GPA Requirements Guide

Complete guide to GPA requirements for colleges, scholarships, graduate programs, and more.

College Admission GPA Requirements

College TierUnweighted GPAWeighted GPAExamples
Ivy League / Elite3.9-4.04.5-5.0+Harvard, Stanford, MIT
Highly Selective3.7-3.94.2-4.5UCLA, UC Berkeley, Duke
Selective3.3-3.73.8-4.2Most state flagships
Moderately Selective2.5-3.33.0-3.8Regional universities
Open Admission2.0+N/ACommunity colleges

Scholarship GPA Requirements

Merit Scholarships

  • • Full Ride: 3.8-4.0 GPA typically required
  • • Partial Merit: 3.5-3.8 GPA
  • • Academic Grants: 3.0-3.5 GPA

Need-Based Aid

  • • Pell Grant: 2.0 GPA minimum
  • • Federal Student Aid: 2.0 GPA
  • • State Grants: Varies by state (usually 2.5-3.0)

Graduate School GPA Requirements

  • Top MBA Programs: 3.5-4.0 GPA
  • Medical School: 3.7+ GPA (science GPA critical)
  • Law School (Top 14): 3.7-4.0 GPA
  • PhD Programs: 3.5+ GPA in relevant field
  • Master's Programs: 3.0-3.5 GPA typically

Academic Standing Requirements

  • Good Standing: 2.0+ GPA
  • Dean's List: 3.5-3.7+ GPA
  • President's List: 3.9-4.0 GPA
  • Latin Honors (Cum Laude): 3.5-3.7 GPA
  • Magna Cum Laude: 3.7-3.9 GPA
  • Summa Cum Laude: 3.9-4.0 GPA

Sports & Activities GPA Requirements

  • NCAA Division I: 2.3 GPA minimum for eligibility
  • NCAA Division II: 2.2 GPA minimum
  • NAIA: 2.0 GPA minimum
  • Student Government: Usually 2.5-3.0 GPA
  • Honor Societies: 3.5+ GPA typically

Important Note:

GPA requirements vary by institution. Always check specific requirements with your target schools. These are general guidelines based on typical admissions data.