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Katelyn
Student
Elk River, Minnesota
3
Questions
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What is considered a good GPA in high school?
I am wondering what is still considered a ¨ good ¨ or a GPA that most colleges will accept.
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5 answers
Dr H
Dr. H's Research
1334
Answers
Australia
Updated
Dr’s Answer
Hi Katelyn,
Well, great question! In high school, a “good” GPA is pretty subjective, but most data suggest that the national average is around 3.0—a B average. This means that if you're hovering around a 3.0, you're doing about as well as most students. However, when it comes to college admissions, what counts as “good” really depends on where you’re aiming. Less selective colleges often accept students with GPAs in the 2.0–3.0 range, while more competitive schools typically look for unweighted GPAs of 3.5 or higher. Top-tier institutions, like Ivy League schools, usually expect a GPA around 3.8 to 4.0 (sometimes even higher, especially if you’re taking honors or AP courses, though colleges often convert everything to an unweighted 4.0 scale).
Remember, GPA isn’t the only factor—colleges also consider course rigor, test scores, extracurriculars, and your overall academic context. So, a “good” GPA is one that not only meets the minimum requirements but also reflects that you challenged yourself with a demanding curriculum. Keep working hard and choose courses that push you to excel, and you'll be in a strong position for the colleges you’re targeting!
All the best and good luck out there Katelyn!! 😉🤗
Well, great question! In high school, a “good” GPA is pretty subjective, but most data suggest that the national average is around 3.0—a B average. This means that if you're hovering around a 3.0, you're doing about as well as most students. However, when it comes to college admissions, what counts as “good” really depends on where you’re aiming. Less selective colleges often accept students with GPAs in the 2.0–3.0 range, while more competitive schools typically look for unweighted GPAs of 3.5 or higher. Top-tier institutions, like Ivy League schools, usually expect a GPA around 3.8 to 4.0 (sometimes even higher, especially if you’re taking honors or AP courses, though colleges often convert everything to an unweighted 4.0 scale).
Remember, GPA isn’t the only factor—colleges also consider course rigor, test scores, extracurriculars, and your overall academic context. So, a “good” GPA is one that not only meets the minimum requirements but also reflects that you challenged yourself with a demanding curriculum. Keep working hard and choose courses that push you to excel, and you'll be in a strong position for the colleges you’re targeting!
All the best and good luck out there Katelyn!! 😉🤗
Doc Frick
Career Coach and Mentor
1787
Answers
California, CA
Updated
Doc’s Answer
GREAT question Katelyn, having a good GPA in high school does not always guarantee college admissions. GPA expectations can also vary by major and department within the same university.
GRADE POINT AVERAGE (GPA)
GPA is calculated by translating letter grades onto a numerical scale that typically ranges from 0.0-4.0. Several factors can impact your high school GPA, such as the classes you take, the grades you earn, and whether you drop any of your courses. Dropping a class early before your school’s required deadline typically does not affect your GPA. However, dropping from a class after the deadline might impact your GPA, depending on your high schools policies. 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 on your actual diploma. Typically, students with GPAs ranging from 3.5-3.7 will graduate with honors. Those with 3.7-3.9 GPAs graduate with great praise, and those with a GPA of 3.9 or higher will be awarded with highest praise.
CONCLUSION
If you plan to attend a community college or university, make sure to review the GPA requirements for admission. While many programs accept a GPA of 3.0 or above, more prestigious programs may require a GPA of 3.5 or higher for admission. While GPA is influential, it represents just one part of your academic record. While it is important to strive for a strong GPA, colleges and admissions committees also consider extracurricular activities, leadership positions, work experience, personal essays, and recommendation letters during the admissions process.
NOTE
Whether you're applying to community college as a substitute for a four-year university or want to transfer later, it's critical to get the process off to a good start. This entails putting your best foot forward when applying to colleges. If you don't have good grades, that doesn't mean you won't get accepted. What you need is a solid strategy - you need to work on how to build and present your case. Admissions counselors attempt to get a sense of each student through their application so they can figure out who is the best fit for the institution.
GRADE POINT AVERAGE (GPA)
GPA is calculated by translating letter grades onto a numerical scale that typically ranges from 0.0-4.0. Several factors can impact your high school GPA, such as the classes you take, the grades you earn, and whether you drop any of your courses. Dropping a class early before your school’s required deadline typically does not affect your GPA. However, dropping from a class after the deadline might impact your GPA, depending on your high schools policies. 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 on your actual diploma. Typically, students with GPAs ranging from 3.5-3.7 will graduate with honors. Those with 3.7-3.9 GPAs graduate with great praise, and those with a GPA of 3.9 or higher will be awarded with highest praise.
CONCLUSION
If you plan to attend a community college or university, make sure to review the GPA requirements for admission. While many programs accept a GPA of 3.0 or above, more prestigious programs may require a GPA of 3.5 or higher for admission. While GPA is influential, it represents just one part of your academic record. While it is important to strive for a strong GPA, colleges and admissions committees also consider extracurricular activities, leadership positions, work experience, personal essays, and recommendation letters during the admissions process.
NOTE
Whether you're applying to community college as a substitute for a four-year university or want to transfer later, it's critical to get the process off to a good start. This entails putting your best foot forward when applying to colleges. If you don't have good grades, that doesn't mean you won't get accepted. What you need is a solid strategy - you need to work on how to build and present your case. Admissions counselors attempt to get a sense of each student through their application so they can figure out who is the best fit for the institution.
Ashlie Standlee
school counseling
2
Answers
Visalia, California
Updated
Ashlie’s Answer
Great question. For participating in sports, you generally need a 2.0 GPA. If you're aiming for college, having a GPA above 3.0 is often beneficial, though not always guaranteed to help. To improve your academic profile, it’s a good idea to take honors or AP courses. Colleges look for students who can balance work and school, so having a job in high school is also a plus. If you're interested in attending a four-year college in California, you must meet the A-G requirements. These are a set of classes that specify how many math, science, and other courses you need to take in high school.
Elizabeth Thesing
Engineering
33
Answers
Springfield, Ohio
Updated
Elizabeth’s Answer
Hello again Katelyn!
While I am not a college admissions expert, it would be safe to say that the higher your GPA, the more likely you are to being accepted to your college of choice! A baseline of a 3.0 is a good starting point, but if you are applying to a highly competitive college you really want to aim for a 3.6 or higher. The closer to a 4.0 GPA, the better for those highly competitive schools!
Keep in mind that some degree programs may have additional requirements. While the school may say they would accept anyone with a C-average or higher, a specific program may say they will accept highest GPA applicants first, or may only consider those with a 3.0 or higher first, or something of the sort. So the higher your GPA is, the better chance you have of getting in the program instead of being put on a waitlist.
Some scholarships will only apply to students with a specific GPA. If scholarships are a goal of yours, look up any requirements for the specific scholarships to determine what you may need to apply!
While I am not a college admissions expert, it would be safe to say that the higher your GPA, the more likely you are to being accepted to your college of choice! A baseline of a 3.0 is a good starting point, but if you are applying to a highly competitive college you really want to aim for a 3.6 or higher. The closer to a 4.0 GPA, the better for those highly competitive schools!
Keep in mind that some degree programs may have additional requirements. While the school may say they would accept anyone with a C-average or higher, a specific program may say they will accept highest GPA applicants first, or may only consider those with a 3.0 or higher first, or something of the sort. So the higher your GPA is, the better chance you have of getting in the program instead of being put on a waitlist.
Some scholarships will only apply to students with a specific GPA. If scholarships are a goal of yours, look up any requirements for the specific scholarships to determine what you may need to apply!
Kazi Rubayee
Oriental medicine health professional, Acupuncturist, Holistic health practitioner
53
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Kazi’s Answer
A good GPA score of 3.5 to 3.9 on a scale of 4.0 can be considered good and competitive in a higher selective college where the acceptance rate is only 25%.
Also, a less selective college with a 50% acceptance rate, a 3.5 to 3.8 GPA can be satisfying.
Navigate the college admissions process and understand the role of GPA with other factors like extra curriculum, recommendation, and essay to enhance the chance to achieve your desired goal.
Best,
Also, a less selective college with a 50% acceptance rate, a 3.5 to 3.8 GPA can be satisfying.
Navigate the college admissions process and understand the role of GPA with other factors like extra curriculum, recommendation, and essay to enhance the chance to achieve your desired goal.
Best,