What is the average college GPA in America?
Asked by: Mrs. Bethany Leuschke | Last update: December 17, 2025Score: 5/5 (53 votes)
According to the National Center for
What is the average college GPA in the US?
According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the average college GPA was 3.15 in 2020.1 This comes out to be a B letter grade or a percentage range of 83%-86%. You can calculate your GPA by converting your percentage grade to the 4.0 GPA scale.
Is a 3.5 GPA bad for college?
A 3.5 GPA is generally considered as good and is typically above average. The grading scale that many colleges use is a 4.0 scale. So, if you're maintaining a 3.5 GPA, you're doing really well. You are above a ``B'' average which shows consistent high performance in your classes.
What is a respectable college GPA?
A good college GPA typically falls within the range of 3.5 to 4.0 on a 4.0 scale. However, what's considered “good” can vary depending on your goals and the competitiveness of your field.
Is a 2.7 a good GPA?
Is a 2.7 GPA good? This GPA means that you've earned an average grade of a B- across all of your classes. Since a 2.7 GPA is lower than the national average of 3.0 for high school students, it will limit your options for college. 3.81% of schools have an average GPA below a 2.7.
Does College GPA Matter? The Truth...
Can I get into Harvard with a 2.7 GPA?
It's exceptionally challenging with a GPA below 3.0, but not impossible. Focus on other aspects of your application to compensate for a low GPA.
Is a 3.0 GPA good in college?
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 a 1.7 GPA bad college?
A 1.7 GPA is considered low and will present challenges when it comes to college admissions. Most colleges and universities have a minimum GPA requirement for admission, which is typically around a 2.0 or higher.
What GPA is required for Harvard?
GPA requirements for Harvard
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.
Do jobs look at college GPA?
GPA only really matters for entry-level roles
For the most part, your job history will consist of internships, summer jobs, or be non-existent when you graduate from college, so some employers will use your GPA as a metric to assess your candidacy for entry-level roles.
Will Harvard accept 3.5 GPA?
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 first honor in college?
Generally, the requirements for each academic honor are: Cum laude: Top 20% of students or those with a GPA between 3.5 and 3.7. Magna cum laude: Top 10% of students or those with GPAs from 3.8 to 3.9. Summa cum laude: Top 5% of students or those with a cumulative GPA of 4.0+
How rare is a 4.0 GPA in college?
Maintaining a 4.0 GPA throughout college is relatively rare, but definitely achievable. The prevalence of students with a 4.0 GPA depends on the institution and the program you're studying. In more rigorous or competitive programs, it may be less common, while in less demanding programs, it might be more attainable.
What GPA will most colleges accept?
Is this average good enough to get into most colleges? The short answer is yes, a 3.0 average will get you into most colleges — as long as your application is up to par or better. More exclusive institutions will likely require a higher GPA, while some schools may accept you based on a 3.0 high school GPA alone.
Is a 4.4 GPA good for Harvard?
The average accepted GPA at Harvard is around 4.18 (unweighted) or higher, so your 4.4 (I am assuming it's weighted) places you in a competitive range.
Can a 5.0 GPA get me into Harvard?
To have the best shot of getting in, you should aim for the 75th percentile, with a 1580 SAT or a 36 ACT. You should also have a 4.2 GPA or higher. If your GPA is lower than this, you need to compensate with a higher SAT/ACT score.
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.
Is a 2.8 GPA horrible?
Is a 2.8 GPA Good? Because a 2.8 is two-tenths of a point from a B average, a 2.8 GPA indicates several above-average grades and that your performance on homework and exams was up to par. With a 2.8 GPA, several colleges will consider your application, so you have a decent number of options to choose from.
Is a 2.5 GPA terrible?
A 2.5 GPA means that you've earned high Cs and low Bs across all of your classes. This GPA is below the 3.0 national average for high school students, and it will most likely make it difficult for you to get into all but the least selective colleges. 1.91% of schools have an average GPA below a 2.5.
What is a failing college GPA?
At most colleges, a final grade below 60% qualifies as a failing grade. Depending on your college's GPA scale, that can mean anything below a 1.0 or 0.7 GPA counts as a failed class. If you fail a class, you'll get a 0 on your transcript — and that can bring down your GPA.
Is a 1.0 GPA good?
A 1.0 GPA is generally considered low. On a standard 4.0 scale, a 1.0 GPA indicates that you have mostly D grades. A 1.0 is significantly below the typical "average" GPA and will likely significantly impact your chances of being admitted to most colleges.
Is a 3.3 GPA OK in college?
A 3.3 GPA is a strong GPA, falling within the range of the top 25-30% of students. But it may not guarantee admission to highly selective colleges.
Is 2.9 GPA good?
Because a 2.9 GPA is so close to that benchmark, it demonstrates frequent above-average academic performance. A 2.9 GPA also means that you can apply to a number of colleges and universities and can reasonably expect admission to a sampling of them.