Short answer: on the standard 4.0 scale, a 3.0 GPA (a B average) is about average, a 3.5 is good, and 3.7 to 4.0 is excellent. The average high school graduate has about a 3.1, and the average college student about a 3.15.
"Good" depends on what you need the GPA for. A 3.2 is fine for most colleges and jobs, but not for the most selective schools. Here's how to judge yours.
GPA ranges at a glance
These are for an unweighted GPA on the 4.0 scale, where an A is worth 4 points no matter how hard the class is.
| GPA | Average grade | How it's usually seen |
|---|---|---|
| 3.7 – 4.0 | A- to A | Excellent. Competitive almost anywhere. |
| 3.3 – 3.6 | B+ | Very good. Above average. |
| 3.0 – 3.2 | B | Good. Around the national average. |
| 2.5 – 2.9 | B- to C+ | Fair. Below average, but options remain. |
| 2.0 – 2.4 | C | Low. Usually the minimum to stay in good standing. |
| Below 2.0 | C- or lower | At risk. Often triggers academic warning or probation. |
Want to see the letter grade and percentage for an exact GPA, like 3.45? Use the GPA converter.
What your GPA looks like in real grades
A GPA is easier to picture as a report card. Here's what 10 classes might look like for each GPA:
| GPA | Example mix of 10 grades |
|---|---|
| 4.0 | 10 A's |
| 3.7 | 7 A's and 3 B's |
| 3.5 | 5 A's and 5 B's |
| 3.3 | 3 A's and 7 B's |
| 3.0 | 10 B's, or 5 A's and 5 C's |
| 2.5 | 5 B's and 5 C's |
| 2.0 | 10 C's |
How the math works: an A is 4 points and a B is 3. Seven A's and three B's give 28 + 9 = 37 points. Divide by 10 classes and you get 3.7. Real report cards also have pluses and minuses, but the idea is the same.
Notice that a 3.0 can come from very different report cards. That's why colleges and employers often look past the number at your actual grades.
Average high school GPA
The average high school graduate in the US finished with a 3.11 GPA in 2019, according to the national High School Transcript Study. That was up from 3.00 in 2009 and 2.68 in 1990.
So today, a B average is roughly middle of the pack in high school. GPAs have risen over time, which is one reason a 3.0 doesn't stand out the way it once did.
Average college GPA
College GPAs have climbed too. Federal data show the average undergraduate GPA was about 3.15 in 2020, up from 2.81 in 1990.
Averages vary by school type. Students at private nonprofit colleges averaged about 3.34, compared with about 3.14 at public four-year colleges. Some majors also grade harder than others, so a 3.2 in engineering can be more impressive than a 3.6 in an easier program.
What is a good GPA in high school?
It depends on where you want to go next:
- Most four-year colleges: a 3.0 or higher makes you a solid applicant at many schools.
- More competitive colleges: aim for 3.5 or higher, with harder classes like honors or AP.
- The most selective colleges: admitted students usually have mostly A's, often 3.8 or higher unweighted, plus the hardest classes available.
- Scholarships: many merit scholarships ask for at least a 3.0, and the bigger ones often want 3.5 or more.
The best benchmark is the colleges you're actually applying to. Most publish the average GPA of the students they admit. If you're at or above that number, your GPA is good for that school.
Keep in mind that many high schools report a weighted GPA, where honors and AP classes count for extra points. A weighted 4.2 might be an unweighted 3.8. When you compare, make sure you're comparing the same kind of GPA. The 5.0 weighted scale is explained on our GPA converter page.
What is a good GPA in college?
In college, GPA matters most for a few things:
- Staying in good standing: most colleges expect at least a 2.0. Below that, you may be put on academic probation.
- Jobs and internships: many employers screen for a 3.0 or higher, especially for first jobs out of college.
- Graduate school: a 3.0 is a common minimum, and competitive programs often want 3.5 or more.
- Honors at graduation: Latin honors like cum laude usually start somewhere around 3.5, depending on the school.
So in college, a 3.0 keeps most doors open, a 3.5 is strong, and a 3.7 or higher is excellent.
Is my GPA good?
Is a 4.0 GPA good?
Yes. A 4.0 unweighted means straight A's, the top of the scale. With a weighted GPA, it's possible to go above 4.0 by taking honors or AP classes.
Is a 3.7 GPA good?
Yes, it's excellent. A 3.7 is an A- average, roughly 90% or higher. It's competitive for almost any college or program, though the most selective schools will also look closely at how hard your classes were.
Is a 3.5 GPA good?
Yes. A 3.5 sits halfway between a B+ and an A-, well above the national average. It's a strong GPA for most colleges, scholarships and grad programs.
Is a 3.0 GPA good?
A 3.0 is a solid, average GPA. It means you averaged a B. It meets the minimum for many colleges, scholarships, jobs and grad schools, but it won't stand out at competitive ones.
GPA isn't the whole story
Two students with the same GPA can look very different. Here's what else matters:
- Class difficulty. A 3.5 with hard classes often beats a 3.9 with easy ones.
- Your trend. Rising grades tell a better story than falling ones. A rough first year followed by strong years is common and forgivable.
- Your grades in key classes. A future engineer's math grades matter more than their overall average.
If your GPA is lower than you'd like, focus on the next term. Every strong semester pulls the average up, and the improvement itself is something colleges and employers notice.
Frequently asked questions
Is a 2.5 GPA good? A 2.5 is below average. It's between a C+ and a B-. It's enough to stay in good standing at most colleges, but some programs and scholarships require a 3.0.
Is a 3.8 GPA good? Yes, it's excellent. A 3.8 is about an A- average, around 91%.
What's the average GPA? About 3.1 for high school graduates (2019) and about 3.15 for college students (2020).
Is a 3.2 GPA good? It's good and a bit above average. It means mostly B's with some higher grades.
Do colleges look at weighted or unweighted GPA? Both. Many colleges recalculate your GPA their own way, so they can compare students from different high schools fairly.
What GPA do you need to graduate? Usually at least a 2.0 in college. High schools set their own rules, and many only require you to pass your required classes.
