, and showing your unique perspective through your essays.

What is the lowest GPA Harvard will accept?

While there are always exceptions, students accepted into Harvard usually have a GPA of 3.9 or above (on a 4.0 scale), and often even closer to a perfect 4.0.

Is a 4.7 GPA good for Harvard?

Average GPA: 4.2

(Most schools use a weighted GPA out of 4.0, though some report an unweighted GPA. With a GPA of 4.2, Harvard requires you to be at the top of your class. You'll need nearly straight A's in all your classes to compete with other applicants.

How Ivy League Schools Evaluate GPA!

34 related questions found

Is a 3.7 GPA bad for Ivy League?

Is 3.6 a Good GPA for Ivy League Schools? While 3.6-3.7 is a good unweighted GPA, it's below the average reported at Ivy League schools.

What is 5.0 GPA?

The grades correspond to the following values: A=4.0, B=3.0, C=2.0, D=1.0, and F=0.0. Therefore, when someone has a 5.0 GPA, it usually means that they have earned straight A's in a combination of honors, AP, or IB classes, which would give them a GPA above the standard 4.0 scale.

What GPA for Yale?

To have the best shot of getting in, you should aim for the 75th percentile, with a 1560 SAT or a 35 ACT. You should also have a 4.18 GPA or higher. If your GPA is lower than this, you need to compensate with a higher SAT/ACT score.

Can I get into Harvard with a 1.0 GPA?

What GPA should I have? Applicants should be between 3.9 and 4.0 to be strong candidates for admission to this school. Having less than this will require compensating by increasing your SAT or ACT score.

What GPA is needed for Oxford?

Undergraduate qualifications

If your graduate course at Oxford requires a 'first-class undergraduate degree with honours' in the UK system, you will usually need a bachelor's degree from a recognised university with an an overall grade of 85% ('A') or 'Excellent', or a GPA of 3.7 out of 4.0.

Is 1400 SAT enough for Harvard?

A 1400 SAT score is certainly a solid score, but it's important to remember that Ivy League admissions are highly competitive, and the average SAT score for these schools is generally a bit higher. For example, the middle 50% of admitted students at Harvard have an SAT score ranging from 1480 to 1580.

Does Harvard accept 2.8 GPA?

Can I Get into Harvard with a Low GPA? While it's certainly possible to get into Harvard with a low GPA, as the numbers bear out, it's improbable. For the Class of 2027, a mere 2.21% of admitted students to Harvard had GPAs below 3.5.

Is a 3.5 GPA impressive?

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.

Is 1600 SAT good for Harvard?

What is the average SAT score at Harvard? As one would expect, Harvard SAT scores are highly competitive. The average score at Harvard hovers around 1520, out of the maximum SAT score of 1600. The 25th percentile for SAT scores at Harvard College lies at a 1460, and the 75th percentile is a 1570.

What's the lowest GPA Yale accepted?

We do not set a minimum GPA, nor do we attempt to re-weight GPA's to any standard other than what a school provides.

What is the hardest college to get into?

Harvard University

The Harvard acceptance rate is 3%, tied with Caltech for the #1 spot on our list of hardest colleges to get into. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard is a quintessential New England school globally recognized for its rigorous academic programs and influential alumni.

Can I get into Yale with a 3.8 GPA?

Yale University does not have a strict minimum GPA requirement for undergraduate admissions. However, admitted students typically have very high GPAs, ranging from 3.8 to 4.0, with an average GPA of 3.9.

Should I submit a 33 ACT to Yale?

Because competition for elite schools is fierce, every extra point both on your ACT score and GPA will help. A 33 lands you solidly in the mid-range for average acceptance at places like Yale and Harvard, above their 25th percentile, which is 32, but below the 75th, which is 34-35.

Does Harvard require SAT?

Harvard requires the SAT or ACT to meet its standardized testing requirement. In exceptional cases, when those are not accessible for a student, one of the following can meet the requirement: AP exam results. IB Actual or Predicted Scores.

What is the GPA for Princeton?

Average GPA: 3.94

The average GPA at Princeton is 3.94. This makes Princeton Extremely Competitive for GPAs. (Most schools use a weighted GPA out of 4.0, though some report an unweighted GPA.

Is a 4.300 GPA good?

To elaborate, the national average for GPA is around a 3.0, so a 4.3 puts you above average nationally. Keep in mind the 3.0 national average represents all students, not just students applying to college, so the average GPA of students admitted to colleges is higher than the national average.

Is a 2.0 GPA good?

Is a 2.0 GPA good? A 2.0 GPA means that you have a solid C average across all of your classes. This GPA is essentially the unofficial cut off point for how low your GPA can be in order to get into college. With a 2.0 GPA, there are only a couple schools in the country where you'll have a high chance of being accepted.