What Is a Good GPA?
"Good" depends on what the GPA is for. Enter yours to see where it stands, then read the benchmarks for high school, college and beyond.
Where does your GPA stand?
Benchmarks that actually matter
| GPA | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| 2.0 | Minimum for good academic standing and graduation at most US colleges. |
| 3.0 | Common cutoff for internships, employer screens and many scholarships. |
| 3.5 | Often the floor for Latin honors (cum laude) and competitive graduate programs. |
| 3.7+ | Typical of admitted students at law and medical schools and highly selective programs. |
Exact thresholds differ by school and program, so treat these as orientation and check the specific requirement you care about.
High school vs college
High school GPAs are often weighted, which makes 4.0+ common among strong students. Colleges don't weight by course level, and grading tends to be tougher, so a college 3.5 is a strong result. When comparing, make sure both numbers are unweighted: see weighted vs unweighted GPA.
How to raise it
The planner in the college GPA calculator shows the term GPA you'd need to hit a target, and how many credits of A's it would take. Early semesters move a GPA most, so the sooner the better.
Questions students ask
What is a good GPA in high school?
A 3.0 (B average) is solid and meets the minimum for many state universities. A 3.5 or higher is strong and competitive at a wide range of colleges. Highly selective colleges typically see mostly A's, often a 3.9+ unweighted, alongside a demanding course load.
What is a good GPA in college?
A 3.0 is the common cutoff for many internships, employer screens and scholarships. A 3.5+ is typically needed for Latin honors at many universities and is competitive for graduate programs. Law and medical schools look for higher, often 3.7+.
Is a 2.5 GPA bad?
A 2.5 is a C+/B- average. It is above the 2.0 minimum most colleges require to stay in good standing, but below many scholarship and employer cutoffs. It can be raised: see the college GPA calculator's planner.
What is the average GPA?
Averages vary a lot by school and field. The College Board and ACT have both reported average high school GPAs of submitters above 3.0, and grade inflation has pushed averages up over time. Your own school's profile is the best comparison.