Pacific Northwestern Colleges for a 3.5 GPA

With a 3.5 GPA, you are competitive at 59 four-year colleges in the Pacific Northwest (26 target, 9 reach, 24 safety). A 3.5 is typically a A- (~88%) on a common grading scale.

Colleges in the Pacific Northwest 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
Washington State University Pullman, WA	3.5	87%	Medium
Oregon State University Corvallis, OR	3.61	77%	Medium
Boise State University Boise, ID	3.37	87%	Medium
Portland State University Portland, OR	3.36	91%	Medium
Western Washington University Bellingham, WA	3.46	93%	Medium
Brigham Young University Idaho Rexburg, ID	3.34	96%	Medium
Seattle University Seattle, WA	3.62	77%	Medium
University of Portland Portland, OR	3.66	89%	Medium
University of Idaho Moscow, ID	3.47	76%	Medium
Gonzaga University Spokane, WA	3.67	82%	Medium
Seattle Pacific University Seattle, WA	3.53	83%	Medium
Southern Oregon University Ashland, OR	3.34	89%	Medium

View all 26 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
University of Washington Seattle Campus Seattle, WA	3.82	39%	Low
University of Oregon Eugene, OR	3.73	88%	Low
Reed College Portland, OR	4.0	25%	Low
Lewis & Clark College Portland, OR	3.95	78%	Low
Willamette University Salem, OR	3.97	77%	Low
Pacific University Forest Grove, OR	3.73	90%	Low
Pacific Lutheran University Tacoma, WA	3.71	78%	Low
Whitworth University Spokane, WA	3.72	90%	Low
Linfield University McMinnville, OR	3.71	85%	Low

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
Central Washington University Ellensburg, WA	3.08	91%	High
Eastern Washington University Cheney, WA	3.29	91%	High
Bellevue College Bellevue, WA	-	100%	High
The Evergreen State College Olympia, WA	3.12	96%	High
Idaho State University Pocatello, ID	3.41	100%	High
Walla Walla University College Place, WA	3.57	100%	High
Lake Washington Institute of Technology Kirkland, WA	-	100%	High
Antioch University Seattle Seattle, WA	-	100%	High
Lewis Clark State College Lewiston, ID	3.23	88%	High
City University of Seattle Seattle, WA	-	100%	High
Warner Pacific University Portland, OR	3.25	71%	High
Olympic College Bremerton, WA	-	100%	High

View all 24 safety colleges

View the full list of colleges that accept a 3.5 GPA in the Pacific Northwest

See all colleges nationally for a 3.5 GPA

Published: August 19, 2026