A top question on the minds of most prospective college students is: What GPA do I need to get into college?
Unfortunately, the answer to this question isn’t a simple number. It’s something closer to well, it depends. The national average for GPA is 3.0. So if your GPA is above a B average, chances are some universities might accept your application. But GPA isn’t the only factor that college admissions teams take into consideration. In fact, each university has its own set of admission requirements.
This might include taking a look into what types of classes you’ve taken. And whether those classes were easy or challenging. It might also include what extracurricular activities you were apart of. Additionally, they consider if you’ve held any leadership positions.
Standardized test scores are another common admissions requirement that generally varies by school. But you can find out how rigorous a college application process is. The best way to do so is to check the college’s acceptance rate. Also, you can predict whether your application will be accepted. The college’s acceptance rate can give you a good idea of your chances of being accepted there.
Colleges with Low Acceptance Rates
Colleges with low acceptance rates accept only a small number of the applications submitted each year.
Schools may have low acceptance rates for a variety of reasons. For instance, some colleges need students to meet financial aid requirements to be accepted. These schools often offer free tuition. Hence, they can only accept a small number of students each academic year. Others need students to meet specific criteria for acceptance. Military schools are an example of this. Some music conservatories, like Juilliard, only accept students who can play music at a high level.
The most common reason for a college to have a low acceptance rate is the need for high academic standards. Ivy league colleges are the best example of this. The average GPA for students to be into a low acceptance school is 3.81. The table below provides acceptance rates and GPA scores for popular low acceptance universities.
| School Name | Acceptance Rate | Average GPA |
| Stanford University | 4.7% | 4.18 |
| Harvard University | 5.2% | 4.04 |
| Princeton University | 6.4% | 3.87 |
| University of Chicago | 8.7% | 4.00 |
| University of Pennsylvania | 9.3% | 3.90 |
| Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering | 13.4% | 3.90 |
| Pitzer College | 16.2% | 3.85 |
| Vanderbilt University | 10.9% | 3.76 |
| Johns Hopkins University | 12.5% | 3.74 |
| Cooper Union | 13.1% | 3.60 |
| University of California- Berkeley | 17.1% | 3.86 |
| University of Southern California | 16.0% | 3.73 |
| University of California- Los Angeles (UCLA) | 16.1% | 4.29 |
| Davidson College | 20.2% | 3.90 |
| Vassar College | 23.8% | 3.80 |
| Barnard College | 15.4% | 3.84 |
| Wesleyan University | 16.3% | 3.73 |
| Carnegie Mellon University | 22.2% | 3.69 |
| Kenyon College | 33.8% | 3.90 |
| Colgate University | 28.1% | 3.64 |
| Babson College | 24.2% | 3.60 |
| Emory University | 22.0% | 3.80 |
| Scripps College | 33.4% | 4.13 |
| Tulane University | 21.5% | 3.50 |
| University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill | 24.4% | 4.60 |
| University of Virginia | 27.3% | 4.22 |
| Hampton University | 36.2% | 3.30 |
| Lafayette College | 30.8% | 3.46 |
| Bucknell University | 31.1% | 3.54 |
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | 34.6% | 3.87 |
| University of Michigan – Ann Arbor | 26.5% | 3.82 |
| Ohio Valley University | 28.6% | 3.06 |
| Oberlin College | 33.7% | 3.57 |
| College of William and Mary | 35.9% | 4.12 |
| Trinity College | 38.4% | 3.50 |
High Acceptance Schools
Colleges with high acceptance rates accept more of the applications submitted to them each year. Some schools even have open acceptance policies. This means that the only admission requirement is a high school diploma, or in some cases a GED. Also, admission is often granted continually throughout the year. Hence, deadlines for submitting applications aren’t as strict as low acceptance schools. The average high school GPA for students accepted into these colleges is 3.25.
Here are acceptance rates and average GPAs for students in some of the most popular high acceptance universities.
| School Name | Acceptance Rate | Average GPA |
| University of Pikeville | Open | 3.07 |
| Wayne State College | Open | 3.23 |
| Weber State University | Open | 3.12 |
| New Mexico Highlands University | Open | 2.94 |
| Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College | 75.8% | 3.16 |
| Utah Valley University | Open | 3.39 |
| Brigham Young University–Idaho | 94.8% | 3.40 |
| Cameron University | Open | 3.11 |
| Nyack College | 98.4% | 2.74 |
| Edinboro University of Pennsylvania | 92.5% | 3.14 |
| Harding University | 72.1% | 3.58 |
| Lewis-Clark State College | 99.6% | 3.07 |
| Evergreen State College | 96.3% | 3.00 |
| Grand View University | 92.7% | 3.20 |
| Missouri Western State University | Open | 3.25 |
| Shepherd University | 89.1% | 3.27 |
| East Central University | 48.0% | 3.30 |
| Bluefield College | 91.1% | 3.00 |
| Utah State University | 89.1% | 3.46 |
| University of Wyoming | 96.8% | 3.48 |
| Western State Colorado University | 86.0% | 3.10 |
| Westminster College | 92.7% | 3.50 |
| Wayland Baptist University | 98.8% | 3.24 |
| Huntington University | 80.5% | 3.46 |
| Wright State University | Open | 3.19 |
| Covenant College | 95.2% | 3.60 |
| Truett McConnell College | 94.6% | 3.24 |
| Martin Luther College | 70.6% | 3.49 |
| Saint Ambrose University | 60.8% | 3.28 |
| Missouri Southern State University | 95.1% | 3.20 |
| Regis University | 59.9% | 3.54 |
| New England College | 99.6% | 2.66 |
| Indiana Wesleyan University | 72.0% | 3.59 |
| University of Akron | Open | 3.00 |
| Wichita State University | 93.8% | 3.47 |
| Bethel University | 93.6% | 2.90 |
| Loras College | 95.1% | 3.42 |
| San Francisco Art Institute | 74.7% | 3.09 |
| Kansas State University | 94.1% | 3.47 |
| Goshen College | 63.9% | 3.50 |
| University of Toledo | Open | 3.15 |
| Tennessee Technological University | 64.4% | 3.50 |
| Lubbock Christian University | 94.1% | 3.37 |
| University of Central Arkansas | 89.9% | 3.30 |
| Neumann University | 96.3% | 2.88 |
| La Roche College | 96.6% | 3.19 |
| Houghton College | 91.4% | 3.53 |
| Linfield College | 80.8% | 3.66 |
| Marygrove College | 41.0% | 3.00 |
| Southern Vermont College | 90.7% | 2.80 |
| Bemidji State University | 66.2% | 3.10 |
| Freed-Hardeman University | 95.3% | 3.53 |
| Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania | 89.0% | 3.28 |
| Southern Oregon University | 78.5% | 3.30 |
| Sul Ross State University | Open | 3.06 |
| Northern Kentucky University | 90.4% | 3.24 |
| Western Kentucky University | 95.5% | 3.20 |
| Thomas More College | 91.2% | 3.30 |
| University of the Incarnate Word | 93.9% | 3.48 |
How to Analyze Your Current GPA
Besides your target schools’ admissions requirements, you need to know your current GPA . this can help you to know if you’re on track to reach your goals. There are several factors to consider when determining if your GPA is where it should be.
First, understand what type of GPA your school is providing you with. Most high schools use weighted GPAs. These take into account the level of difficulty for the classes you’ve taken. For instance, more value is placed on AP or honors level classes. So this helps students earn a 4.5 GPA or even a 5.0. Weighted GPAs
give credit to students who have taken on more challenges than the status quo classes. But unweighted GPAs measure all classes equally regardless of difficulty level. In this case, the highest GPA available is 4.0.
Note that the average GPAs listed above are for unweighted GPAs. So if you are using a weighted GPA at your high school, make sure you convert it. That will help you to know where you really stand with admissions requirements. Next, understand what your goals are and the requirements for reaching those goals. For instance, if you have your heart set on an Ivy League program, a strong GPA alone won’t be enough. Make sure you’re also including higher-level courses in your schedule. This will show the schools you’re applying to that you’re willing to challenge yourself.
If admission rates are low, especially below 20%. That’s an indicator that you’ll need to take on more challenging classes to be a competitive candidate. Take time to delve into the admissions requirements for the colleges you’re aiming for. What are their average GPAs for admitted students? What other requirements do they have for applications to be accepted?
Finally, once you have an understanding of where your GPA currently stands and where it needs to be. Then you should create an action plan.
How to Create a GPA Action Plan
If your GPA is already where it needs to be, that’s great! But keep in mind that now is not the time to let up on all the hard work you’ve already put in. Instead, stay the course and continue to maintain focus on your classes. Make sure to continue to make time specifically for studying. Also, take advantage of any extra credit opportunities that come up. And stay on schedule with your coursework as falling behind is one of the easiest ways for your GPA to begin to slip.
If your GPA isn’t quite where it needs to be. It’s time to double down and start putting in the work you need to get it there or as close as possible. If you’ve found that your GPA has begun to slip- find out why. If you’re doing too many challenging courses, try changing some of those courses. Find a good balance between challenging courses and less challenging courses. That will help you to manage the workload better.
If your course load already feels balanced. Then it may be time to focus on creating stronger study habits. This means setting aside time specifically dedicated to studying and eliminating any distractions.
Make sure to not only show up to class but to also take part in the lessons. This means contributing to class discussions and answering questions from teachers. Also, taking strong notes throughout each class should become your habit.
And finally, ask for help. Never underestimate the help a teacher or tutor can provide to get you to where you need to be.
GPA Calculator
Our GPA Calculator provides a seamless way for students to track their grade performance for college or university. Our tools make understanding and calculating grade point averages fast and simple. Students need to understand the importance of calculating and converting GPAS. Hence we provide helpful guides that can also help students to raise their GPA. Gain access to our free suite of tools at gpacalculator.io.
