If you currently have a 2.5 and are researching what this means to your academic future, this page has resources which will cover the following.
A 2.5 isn't a particularly strong GPA. It's well below the U.S. average high school GPA (3.1) and further behind the average 3.15 GPA for college-bound students. You have earned mostly C's and B's, which will get you though high school but isn't very competitive for applying to colleges. Freshman and sophomores still have time to pull their GPA up from a 2.5 to a 3.0 which is much better for applying to colleges. Juniors and seniors face more limited options. If you graduate high school with a 2.5, you face limited selective, four-year college choices. You will find more options if you also consider colleges that have open admissions to all students regardless of GPA.
A 2.5 grade point average is a numerical representation of your course letter grades on a 4.0 scale. Your 2.5 GPA indicates you averaged C+ grades in your classes and delivered satisfactory but below average performance. The percent equivalent of a 2.5 grade point average is 78% on the percentage grading scale. This means that you scored an average of 78% on tests and assignments. GPA values for C+ letter grades range from 2.3 to 2.6. Your 2.5 GPA positions you in the middle of the C+ range, demonstrating you have likely earned a mix of B's (3.0) and C's (2.0). Learn more about what the C+ letter grade signifies.
If you have a low GPA and have decided to take action to improve your grades, congratulations setting a goal is an important first step. A 3.0 is a good target as it will open many more doors for you when you apply to colleges.
In order to increase your 2.5 you will need to take some steps
Next an important consideration is if it's mathematically possible and realistic to achieve a 3.0. This will depend greatly on how far along you are in school as it gets progressively harder to increase a grade average. Consult the table below for a detailed look at your highest possible GPA and what grades it will take to get there.
The table below will help you see how high or low you can possibly change your GPA if you currently have a 2.5. As you progress in school it becomes more and more difficult to improve your overall grade point average. Select the tab and table column corresponding to the last semester you completed. Then find a row for your predicted future letter grade average. The result would be your GPA at graduation if you can maintain that letter grade.
By examining the average high school GPA for students who were admitted to 1,368 selective four-year colleges, we can see how a 2.5 compares when applying to college. Nearly all of the colleges in the U.S. have an average accepted student GPA higher than a 2.5.
Here are 34 selective four year colleges where the average high school grades for incoming freshman is in the 2.5 range (+/- 0.2). You have a competitive chance getting into all of these schools with a 2.5. Some popular colleges are...
There are 118 reach colleges where you can possibly get in with a 2.5 GPA. Acceptance may be more difficult because your grades are a bit lower than their average or competition for acceptance is high.
Additionally, you should keep in mind these 444 safety schools where their average GPA is either lower or the colleges have open admission policies (100% acceptance). You are likely to get into these colleges so they are a good backup plan.
Conversion table of the unweighted 4.0 grade point scale with letter grade and percentage equivalents. This unweighted GPA scale is used my most U.S. high schools and colleges.
GPA | Grade | Percent |
---|---|---|
3.0 | B | 83 |
2.9 | B- | 82 |
2.8 | B- | 81 |
2.7 | B- | 80 |
2.6 | C+ | 79 |
2.5 | C+ | 78 |
2.4 | C+ | 77 |
2.3 | C+ | 77 |
2.2 | C | 76 |
2.1 | C | 75 |
2.0 | C | 73 |