The short answer
On the usual unweighted 4.0 scale, a 3.0 is a B average and close to the national average. A 3.5 or higher is generally considered strong, and 3.7 to 4.0 is in the A range. What counts as “good” for you depends on your goals: the colleges, scholarships or programs you’re aiming for.
For context, US high school graduates in 2019 had an average GPA of 3.11, up from 3.00 in 2009, according to the federal High School Transcript Study.
Is my GPA good? Quick chart
| GPA (unweighted) | Letter average | What it usually means |
|---|---|---|
| 4.0 | A | The top of the unweighted scale: straight As |
| 3.8 | A−/A | Excellent, near the top of the scale |
| 3.7 | A− | Very strong |
| 3.5 | Between B+ and A− | Strong, well above the national average |
| 3.3 | B+ | Above average |
| 3.0 | B | About average; a common minimum for many scholarships and programs |
| 2.7 | B− | Below the national average |
| 2.5 | Between C+ and B− | Below average; some programs require more |
| 2.0 | C | Often the minimum to stay in good academic standing in college |
What is a good GPA in high school?
Colleges look at more than the number. Many recalculate your GPA their own way. The College Board notes they may drop non-core classes or remove honors weighting. Selective colleges also look closely at how challenging your classes were. A 3.6 with several AP or IB classes can be read differently from a 3.9 in easier classes.
If your school reports a weighted GPA, the number can be above 4.0, so compare it with other weighted GPAs, not with an unweighted 4.0. The high school GPA calculator shows both numbers side by side, and weighted vs unweighted GPA explains the difference.
What is a good GPA in college?
- 3.0 is a common minimum for many scholarships, internships and graduate programs.
- Around 3.5 is a common cutoff for honors such as the dean’s list. Thomas Jefferson University and Loyola University New Orleans both use a 3.5 term GPA, with a minimum of 12 credits, though each college sets its own rules.
- 2.0 is a common minimum to stay in good academic standing. The University of Nebraska at Kearney, for example, asks undergraduates to keep a 2.0 cumulative GPA.
These are typical thresholds, not rules. Check the exact requirement for your school, scholarship or program, and whether it uses your cumulative GPA or your major GPA.
How to find your exact GPA
To find the GPA on your record, see how to check your GPA. To calculate it yourself, use the GPA calculator for a semester, the cumulative GPA calculator for your overall GPA, or the high school GPA calculator for weighted and unweighted GPA. To read your GPA as letter grades, see the GPA scale chart.
If your GPA is lower than you’d like, how to raise your GPA shows what’s realistic and how to plan it with real numbers.
Frequently asked questions
Is a 3.0 GPA good?
A 3.0 is a solid B average and close to the national high school average (3.11 in 2019). It meets the minimum for many scholarships and programs, though more selective options usually expect higher.
Is a 3.5 GPA good?
Yes. A 3.5 is between a B+ and an A− average, well above the national average, and is generally considered strong for both high school and college.
Is a 3.8 GPA good?
Yes, a 3.8 is excellent: mostly As with a few A− or B+ grades. At very selective colleges many applicants have similar GPAs, so course difficulty, essays and other factors matter too.
What is a good weighted GPA?
It depends on how your school weights classes. With the common +0.5 Honors and +1.0 AP/IB bonuses, weighted GPAs can reach 5.0, so a 4.0 weighted could mean As in regular classes or Bs in AP classes. Compare weighted GPAs only with other weighted GPAs from the same system. To see how high each scale goes, read what is the highest GPA you can get?
What is the average high school GPA?
According to the federal High School Transcript Study, the average GPA of US high school graduates was 3.11 in 2019, up from 3.00 in 2009.
Do colleges only look at GPA?
No. GPA is important, but colleges usually also consider the difficulty of your courses, your grade trend, test scores where required, essays, recommendations and activities. Each college sets its own process.
Sources
- Thomas Jefferson University: Dean’s List (term GPA 3.5 or above, at least 12 credits; checked 10 November 2026).
- Loyola University New Orleans: Dean’s List (3.5 GPA, 12 quality hours; checked 10 November 2026).
- University of Nebraska at Kearney: Academic requirements for good standing (2.0 cumulative GPA; checked 8 November 2026).
- College Board BigFuture: How do you calculate your GPA in high school? (high school GPA method; colleges may recalculate GPA; checked 10 November 2026).
- National Assessment Governing Board: High School Transcript Study press release (average GPA 3.11 in 2019; checked 4 November 2026).