Is a 3.6 GPA Good? Best Colleges That Accept a 3.6 GPA
A high grade point average (GPA) makes your college application attractive to selective schools. Here's where you might apply with a high academic performance.
If your high school GPA is close to 4.0, then you are in a terrific position to seek admission into one of America's more selective colleges. While you still need to submit strong standardized test scores and letters of recommendation, it's not impossible for you to get into respected schools like Boston University, Washington University, or the University of Illinois. This article will preview some of the top colleges that accept a 3.6 GPA.
What Is a 3.6 GPA?
<p>A 3.6 GPA is roughly the equivalent of a B+ or A- letter grade. If you've done this well by your senior year of high school and took difficult classes, then you are among the top academic performers.
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<p>The colleges that accept a 3.6 GPA are abundant because many universities will accept qualified applicants with even just a 3.0 GPA. California State University, for example, only requires a minimum GPA of 2.5 from in-state applicants, making it a safety school for someone with your academic profile.
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<h2 id="section---IsA3.6GPAGood">Is a 3.6 GPA Good?</h2>
<p>Yes, this is solid GPA, which should make you a decent fit at <a href="https://learn.org/articles/colleges_for_a_students.html">colleges for A- students</a>. If you graduated in the top 5% of your high school class, you may even have an outside shot of getting into an upper-tier or Ivy League school, but that would depend on the rest of your college application. While a 3.6 GPA positions you at about the 80th percentile of high school students, you still need to strive for a high score on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or American College Testing (ACT).
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<h2 id="section---SchoolsThatAcceptA3.6GPA">Schools That Accept a 3.6 GPA</h2>
<p>Below are several of the best colleges for students with a 3.6 GPA. As always, admissions depend on more than your GPA, like your test scores, community involvement, recommendations, and essays.
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<h3 id="section---1.UniversityOfCaliforniaBerkeley">1. University of California - Berkeley</h3>
<p>The University of California - Berkeley requires a minimum GPA of 3.0 for admissions, but typically admits students with weighted GPAs over 4.0. This might make Berkeley a 'reach' school, but if you have an unweighted 3.6 GPA, this will look good to admissions officers.
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<p>Don't forget to get high SAT scores as well. This university does not require SAT or ACT scores, but admitted students score higher than 1300.
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<p><b>Average GPA:</b> 4.2
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<p><b>Acceptance rate:</b> 11%
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<p><b>In-state tuition:</b> $14,850
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<p><b>Out-of-state tuition:</b> $45,627
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<h3 id="section---2.UniversityOfTexas">2. University of Texas</h3>
<p>The University of Texas requires at least a 2.75 GPA for first-semester students and for most internal transfer admissions to various programs. Some programs require at least a 3.0 GPA. The average GPA for incoming freshmen is 3.8, making 3.6 slightly below average, but still quite competitive in Texas's application process.
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<p><b>Average GPA:</b> 3.8
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<p><b>Acceptance rate:</b> 29%
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<p><b>In-state tuition:</b> $11,500
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<p><b>Out-of-state tuition:</b> $45,000
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<h3 id="section---3.UniversityOfTennessee">3. University of Tennessee</h3>
<p>The University of Tennessee admits students with an average weighted GPA between 4.0 and 4.5, but you can overcome this if your class rank is in the top 10%. This flagship state college has competitive admissions, but the process is far less difficult than most elite universities. The minimum GPA for admission is 2.7, assuming you have also earned at least a 21 ACT score.
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<p><b>Average GPA:</b>4.2
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<p><b>Acceptance rate:</b> 46%
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<p><b>In-state tuition:</b> $13,812
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<p><b>Out-of-state tuition:</b> $32,956
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<h3 id="section---4.TexasAM">4. Texas A&M</h3>
<p>Texas A&M requires incoming freshmen to have at least a 3.0 GPA, but strong candidates normally have between a 3.5 and 4.0. This public university has a competitive applicant pool and a 63% acceptance rate.
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<p><b>Average GPA:</b> 3.7
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<p><b>Acceptance rate:</b> 63%
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<p><b>In-state tuition:</b> $12,413
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<p><b>Out-of-state tuition:</b> $40,307
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<h3 id="section---5.UniversityOfWashington">5. University of Washington</h3>
<p>The University of Washington admits students with high GPAs, but also applies a holistic review process to each applicant. This university is somewhat more selective, but not out of reach for someone with a 3.6 GPA. You can impress Washington's admission board by getting good recommendations, showcasing unique personal achievements, and scoring higher on the SAT or ACT.
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<p><b>Average GPA:</b> 3.85
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<p><b>Acceptance rate:</b> 43%
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<p><b>In-state tuition:</b> $12,973
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<p><b>Out-of-state tuition:</b> $43,209
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<h3 id="section---6.UniversityOfMinnesota">6. University of Minnesota</h3>
<p>The University of Minnesota prefers candidates with at least a 3.5 GPA, but you should also pay close attention to class rank. The middle 50% of Minnesota applicants held a class rank percentile between 75 and 95.
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<p>It's also important to submit an SAT score of at least 1350 to have a good chance of admission. Although the school's acceptance rate is 77%, this is among a very self-selected applicant pool of high achievers.
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<p><b>Average GPA:</b> 3.7
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<p><b>Acceptance rate:</b> 77%
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<p><b>In-state tuition:</b> $17,214
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<p><b>Out-of-state tuition:</b> $38,362
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<h2 id="section---HowWeRankSchools">How We Rank Schools</h2>
<p>This section explains how we rank colleges for this article. The three primary factors are academic accreditation, minimum GPA requirements, and acceptance rates.
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<ul><li><b>Accreditation:</b> Each college on this list features full academic accreditation and significant respect throughout academia.
</li><li><b>GPA requirement:</b> This list includes universities that publish minimum GPA requirements no higher than 3.6.
</li><li><b>Acceptance rates:</b> These programs are competitive, but not so selective as to refuse someone with a 3.6 GPA.
</li></ul><h2 id="section---CollegeAdmissionsWithA3.6GPA">College Admissions With a 3.6 GPA</h2>
<p>Students with a 3.6 GPA can qualify for entry at a majority of American colleges because this GPA is far better than the national average. So, if an institution claims to admit 50% of its students with an unweighted GPA range between 2.5 and 3.5, then you are in the top 25% of all applicants. This is a common range for many mid-to-upper-tier universities, and you may have a chance at admissions to an elite college if you apply to several of them.
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<h2 id="section---FAQsAboutCollegesAcceptingStudentsWithAboveAverageGPAs">FAQs About Colleges Accepting Students With Above-Average GPAs</h2>
<p>Here, we've answered some frequently asked questions regarding your admissions chances with a 3.6 GPA.
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<h3 id="section---CanIGetIntoAGoodCollegeWithA3.6GPA">Can I Get Into a Good College With a 3.6 GPA?</h3>
<p>Yes, you can get into a good college with that academic performance because 3.6 is a good unweighted GPA. Since you have almost a 4.0 GPA, you should have no trouble getting into <a href="https://learn.org/articles/colleges_for_b_students.html">colleges that accept B students</a>. So, even if you can't attend your dream school, you should have several other options.
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<h3 id="section---WhatLawSchoolsCanIGetIntoWithA3.6GPA">What Law Schools Can I Get Into With a 3.6 GPA?</h3>
<p>While law school is actually a different degree level than undergraduate school, you should stand a solid chance of admission with a 3.6 undergraduate GPA. You would have to study hard and earn a top score on the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) to earn entrance into the most competitive schools, however.
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<h3 id="section---DoCollegesPreferWeightedOrUnweightedGPAs">Do Colleges Prefer Weighted or Unweighted GPAs?</h3>
<p>The answer to this question depends on which colleges you consider. Many of them prefer unweighted GPAs over weighted GPAs because the former is a simpler and more standard measure.
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<p>If you aren't sure whether a university prefers one or the other, you can also submit your class rank on your college application. This shows universities exactly how you perform, referenced against your high school peers.
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<h2 id="section---ExploreOnlineDegreePrograms">Explore Online Degree Programs</h2>
<p>We welcome you to use Learn.org to find the best college for your academic journey. Browse information on college admissions, financial aid, and how to find 100% online degree programs to find the right fit for you.</p>