Is a 2.3 GPA Good? Best Colleges That Accept a 2.3 GPA

Colleges often consider several factors when determining admissions. These typically include factors such as grade point average (GPA), test scores, extracurricular activities, and letters of recommendation.

Many schools set minimum GPA requirements, generally ranging from 2.0 to 3.5. Although a 2.3 GPA isn't very high, there are several colleges that accept low GPAs. Some have no minimum requirement, while others require you to submit test scores if your GPA is below a certain amount. Keep reading to learn more about colleges that accept a 2.3 GPA.

What Is a 2.3 GPA?

Your GPA is a way to represent your grades on a number scale. You can calculate your overall GPA by averaging your percentages in each class and then converting the average to the corresponding GPA.

The GPA scale ranges from 0.0, which corresponds to an F or a grade below 65%, to 4.0, which corresponds to an A+ or a grade above 97%. Note that some schools allow students to earn a GPA higher than 4.0.

A GPA of 2.3 is considered a C+ and is equivalent to a grade of 77% to 79% in a class. It's not a high GPA, but it won't prevent you from earning a college degree either. There are many colleges for C students across the country.

Colleges That Accept a 2.3 GPA

Although a 2.3 isn't considered high, students with low GPAs still have several options. We've featured a few top colleges that accept 2.3 GPAs below.

1. Empire State University

Empire State University is a public institution in the State University of New York (SUNY) system. It's located in Saratoga Springs, NY, and offers undergraduate and graduate degrees primarily online.

SUNY Empire has an open admissions policy, meaning it accepts all students who meet the minimum admissions requirements. In this case, that is a high school diploma or equivalent. There is no minimum GPA requirement, and students are not required to submit standardized test scores either.

Average GPA accepted: Not reported

Acceptance rate: 100%

In-state tuition: $295 per credit

Out-of-state tuition: $353 per credit

2. National University

At National University, students can earn bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees online in fields like business, computer science, education, and healthcare. Like SUNY Empire, National University has an open admissions policy.

National University, a private, nonprofit school, is based in San Diego. Students must have a high school diploma or equivalent with a minimum GPA of 2.0 for open admissions.

Average GPA accepted: Not reported

Acceptance rate: 100%

In-state tuition: $370 per credit

Out-of-state tuition: $370 per credit

3. West Texas A&M University

West Texas A&M University offers associate through doctoral degrees online and on campus. WTAMU is a public institution in Canyon, TX.

Students can be accepted if they meet one of the following requirements:

• rank in the top 35% of their graduating class
• 3.0 GPA
• composite ACT score of 21 or composite SAT score of 1070

This means that if you don't have a high GPA, you can still be accepted if your test scores are high enough. Texas residents will also need to have taken core foundational courses in high school. Residents from other states will be reviewed by the committee.

Average GPA accepted: 3.5

Acceptance rate: 97%

In-state tuition: $218.28 per credit

Out-of-state tuition: $705 per credit

4. Southern New Hampshire University

Students at Southern New Hampshire University will find undergraduate and graduate programs in a variety of fields of study � from business to healthcare to liberal arts to technology. The school doesn't have an open admissions policy, but its application process doesn't require much.

There is no minimum high school GPA required for undergraduate students, and SAT/ACT scores are optional. Students applying to learn on campus will need to submit a letter of recommendation.

SNHU, located in Manchester, NH, is a private, nonprofit university. While students are more than welcome to learn on campus, the school is best known for its hundreds of online degree programs.

Average GPA accepted: Not reported

Acceptance rate: 96%

In-state tuition: $330 per credit

Out-of-state tuition: $330 per credit

5. Alabama State University

Alabama State University is one of the public historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Located in Montgomery, AL, it offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees on campus and online in fields like business, education, engineering, and liberal arts.

The university fully admits applicants with a GPA between 2.0 and 2.49 if they have an ACT score of at least 18 or an SAT score of at least 940. Students with lower scores may be admitted to the summer bridge program to help them build academic skills and study habits before starting their freshman year.

Average GPA accepted: 3.1

Acceptance rate: 96%

In-state tuition: $347 per credit

Out-of-state tuition: $694 per credit

6. West Virginia State University

Students at West Virginia State University can earn undergraduate and graduate degrees on campus and online. Areas of study include business, humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences.

WVSU, a public HBCU, is located in Institute, WV. High school students applying for admission must have a GPA of 2.0 and have completed core high school coursework.

Average GPA accepted: Not reported

Acceptance rate: 96%

In-state tuition: $367 per credit

Out-of-state tuition: $593 per credit

7. William Paterson University of New Jersey

William Paterson University of New Jersey offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in person and online. WP is a public institution in Wayne, NJ.

The university does not have a minimum GPA or test scores for general admissions. However, students with lower GPAs can submit their test scores if they feel it will help their chances of admission. Note that specific degree programs may have minimum GPA requirements.

Average GPA accepted: Not reported

Acceptance rate: 93%

In-state tuition: $487 per credit

Out-of-state tuition: $805 per credit

8. University of North Carolina at Pembroke

Online and on-campus undergraduate and graduate programs are available at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. Areas of study include business, education, health sciences, and liberal arts.

UNCP, located in Pembroke, NC, is a public university. Students with a GPA below 2.5 must submit standardized test scores to be considered for admission. All students need to have completed core high school coursework as well.

Average GPA accepted: 3.5

Acceptance rate: 92%

In-state tuition: $41.67 per credit

Out-of-state tuition: $208.33 per credit

9. Georgia Southern University

Georgia Southern University is a public research institution with its main campus in Statesboro, GA. It offers associate through doctoral degrees on campus and online.

While the school recommends a GPA of 2.5 or above, all applicants are considered regardless of GPA. Students with a GPA below 3.2 will need to submit SAT or ACT test scores.

Average GPA accepted: 3.5

Acceptance rate: 90%

In-state tuition: $187 per credit

Out-of-state tuition: $675 per credit

10. Eastern Michigan University

Through Eastern Michigan University, students can earn undergraduate and graduate degrees in person or online. Areas of study include business, education, engineering, and human services.

EMU, a public research university, is located in Ypsilanti, MI. Admissions requirements include a GPA of 2.0. Students with a GPA below 2.49 are required to submit standardized test scores.

Average GPA accepted: 3.28

Acceptance rate: 81%

In-state tuition: $668 per credit

Out-of-state tuition: $668 per credit

How We Rank Schools

To choose the schools listed above, we started by looking at four-year colleges that are either public or private nonprofit. Then we looked at:

• Accreditation: Every school on this list is regionally accredited.
• GPA requirement: All colleges and universities accept students with a 2.3 or higher GPA.
• Acceptance rates: We focused on schools with acceptance rates over 80%.

College Admissions Process for Students With 2.3 GPAs

A 2.3 GPA is typically considered a below-average GPA. While it's not going to get you into an Ivy League school, there are many colleges that accept a 2.3 GPA.

Some schools may require students with a 2.3 GPA to submit test scores. They sometimes have minimum test scores you must meet to be accepted.

You can also look into schools with open admissions policies. These are colleges that accept everyone who meets the minimum requirements. Typically, this requires a high school diploma, as seen at SUNY Empire. However, some schools, such as National University, do set a minimum GPA requirement.

Tips To Improve a Low GPA

The things you can do to improve a low GPA will depend on where you're at in your education. For example, if you're a junior in high school or younger, you have time to improve your GPA by studying hard and asking for help from teachers or tutors.

But if you're already nearing the end of your senior year, your options are more limited. You can increase your chances of admission with things like:

• high test scores
• strong letters of recommendation
• an inspiring personal statement
• having extracurricular activities, like sports, arts, or volunteer work

Even with those things, your GPA could prevent you from getting into your dream school. Consider attending an open admissions school or a community college for a year or two until you can raise your GPA.

FAQs About College Applications for Students With Below-Average GPAs

Below, we've answered a few frequently asked questions about colleges that accept a 2.3 GPA.

Will Colleges Accept a 2.3 GPA?

Several colleges, including those listed above, will accept a 2.3 GPA. However, you may need to send in test scores or other materials.

Additionally, there are many open admissions schools and community colleges that will accept students regardless of their GPA. These are a great option if you want the chance to boost your GPA.

Is a 2.3 GPA Good?

A 2.3 GPA is not considered good as it's below average. Despite that, it doesn't have to stop you from completing your higher education. Many schools will still accept a low GPA, and some don't have a minimum GPA requirement at all.

What Is the Lowest GPA a College Will Accept?

As mentioned, some schools don't have a minimum GPA requirement. Many open admissions schools do not require a minimum GPA as long as you have a high school diploma or equivalent. Others will accept a low GPA if you meet other requirements, like minimum test scores.

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