New England Colleges for a 3.5 GPA

With a 3.5 GPA, you are competitive at 125 four-year colleges in New England (50 target, 29 reach, 46 safety). A 3.5 is typically a A- (~88%) on a common grading scale.

Colleges in New England for a 3.5 GPA

Target Schools (Competitive Chance of Admission)

Target schools have average GPAs near 3.5 - your grades fit squarely in the admitted pool.

College	Avg GPA	Acceptance Rate	Your Chance
Quinnipiac University Hamden, CT	3.39	72%	Medium
University of Rhode Island Kingston, RI	3.58	72%	Medium
Providence College Providence, RI	3.47	51%	Medium
University of Maine Orono, ME	3.42	97%	Medium
Fairfield University Fairfield, CT	3.67	33%	Medium
Sacred Heart University Fairfield, CT	3.55	65%	Medium
University of New Hampshire Main Campus Durham, NH	3.58	88%	Medium
Endicott College Beverly, MA	3.55	71%	Medium
Bryant University Smithfield, RI	3.43	65%	Medium
University of Massachusetts Lowell Lowell, MA	3.67	83%	Medium
University of New Haven West Haven, CT	3.47	60%	Medium
Merrimack College North Andover, MA	3.3	70%	Medium

View all 50 target colleges

Reach Schools (Lower Admission Chance)

Reach schools typically enroll students with higher average GPAs; admission is possible but more competitive.

College	Avg GPA	Acceptance Rate	Your Chance
Harvard University Cambridge, MA	4.0	4%	Low
Boston University Boston, MA	3.79	11%	Low
Yale University New Haven, CT	3.95	4%	Low
Boston College Chestnut Hill, MA	3.86	16%	Low
Brown University Providence, RI	3.94	5%	Low
University of Massachusetts Amherst Amherst, MA	3.99	60%	Low
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA	3.96	5%	Low
Northeastern University Boston, MA	3.91	5%	Low
Dartmouth College Hanover, NH	3.9	5%	Low
Tufts University Medford, MA	3.91	11%	Low
University of Connecticut Storrs, CT	3.74	52%	Low
Rhode Island School of Design Providence, RI	3.71	19%	Low

View all 29 reach colleges

Safety Schools (Very High Chance of Admission)

Safety schools have average GPAs well below 3.5; you have a very high chance of acceptance.

College	Avg GPA	Acceptance Rate	Your Chance
Bridgewater State University Bridgewater, MA	3.21	88%	High
Dean College Franklin, MA	2.88	74%	High
Salem State University Salem, MA	3.17	96%	High
Framingham State University Framingham, MA	3.07	84%	High
Central Connecticut State University New Britain, CT	3.2	73%	High
Curry College Milton, MA	3.01	88%	High
Southern Connecticut State University New Haven, CT	3.2	91%	High
Rhode Island College Providence, RI	3.08	92%	High
University of Hartford West Hartford, CT	3.26	96%	High
Fitchburg State University Fitchburg, MA	3.29	87%	High
American International College Springfield, MA	2.91	100%	High
Nichols College Dudley, MA	2.9	81%	High

View all 46 safety colleges

View the full list of colleges that accept a 3.5 GPA in New England

See all colleges nationally for a 3.5 GPA

Published: August 19, 2026