10 Colleges That Accept a 1.5 GPA in 2025

A low grade point average (GPA), even a 1.5, doesn't have to prevent you from pursuing your higher education. There are several colleges with low GPA requirements across the U.S. that give students with a poor GPA a second chance.

Some are open enrollment colleges, colleges that accept anyone as long as they meet the minimum requirements. Others simply prefer to focus on other things in the college admissions process. Keep reading to discover colleges and universities that accept a 1.5 GPA.

What Colleges Accept a 1.5 GPA?

Many colleges accept a 1.5 GPA across the United States, although most expect students to raise their GPA once they're in college. Keep reading to discover some high-quality colleges that accept low GPAs.

1. Bellevue University

Bellevue University is a private, nonprofit institution in Bellevue, NE. It has an open admissions policy that just requires a high school diploma or equivalent; it does not have a minimum GPA and does not require SAT/ACT scores.

Most students at Bellevue are enrolled in online programs. These include bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in fields like business, computer science, and psychology.

The tuition rate is $339 per credit for in-person undergraduate programs and $449 per credit for online undergraduate programs. Graduate tuition is $660 per credit regardless of mode of study. Bellevue University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

2. Columbia College

At Columbia College, most students are accepted through an open admissions policy. There is no minimum GPA for students studying online, they just need to have a high school diploma or equivalent.

Columbia College, a private institution, is based in Columbia, MO. It also has several campuses across the U.S, as well as an online campus. Students can earn undergraduate and graduate degrees in areas of study like criminal justice, healthcare, and humanities.

The HLC is the accreditor for Columbia College. Tuition for online undergraduate programs is $375 per credit, and graduate programs are $585 per credit.

3. Empire State University

Empire State University has an open admissions policy that only requires a high school diploma or equivalent, no minimum GPA, and no test scores. The public institution is based in Saratoga Springs, NY.

The university is a great choice for adult learners, as it offers fully online programs in a variety of subjects. It also accepts a high number of transfer credits and accepts credit for other types of prior learning.

Tuition for New York undergrad students is $295 per credit, while out-of-state students pay $353 per credit. For graduate programs, in-state residents pay $471 per credit and out-of-state residents pay $565 per credit for most programs. The university is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).

4. Excelsior University

The open admissions policy at Excelsior University allows students to enter most programs with just a high school diploma or equivalent. The university does not have a minimum GPA, nor does it require test scores.

Excelsior University is a private, nonprofit, online school headquartered in Albany, NY. It's also accredited by the MSCHE.

Excelsior offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in fields like business, health sciences, liberal arts, and technology. Undergraduate tuition is $510 per credit hour for most programs, and graduate tuition is $715 per credit for most programs.

5. Franklin University

Franklin University is a private, nonprofit institution in Columbus, OH, and is accredited by the HLC. It has an open admissions policy and does not require a minimum GPA or ACT/SAT scores, just a high school diploma for undergraduate programs.

The university is geared toward working adults and offers flexible associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees on campus and online. It also accepts up to 90 transfer credits into the bachelor's programs. The tuition rate for most undergraduate programs is $398 per credit, while tuition for most master's degrees is $670 per credit.

6. Herzing University

Students at Herzing University can be accepted even if they have low grades thanks to the university's open admissions policy. This policy does not require any specific GPA; however, part of the admissions criteria is that candidates prove they can succeed in college-level coursework through one of the following:

• successfully completing an entrance evaluation administered by Herzing University with examination scores deemed appropriate by the university
• an ACT score of 17 or better or an SAT score of 930 or better
• successful completion of a minimum of 24 college credit hours with a C average

The private, nonprofit institution is headquartered in Milwaukee but has several campuses across the U.S., as well as a multitude of online programs. It's accredited by the HLC.

Tuition varies by program but is generally $515 per credit for most undergraduate programs and $625 for most graduate programs. Areas of study include business, healthcare, law, and technology.

7. Ohio State University

Ohio State University is not open admissions. In fact, its acceptance rate is 51%, meaning your chances of acceptance are lower. However, the school does not have minimum requirements for GPA or ACT/SAT scores.

Students will need to provide official transcripts for their college application, and the university also recommends submitting letters of recommendation. Test scores are optional.

OSU is a public university in Columbus, OH, and is accredited by the HLC. Tuition for Ohio residents entering their freshman year is roughly $13,244 per year.

8. Southern New Hampshire University

Like OSU, Southern New Hampshire University doesn't offer open admissions. But SNHU's acceptance rate is much higher, at 94%. There is no minimum high school GPA for undergraduate students studying online.

SNHU, based in Manchester, NH, is a private, nonprofit institution best known for its numerous online degree programs. The school is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).

Most undergraduate programs at SNHU will accept up to 90 transfer credits. The tuition rate is $330 per credit for online undergraduate programs and $637 per credit for online graduate programs.

9. University of Maryland Global Campus

The University of Maryland Global Campus is the online branch of the public University System of Maryland. It has an open enrollment policy with no minimum GPA or test score requirement.

UMGC offers associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in fields such as business, education, liberal arts, and tech. It also offers multiple ways for students to earn college credit for work or life experience.

Maryland residents pay $324 per credit for undergraduate programs and $534 per credit for most graduate programs. The university is accredited by the MSCHE.

10. University of Massachusetts Global

Through the open admissions policy at the University of Massachusetts Global, first-year students just need to have a high school diploma or equivalent. No minimum GPA or test scores are required.

UMass Global is a private nonprofit affiliate of the public University of Massachusetts. However, it's based in Aliso Viejo, CA, so it's accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WASCUC).

The school offers online undergraduate and graduate programs, including some that are completely self-paced. Tuition for most undergraduate programs is $500 per credit hour, while the tuition for master's degrees is $730 per credit.

How We Rank Schools

To choose the best colleges that accept D students and those with a low GPA, we focused on schools that met the following criteria:

• Accreditation: Every school on this list is regionally accredited.
• GPA Requirement: We only chose schools that did not have a minimum GPA requirement.
• Acceptance Rates: Most schools on this list accept nearly all applicants.
• School Type: We specifically looked at public and private nonprofit four-year colleges. Many community colleges also do not require a minimum GPA, but we wanted to focus on schools offering bachelor's degrees.

Tips on How To Improve Your GPA

The exact steps you should take to get a higher GPA will depend on what stage you're at in your education.

If you're in your junior year of high school, focus on improving your study habits to help raise your average GPA. Talk to your teachers if you need extra help with material and consider joining a study group.

If you're in your senior year, you don't have a lot of time left to improve your academic performance. Focus on trying to get a good letter grade in your remaining classes.

If you graduate high school with a low GPA, you have a few options. You can choose a school with open admissions, or look for schools that have a conditional admissions option. For conditional admissions, you'll need to study hard your first semester of college to prove to the school that you deserve to be there.

Another option many students with a low GPA choose is to start at a community college, a great option according to U.S. News & World Report. Focus on completing your general education courses or earning an associate degree with a good grade, then transfer your credits to a four-year institution.

FAQs About Colleges That Accept a Low GPA

To ensure you're aware of all your options if you have a low GPA, we've answered a few frequently asked questions about colleges and universities that accept a 1.5 GPA.

Is a 1.2 GPA Good?

A 1.2 GPA is not good. This is nearly the lowest GPA you can have while still technically passing your classes. While the majority of schools require a GPA of 2.0 or better, very few accept a 1.4 GPA or less.

If your GPA is 1.2, you'll need to either choose a school that does not have a minimum GPA requirement, like those listed above, or attend a community college until you can get your GPA higher.

Is a 1.5 GPA Good?

While a 1.5 GPA is better than a 1.2, it's still not a good GPA. Some schools, including those listed above, will accept students with a 1.5 GPA, but you will not be able to attend an Ivy League university.

Can You Get Into College With a 1.5 GPA?

Some colleges accept a 1.5 GPA. Look for schools, like those on our list of colleges above, that have an open admissions process or do not have a minimum GPA requirement.

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