Complete 4.0 GPA Overview
As a student, your GPA is one of the most important numbers to keep an eye on. But it can also be one of the most unclear and confusing as well.
What's a good GPA vs. a bad one? What GPA do you need to have in order to get accepted into your target schools?
Does the graduate program you have your eye on have a minimum GPA requirement? What about the company you're dreaming about working for?
If you're working towards raising your GPA to a 4.0, what steps can you take to get there? If you already have a 4.0, how can you make sure you keep it?
This guide covers everything you need to know about a 4.0, including:
What a 4.0 GPA means for you
For high school students: Colleges to consider if you have a 4.0
For college students: Next steps to consider if you have a 4.0
How to increase your chances of earning and keeping a 4.0 GPA
What is a GPA?
Before we dive into the specifics of having a 4.0, let’s do a brief overview of GPAs in general.
Your Grade Point Average, or GPA, is the average of all of your final grades earned in every class you’ve taken over time.
Unlike other commonly used metrics like standardized test scores, how a GPA is calculated can vary by school. There are also several different types of GPAs.
The two main types of GPAs are weighted and unweighted. Weighted GPAs take into account the difficulty level of the classes you’ve taken; unweighted GPAs don’t.
While unweighted GPAs are most commonly used, many high schools use weighted GPAs to better represent the accomplishments of students who have chosen to take more challenging classes, such as AP or college-level courses.
Is a 4.0 GPA good?
A 4.0 is an entire point higher than the national average GPA. In general, a 4.0 is the ideal GPA, as it means you’ve worked hard to achieve A’s in all of your classes.
In the case of unweighted GPAs, a 4.0 is as good as it gets. If your school uses a weighted grading scale, taking the difficulty level of the classes into consideration, the highest GPA would be a 4.5 or even 5.0.
What does a 4.0 mean for high school students?
If you’re in high school and have a 4.0, what does this mean for you?
For those of you looking to continue on to college, you’re in a great place! Overall, you can expect to receive positive feedback from most universities.
At this point, the most important factor is for you to continue to work hard and maintain your high scores across all of your classes.
A 4.0 also puts you in a unique position to potentially earn additional financial aid from scholarships that are based on academic merit.
So don’t let senioritis sneak up on you now! Keep up the hard work and you’ll be able to reap all of the benefits.
With that in mind, it is important to point out that your GPA isn’t the only factor that college admissions teams take into consideration.
These committees also spend considerable time analyzing your standardized test scores, the types of classes you’ve elected to take, and what type of, if any, leadership positions you’ve held during your four years of high school.
Still, a 4.0 is a huge checkmark for students going through the application process and you’ll have a long list of programs to choose from.
Safety Schools
A 4.0 makes you an attractive candidate for most colleges as you’ve proven that you’re willing to put in the work it takes to succeed. Here is a list of schools that are likely to look favorably at a student who’s earned such a high GPA.
| School Name | Average GPA |
|---|---|
| University of Chicago | 4 |
| Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering | 3.9 |
| Worcester Polytechnic Institute | 3.9 |
| Davidson College | 3.9 |
| Kenyon College | 3.9 |
| Reed College | 3.9 |
| Lewis & Clark College | 3.9 |
| University of Pennsylvania | 3.9 |
| The University of Texas at Dallas | 3.9 |
| Converse College | 3.89 |
| University of San Diego | 3.88 |
| United States Air Force Academy | 3.88 |
| Florida State University | 3.88 |
| California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo | 3.87 |
| Brandeis University | 3.87 |
| Princeton University | 3.87 |
| University of California Berkeley | 3.86 |
| Soka University of America | 3.86 |
| University of South Florida Main Campus | 3.86 |
| Stetson University | 3.86 |
| University of Georgia | 3.86 |
| Villanova University | 3.86 |
| Pitzer College | 3.85 |
| The University of Tennessee | 3.85 |
| Florida International University | 3.84 |
| Barnard College | 3.84 |
| College of Charleston | 3.84 |
| University of Wisconsin Madison | 3.84 |
| University of Michigan | 3.82 |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte | 3.82 |
| University of Dallas | 3.82 |
| University of Central Florida | 3.81 |
| Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | 3.81 |
| Winthrop University | 3.81 |
| Westmont College | 3.8 |
| Colorado School of Mines | 3.8 |
| Emory University | 3.8 |
| Vassar College | 3.8 |
| University of Rochester | 3.8 |
| Stony Brook University | 3.8 |
| SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry | 3.8 |
| University of Tulsa | 3.8 |
| Brigham Young University Provo | 3.8 |
Target Schools
On average, these schools accept students with an average GPA of 4.0 or close to it. If you apply to the schools on this list, your chances of being accepted are pretty decent.
| School Name | Average GPA |
|---|---|
| Elizabeth City State University | 4 |
| University of California Davis | 3.99 |
| Elon University | 3.99 |
| University of North Carolina at Asheville | 3.98 |
| University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus | 3.97 |
| University of California Santa Barbara | 3.96 |
| Rose Hulman Institute of Technology | 3.96 |
| Georgia Institute of Technology Main Campus | 3.95 |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | 3.95 |
| Hendrix College | 3.94 |
| University of California Irvine | 3.92 |
| New College of Florida | 3.92 |
| Illinois Institute of Technology | 3.92 |
| Smith College | 3.92 |
Dream Schools
As we mentioned above, a 4.0 alone isn’t a guarantee to get into just any school.
Some universities, particularly ivy league schools, have low acceptance rates meaning they only accept a small number of the applications they receive each year. These programs often have additional enrollment requirements beyond GPA including specific ACT or SAT scores and essay requirements, among other prerequisites.
| School Name | Average GPA |
|---|---|
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | 4.6 |
| North Carolina State University at Raleigh | 4.37 |
| University of California Los Angeles | 4.29 |
| University of Virginia Main Campus | 4.22 |
| University of Miami | 4.2 |
| Stanford University | 4.18 |
| Clemson University | 4.18 |
| University of South Carolina Columbia | 4.15 |
| Scripps College | 4.13 |
| College of William and Mary | 4.12 |
| University of Maryland College Park | 4.11 |
| University of Florida | 4.1 |
| University of North Carolina at Wilmington | 4.06 |
| Appalachian State University | 4.05 |
| Harvard University | 4.04 |
What does a 4.0 mean for college students?
If you’re finishing up your college career, what’s a 4.0 mean for your future?
The answer depends on what your next steps are: continue on to graduate school or jump into the job market?
Though requirements vary by graduate program, the average GPA needed to be accepted is a 3.0. So with a 4.0, you’re already in great shape!
This score can vary widely on the exact program you’re hoping to apply for though, so it’s important to research the cutoff score for not only your program type but for the specific university you’re hoping to apply to.
A cutoff score is the absolute lowest GPA a grad school will accept when taking your application into consideration. So if you’re looking to earn a Masters in Finance, you’ll need to research for not only the average cutoff score for all MFIN programs but for your target programs as well.
It’s also important to find out the timeline of these GPAs. For instance, some programs will require a 3.0 but for junior and senior years of college only.
In short: do your research!
There are some schools that don’t require a cutoff GPA and instead will take your application as a whole into consideration. For instance, they’ll look at your GRE score, the types of classes you’ve taken, any internship positions you’ve had, and more.
Even schools such as Stanford don’t require a cutoff. So if you’re GPA isn’t exactly where you’d like it to be, it doesn’t necessarily mean you have to limit yourself to lesser schools.
But perhaps you’re looking to go directly into the job market instead of pursuing a graduate degree.
If that’s the case, good news for you—most companies do not require a minimum GPA to apply. Instead, they look at the bigger picture, focusing on qualitative factors your GPA can’t capture such as your skills and leadership experience.
With that being said, requiring a minimum GPA is still a common practice in some cases. Most often this happens in highly competitive industries such as engineering, finance, or accounting. In these instances, companies use your GPA to gauge your general competency of information you should have learned in college.
Another reason a GPA requirement might be used is when a company regularly hires a lot of recent graduates. In this case, a minimum GPA is an easy way for their recruiting teams to move more quickly through applications and narrow down the number of applicants they’re considering to fill a role.
In the instance you do find yourself considering a job that requires a minimum GPA, what should you do?
The first step is, of course, to find out the exact minimum required along with any other requirements and measure these up against your own current standing and qualifications.
If you find your GPA doesn’t quite match up to what’s being asked, it’s not necessarily a sign that you should walk away. Remember your GPA is only one factor that companies will consider when evaluating your potential.
Look through your full transcript and try to discover why your GPA has landed where it has. Did you take on too many challenging courses at one point hurting your GPA? Were you juggling too many responsibilities at once—such as a job and internship on top of classes? Maybe you had a little too much fun your freshman year.
In these instances, look for places in your transcript where your GPA improved. This can show a potential employer that you’re able to learn from your mistakes and work hard to improve. It’s also important to add extra emphasis to your other accomplishments.
For instance, if you did hold multiple internships or jobs while going to school be sure to heavily emphasize that point. Being able to juggle multiple responsibilities while still earning a degree exhibits some impressive skills that potential employers are looking for. You might also consider highlighting particular classes that are relevant, awards you’ve received, and student organizations you participated in.
How can I raise my GPA?
Assuming your school uses an unweighted GPA scale, there’s nothing you can do to raise your GPA—you’re already at the top!
Instead, your focus should be on staying diligent and continuing to work hard to maintain your grades:
Make a schedule and mark blocks of time in which you can study
Focus on developing your extracurricular participation and standardized test scores
Ensure you understand class concepts thoroughly with extra studying and practice work
How can I earn a 4.0?
Improving your GPA is possible for students who are willing to put in extra focus and work into their studies. Here are a few strategies that can help raise your GPA.
Calculate Your GPA and Track Progress Over Time
The first step towards earning higher grades is to make sure you have a clear understanding of where you stand now.
Start by calculating your current GPA. From here, you’ll have a better understanding of how far you have to go in order to reach your goals.
Create a Study Strategy
Once you know where you stand, it’s time to start moving forward. The best way to do this is to create a study strategy for yourself.
The best time for building a strategy is at the beginning of the semester when you’re able to plan ahead for your classes in entirety; however, it’s never too late! This can be done during any part of the year.
Start by reading the syllabi for each class; after all, you can’t create a game plan unless you know what’s coming up.
Be sure to mark down all upcoming assignments, projects, and exams on your calendar. This practice will help make sure you’re not missing anything and that you’ll be able to anticipate when you’ll need to start studying. It will also help you understand where you’ll need to spend the majority of your time and when.
Next, take a look at the content you’ll need to understand and create a plan for understanding it. This includes chapters you’ll need to read and projects you’ll need to complete. Look out for anything that’s confusing or surprising. If something doesn’t make sense, ask!
Creating a strategy for the semester will help set you up for success from the get-go.
Find your Ideal Study Environment
Good grades start with great study habits.
Though it may be tempting to study from the comfort and warmth of your dorm room bed, this isn’t very likely to lead to successful progress.
Instead, it’s important to take some time and understand what type of environment you work best in. This will help make sure that you’re not only studying hard but studying smart and using your valuable time as efficiently as possible.
Does silence seem deafening to you when you’re trying to focus? Then studying in a quiet room by yourself where you’ll easily get distracted probably isn’t the right fit for you. Alternatively, if even the slightest noise throws you off, maybe avoid busy coffee shops and give your school’s library a try instead.
Also, pay attention to who you study the best with. Though it may be tempting to study with friends, you may get more done alone. Finding organized study groups is also an option.
Finally, figure out the time of day where your brain is most “on”.
Reach Out for Help Early On
When a class or a subject doesn’t come easily or naturally, a common reaction is to avoid it for as long as possible. But avoidance can take us into a downward spiral with grades that are hard, if not impossible, to recover from before the end of the semester.
So when a class is coming up that you know might be challenging for you, it’s best to reach out for help as early on as possible.
This means making a beginning-of-the-semester stop at your school’s tutoring center. You can also try approaching your TA for office hours or find fellow students with a stronger grasp on the topic to act as your study buddies.
Making sure you get the help you need to understand the material as early as possible will help ensure that you secure the highest grade possible.
Moreover, it will help make the material more understandable and the semester much less stressful. And who knows, you might even discover that you actually do enjoy a class you thought you wouldn’t!
Practice Self-Care
Get enough sleep, exercise regularly, and eat well. Sounds easy enough, right?
But perhaps it’s no surprise that many college students struggle to keep up with basic self-care. They stay up into the late hours of the night cramming for an upcoming exam. When schedules get too busy, the first thing to get cut out is a trip to the gym. And a healthy balanced diet looks more like ramen and meal-replacement bars.
But without covering the basics of self-care, there’s almost no hope of doing well in school. In fact, one recent study found students who didn’t maintain a regular sleep schedule had lower grades on average. In fact, some students lacked so much sleep that their bodies behaved as though they were in a different time zone altogether!
Pile on lack of exercise and poor eating habits and all together you have unhealthy habits that can have long-lasting negative effects.
So the first step to maintaining and improving a GPA? Take care of yourself! Find consistency in your sleep schedule, leave time for the gym a few times a week, and eat a balanced diet.
Parting Words
Having a 4.0 GPA puts you in an excellent position for next steps, regardless of what stage you’re currently at!
If you’re a high school student with a 4.0, you can expect to receive positive feedback from most universities you apply to. But be aware that there are other application prerequisites, such as essays and standardized test scores, that also require your attention.
If you’re a current college student, a 4.0 also puts you in an excellent position for your next steps after graduation. A 4.0 is well above the cutoff score for most graduate programs, but be sure to clearly read through all application requirements. A 4.0 is also not required for most jobs out of college; however, it can move your application to the top of the pile and help you stand out from other applicants.
Finally, if your GPA isn’t quite at a 4.0 just yet, there are steps you can take to help raise your grades. Keeping track of your GPA over time, creating a study strategy, asking for help, and taking care of yourself are all steps that can help make improving your GPA possible.