Many students get very hung up on GPA in high school - is it high enough? Will it pass muster in college admissions? What does your GPA even mean? In this article, I’ll go through what GPA is, what GPA means, and how it can help or hurt you in the college admissions process. Let’s start with the basics!Your GPA is just a way of converting your grades into a numerical scale.The grades that you receive in your high school classes are all averaged together to arrive at one cumulative grade, which is then converted into your GPA.The traditional GPA scale ranges from 0.0 to 4.0. Here’s a conversion chart that shows all the possible GPAs and their corresponding letter grades and percentages: This 4.0 scale is for unweighted GPAs.Some schools may get even more specific with GPAs if grades are given on a scale of 0-100 and not just as letters. For example, a student with a 90 average in all of her classes would have a 3.5 GPA and a student with a 92 average would have a 3.7 GPA. At many schools, GPAs go up higher than 4.0 because they use a weighted scale.A weighted GPA takes into account the difficulty of a student’s coursework, not just their grades.For example, a student who gets all As in lower level classes will earn a 4.0, while a student who gets all As in the most challenging classes will earn a 5.0. Different high schools have different standards for what counts as a "challenging" course, but this usually means AP classes if your school offers them or Honors classes if not. Colleges use GPA as a measure of your engagement in learning and willingness to work hard to meet academic standards and expand your knowledge.GPA is very important because it provides a comprehensive look at your academic strengths and weaknesses and ability to challenge yourself.GPA and standardized test scores are given relatively equal consideration in the application processes for most schools.At schools that don’t require standardized test scores, GPA takes on an even more critical role in your application. High school GPA is one of the most important factors considered in the college admissions process. A high GPA (in the 3.5 to 4.0 or A range) can really help you, but it depends on the circumstances. Above all, colleges want to see that you're willing to challenge yourself intellectually.If you managed to earn a high GPA while taking difficult courses, this will show them that you’re both intelligent and driven.Even if you took easier classes at the beginning of high school and then went on to take more challenging ones later,your course record will demonstrate that you're engaged in learning and willing to push yourself.
What Is GPA?
Letter Grade Percentage GPA A+ 97-100 4.0 A 93-96 4.0 A- 90-92 3.7 B+ 87-89 3.3 B 83-86 3.0 B- 80-82 2.7 C+ 77-79 2.3 C 73-76 2.0 C- 70-72 1.7 D+ 67-69 1.3 D 65-66 1.0 F Below 65 0.0 How Much Can GPA Help or Hurt You?
Your High GPA Will Be a Big Asset If:
You Earned It in High-Level Classes
Your Standardized Test Scores are Just OK
If you aren't a great test taker and didn’t get awesome scores on the SAT or ACT, your GPA will help you to rise above the crowd despite this.More and more schools are starting to see GPA is a more reliable metric than standardized tests for judging academic potential.A high GPA shows determination over time and is the most reliable indicator of a student’s ability to ultimately graduate college.
Your GPA Stands out from Other Students in Your Class
If very few other students at your school achieved a GPA similar to yours, this indicates that you were willing to go above and beyond to get high grades in difficult classes.
Your High GPA Won't Matter As Much If:
You Earned It in Easy Classes
You may have a 4.0, but if you took the easiest classes available to get it, colleges won’t look as favorably upon your application.If you think about it, it makes a lot of sense - colleges are looking for students who are willing to apply themselves and make full use of the resources they're given.If you just go for the easy A, you won't make a good impression.
Your Standardized Test Scores Are Very Low
Even if you earn a very high GPA, if your standardized test scores are average or below average, you might have problems.This is still one of the most important factors colleges consider besides GPA, so you shouldn't take these tests lightly.If you study diligently, you should be able to boost your scoreseven if you don’t consider yourself a great test taker.
Many Other Students Have Similar GPAs
If your GPA doesn’t stand out from the pack, this points to grade inflation at your high school (high grades for work that might not fully deserve them).This is a problem at many schools, and is really frustrating for students who are high-achieving but can’t stand out because of low standards.This might not be as much as a problem as the other factors because admissions officers will know whether or not your school has this issue and will take it into account when looking at your record.It may mean an increased emphasis on standardized test scores, so you should work on improving your scores if you grade inflation is a concern.
"YOU get a 4.0 GPA! And YOU get a 4.0 GPA! You all get 4.0 GPAs!!!!"
Now let's look at the other side of things. With a low GPA (anywhere below the national average of a 3.0), you might think you’re out of luck, but that’s not necessarily true. Though it may be difficult to get into very selective schools, colleges will consider other factors in their admissions decisions as well.
Your Low GPA Might Not Be a Huge Problem If:
It’s Above a 2.0
As long as your GPA is higher than a 2.0, there will be some colleges where you have a good chance of acceptance. If it's below a 2.0 it will be very hard to get into most schools.
You Did Well on Standardized Tests
As I mentioned earlier, standardized tests are the most important thing colleges will consider apart from your GPA.If you do extremely well, they will be more likely to give you a chance despite your low GPA.Studying for standardized tests and improving your scores is much easier than improving your GPA, so if your GPA isn’t where you want it to be, try to focus on score improvement to get the most bang for your buck in the college admissions process.
You Challenged Yourself
If your GPA is on the lower side, but you earned it in difficult classes or challenged yourself more and more over the course of high school, colleges will take this into account.Your GPA itself is less important than the road you took to get there.
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Can GPA Be Improved?
It's difficult to improve your GPA because it's the average of all your grades over the course of high school. If you end up with a C average your freshman year, for example, you could technically bring it up to a B+ average by the end of your junior year if you earned A averages during your sophomore and junior years. If you have a C average for both your freshman and sophomore years, the best you'll be able to do is a B- because the Cs from the first two years of high school will bring down your average so much.
That's not to mention that going from a C average to an A average in all classes is not something that most people can manage since it requires such a drastic change in study habits and motivation. That being said,if you’re only in the first half of high school, you still have a fair amount of time to make some changes and show colleges a trend towards better grades.
You Can Improve Your GPA By:
Asking for Extra Help
This is always a smart choice if you feel yourself falling behind in a class.As soon as you start to struggle, ask for clarification so you don’t end up getting totally lost.You might just need things to be explained a different way!
Reassessing Your Study Habits
Your problems may also be related to procrastination of lack of studying.These bad habits are difficult to change, but it’s really important to step back and fix fundamental problems like this that are holding you back before they get out of hand.
Challenging Yourself More
This may seem paradoxical, and I would only advocate it if you have a very good GPA in low level classes.Your GPA will look better to colleges if you work harder for it, so you should be proactive about pursuing more challenging coursework.Even if your grades end up slightly lower, moving up a level shows that you were willing to push yourself outside your comfort zone for a more productive learning experience. On the flip side of this, if you're in a situation where a class is extremely difficult for you and your grades are unsalvageable, you should consider dropping it so that you don't end up with an F on your transcript.
If it’s already your junior year and you don’t have much time left to make improvements, you should focus more on standardized testing. With a few months of dedicated studying, you can significantly raise your scores and increase your chances of college admission.The main thing for GPA is to start out strong and finish up stronger; with the way averages work, it’s hard to make significant changes later on.
Earning a good GPA is like running a cross country race. It's pretty painful and you have to maintain a strong pace throughout, but in the end it's worth it because of the sense of accomplishment. Yes, I used to run cross country, and yes, it was the worst.
Conclusion
A regular unweighted GPA is measured on a scale of 0 to 4.0.Your GPA may be weighted, which means it goes up higher (usually up to a 5.0 but some schools have an even bigger scale).Weighted GPAs take course difficulty into account apart from grades so that students in high level classes earn GPAs that reflect the difficulty of the courses they take.College admissions officers will use your GPA to judge whether you are prepared for college coursework and are truly engaged in learning.
Your GPA can help you a lot in college admissions if it’s in the A range, or above a 3.5, but that often depends on the difficulty of your coursework, your class rank, and the quality of your standardized test scores.If your GPA is especially low, focus on improving your standardized test scores and make an effort to bring up your grades by asking for help and fixing any bad habits you’ve fallen into.Your GPA is one of the most crucial aspects of your college application, so if you feel like things aren’t going well in your classes, speak up!
What's Next?
Working on raising your standardized test scores alongside your GPA? Take a look at some of our best tips for the SAT and the ACT.
Your GPA is one of the most important components of your college application, but there are also a lot of other things you should consider if you're aiming for the best schools in the country. Find out how you can increase your chances of acceptance at very selective schools.
If you're starting to look at colleges, check out this guide on how to choose schools that are right for you!
Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:
Samantha Lindsay
About the Author
Samantha is a blog content writer for PrepScholar. Her goal is to help students adopt a less stressful view of standardized testing and other academic challenges through her articles. Samantha is also passionate about art and graduated with honors from Dartmouth College as a Studio Art major in 2014. In high school, she earned a 2400 on the SAT, 5's on all seven of her AP tests, and was named a National Merit Scholar.
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FAQs
What a GPA means? ›
High schools often report GPA (grade point average) on a 4.0 scale. The top grade is an A, which equals 4.0. You calculate your overall GPA by averaging the scores of all your classes. This is a common scale used at most colleges, and many high schools also use it.
Is a 95% what a GPA? ›A 95% would be considered a 4.0 by most colleges for a single class. The answer is 3.8 only if you earned a 100% in 4 classes and an 80% in a fourth class. A 3.8 would imply that for every B you earned, you also earned four A's. I'm going into my junior year with a 3.32 GPA.
What does a 3.7 GPA mean? ›Grade point average (GPA) provides a numeric measurement of high school performance by averaging all final grades. A 3.7 GPA means that you've earned an average of an A- for your academic performance.
Is a GPA of 3.00 good? ›Is a 3.0 GPA in high school considered good? A 3.0 GPA indicates a grade average of “B” and makes you eligible to apply to a wide range of schools, so yes! A 3.0 GPA is generally considered “good.”
What is a 7.0 GPA? ›Your grade point average (GPA) is the average result of all your grades and is calculated on a 7-point grading scale. 7 being the highest (HD), and 0 is the lowest (fail).
What's the highest GPA? ›The unweighted scale is most common, and the highest possible GPA on this scale is a 4.0. The unweighted scale doesn't take the difficulty of a student's classes into account. Weighted scales are also used at many high schools. Typically, they go up to a 5.0.
What GPA is a 69%? ›A 1.4 GPA, or Grade Point Average, is equivalent to a D+ letter grade on a 4.0 GPA scale. This is equivalent to a grade of approximately 69%.
What GPA is required for Harvard? ›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. For a school as selective as Harvard, you'll also need to impress them with the rest of your application.
Is a GPA of 100 good? ›...
GPA Scale.
| Letter Grade | Grade Points | Numerical Grade |
|---|---|---|
| A+ | 4.0 | 97–100 |
| A | 4.0 | 94–96 |
| A- | 3.7 | 90–93 |
| B+ | 3.3 | 87–89 |
How good is a 4.0 GPA? ›
Is a 4.0 GPA Good? GPA is measured on a 4.0 scale, with 4.0 as the highest achievable score with a regular class load, otherwise known as an unweighted GPA. It demonstrates academic excellence and the ability to earn the highest possible grade in every class.
Is a 3.5 GPA good in college? ›A 3.5 GPA, or Grade Point Average, is equivalent to an B+ letter grade on a 4.0 GPA scale. This means is equivalent to 87-89%. The national average GPA is 3.0 which means a 3.5 above average. It can be hard to raise an already high GPA, but if you're really committed you can find a way!
What is the highest GPA in college? ›A 4.0 GPA is the highest possible score a student can get. This score means that a student received A grades in all of his or her classes.
Is 3.5 A strong GPA? ›A 3.5 GPA is a strong GPA, but it may not guarantee admission to highly selective colleges. Admissions committees consider your entire application when making their decisions, including your test scores, extracurricular activities, recommendations, and essays. A 3.5 GPA may make you a competitive candidate.
What is my GPA if I have all A's and one B? ›...
GPA:
| Grade Equivalence | |
|---|---|
| A | 4.00 |
| A- | 3.67 |
| B+ | 3.33 |
| B | 3.00 |
| 12.0 Point GPA | 4.0 Point GPA | Percentage Grade |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | 3.9 | 85-89 |
| 10 | 3.7 | 80-84 |
| 9 | 3.3 | 77-79 |
| 8 | 3.0 | 73-76 |
| Letter Grade | Percent Grade | 4.0 Scale |
|---|---|---|
| A | 93-96 | 4.0 |
| A- | 90-92 | 3.7 |
| B+ | 87-89 | 3.3 |
| B | 83-86 | 3.0 |
A 2.7 GPA, or Grade Point Average, is equivalent to a B- letter grade on a 4.0 GPA scale, and a percentage grade of 80–82.
What GPA does college look at? ›A transcript with a mix of A-s and B+s will produce a grade point average in the range of 3.5, which is an important cutoff for many colleges. In general, admissions officers want to see more As than Bs, so having an unweighted GPA of above 3.5 can make a big difference.
What is the average GPA in America? ›The average GPA in US High Schools is 3.0. This number varies by gender – the average female GPA is 3.1 and the average male GPA is 2.9.
What is the average high school GPA? ›
The average high school GPA is around 3.0, or a B average. This also happens to be the minimum requirement for many college scholarships, though a 3.5 or higher is generally preferable.
Is grade D fail or pass? ›A letter grade of a D is technically considered passing because it not a failure. A D is any percentage between 60-69%, whereas a failure occurs below 60%. Even though a D is a passing grade, it's barely passing.
Is a 80% GPA good? ›...
GPA Conversion Chart.
A grade of C or better is required to earn a Passed; a C- or below will earn a Not Passed grade. A grade of C- may satisfy many requirements (e.g., General Education, elective) but a Not Passed grade will not earn any credit or satisfy requirements.
What is the hardest college to get into? ›- Harvard. Cambridge, MA. 3.19%
- Columbia. New York, NY. 3.73%
- Caltech. Pasadena, CA. 3.92%*
- Stanford. Stanford, CA. 3.95%*
- MIT. Cambridge, MA. 3.96%
- Princeton. Princeton, NJ. 4.38%*
- Yale. New Haven, CT. 4.47%
- Brown. Providence, RI. 5.03%
0.0 on a 4.0 scale is the lowest GPA record.
What is the lowest GPA accepted Harvard? ›Continue to work hard, take difficult classes, and show your passions outside of school! To get to Harvard your GPA has to be at least a 4.0 and even then if you get in your lucky but they require at least a 4.18 GPA only .
What GPA is all C's? ›C- Letter Grade is a 1.7 GPA or 70–72% – GPA Calculator.
What does a ++ grade mean? ›Letter grade Percentage Grade definition A+ 90-100 Excellent A 85-89 Very good A– 80-84 Very good B+ 75-79 Good B.
Is a 92% GPA good? ›A 3.7 GPA, or Grade Point Average, is equivalent to an A- letter grade on a 4.0 GPA scale. This means is equivalent to a 90-92%. The national average GPA is 3.0 which means a 3.7 is well above average. A 3.7 GPA can be hard to raise as it's already so high, but if you're really determined you can make it happen.
What is a 101 GPA? ›
A 3.8 GPA, or Grade Point Average, is equivalent to an A- letter grade on a 4.0 GPA scale.
What is a 3.9 GPA out of 100? ›| GPA | Percent |
|---|---|
| 4.0 | 100-99 |
| 3.9 | 98-97 |
| 3.8 | 96-95 |
| 3.7 | 94-93 |
Admission to the most prestigious schools is typically limited to students who rank in the top 5% of their class and have high GPAs. Therefore, this article is about one of the highest scores, 5.0 GPA. It is an outstanding score a handful of students can achieve.
What is a 98.4 GPA? ›98.4 / 28 = 3.51 (college application GPA) As you can see, John's college application GPA would be 3.51.
Does college GPA matter? ›Your college GPA can impact your marketability when seeking employment. A solid GPA is essential if you plan to attend graduate school. Employers do care about your GPA in competitive fields. Students with low GPAs can find other ways to highlight their skills.
What majors have the lowest GPA? ›Science majors tend to have lower GPAs on average, with chemistry being the major with the lowest average GPA.
What is a 2.0 grade equivalent to in college? ›A 2.0 GPA, or Grade Point Average, is equivalent to a C letter grade on a 4.0 GPA scale. This is equivalent to a 73-76%. The national average GPA is 3.0 which means a 2.0 is well below average and has room to be improved.
What is a 1.7 grade equivalent to in college? ›A 1.7 GPA, or Grade Point Average, is equivalent to a C- letter grade on a 4.0 GPA scale.
Why is GPA important? ›A college GPA factors into financial aid and scholarships eligibility, program admission and graduation. Dec. 5, 2022, at 3:50 p.m. Grade-point average can be a critical determinant in what comes next for a high school student, with college admissions and financial aid often on the line.
What is the highest and lowest GPA you can get? ›
Essentially, the highest GPA you can earn is a 4.0, which indicates an A average in all of your classes. A 3.0 would indicate a B average, a 2.0 a C average, a 1.0 a D, and a 0.0 an F. This scale does not take the levels of your courses into account.
Can you get a 6.0 GPA in college? ›Those course grades are typically weighted and are usually graded on a five-point scale instead of four points, so if you get a “B, it equates to a 4.0, and an “A” would give you a grade of 5.0. At some schools, honors classes and advanced placement courses would be figured on a 6.0 GPA format.
How do I get my GPA? ›How To Calculate Your Own GPA. To calculate your GPA, divide the total number of grade points earned by the total number of letter graded units undertaken.
How much does a one credit class affect your GPA? ›It depends on how many quality points they earn for each grade. If the D is in a 1-credit-hour course, the student will earn a 3.76 GPA. If the A is in a 1-credit-hour course, they will earn a 3.3 GPA. Same grades, same total number of credit hours, but different weights based on the credit hours of the course.
Can one B affect your GPA? ›Only one grade (the lowest) is removed from GPA calculations. All other repeats are used in calculating the GPA. All grades will still show on your transcript - even the excluded grade.
Do honors classes boost your GPA? ›Do honors classes boost your GPA? Yes. Honors classes often boost your GPA by 0.5 points. Finishing with a 3.5 GPA in an honors course could equate to a 4.0 GPA in a regular course.
Is a 3.0 GPA an A? ›A 3.0 GPA, or Grade Point Average, is equivalent to a B letter grade on a 4.0 GPA scale.
Is a GPA of 5.0 good? ›Admission to the most prestigious schools is typically limited to students who rank in the top 5% of their class and have high GPAs. Therefore, this article is about one of the highest scores, 5.0 GPA. It is an outstanding score a handful of students can achieve.
What grade is passing GPA? ›Each letter grade corresponds with a grade point average (GPA) and a numerical range. You'll usually need to receive a letter grade between A and D to pass a class, often the numerical equivalent of 65 percent or higher. Receiving an F—which stands for “fail”—indicates that you did not pass the class.
Can GPA be out of 100? ›...
Unweighted Out of 100 GPA Scale.
| GPA (100-scale) | GPA (4.0-scale) | Letter Grade |
|---|---|---|
| 97-100 | 4.0 | A+ |
| 93-96 | 4.0 | A |
| 90-92 | 3.7 | A- |
| 87-89 | 3.3 | B+ |
What GPA is all A's and one B? ›
...
GPA:
| Grade Equivalence | |
|---|---|
| A | 4.00 |
| A- | 3.67 |
| B+ | 3.33 |
| B | 3.00 |
Is a 1.0 GPA Good? Considering the US national average GPA is a 3.0, a 1.0 is far below average. Generally, a 1.0 is considered a dismal GPA. Raising a 1.0 GPA to an acceptable number is extremely difficult, but possible with diligence and determination.
What GPA does Harvard require? ›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. For a school as selective as Harvard, you'll also need to impress them with the rest of your application.
What GPA do you need to get into Harvard? ›What GPA do I need to get into Harvard? To be considered for admission to Harvard, you must earn top grades in high school. The Harvard Crimson reports that the average reported GPA of entering freshmen in the class of 2022 was 3.90 on a 4.0 unweighted scale.
What is a 96 GPA on a 5.0 scale? ›