Pennsylvania Colleges for a 3.5 GPA

With a 3.5 GPA, you are competitive at 97 four-year colleges in Pennsylvania (56 target, 16 reach, 25 safety). A 3.5 is typically a A- (~88%) on a common grading scale.

Colleges in Pennsylvania 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
Temple University Philadelphia, PA	3.46	80%	Medium
Drexel University Philadelphia, PA	3.67	79%	Medium
Bucknell University Lewisburg, PA	3.62	29%	Medium
West Chester University of Pennsylvania West Chester, PA	3.43	78%	Medium
Lafayette College Easton, PA	3.53	31%	Medium
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania Kutztown, PA	3.31	91%	Medium
University of Scranton Scranton, PA	3.56	81%	Medium
Muhlenberg College Allentown, PA	3.44	72%	Medium
La Salle University Philadelphia, PA	3.44	97%	Medium
Arcadia University Glenside, PA	3.42	80%	Medium
Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA	3.65	89%	Medium
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Slippery Rock, PA	3.5	71%	Medium

View all 56 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 Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA	3.95	5%	Low
Villanova University Villanova, PA	3.87	27%	Low
Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PA	3.89	12%	Low
University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PA	3.79	58%	Low
Lehigh University Bethlehem, PA	3.81	26%	Low
Swarthmore College Swarthmore, PA	3.9	7%	Low
Haverford College Haverford, PA	3.9	12%	Low
Duquesne University Pittsburgh, PA	3.8	84%	Low
Bryn Mawr College Bryn Mawr, PA	3.85	29%	Low
Messiah University Mechanicsburg, PA	3.8	79%	Low
Chatham University Pittsburgh, PA	3.86	62%	Low
Lebanon Valley College Annville, PA	3.79	84%	Low

View all 16 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
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania Shippensburg, PA	3.23	87%	High
Lincoln University Lincoln University, PA	3.06	66%	High
Millersville University of Pennsylvania Millersville, PA	3.21	86%	High
Albright College Reading, PA	3.05	76%	High
East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania East Stroudsburg, PA	3.24	92%	High
Cheyney University of Pennsylvania Cheyney, PA	2.37	100%	High
Pennsylvania College of Technology Williamsport, PA	3.05	100%	High
Chestnut Hill College Philadelphia, PA	3.12	74%	High
Neumann University Aston, PA	3.23	81%	High
Keystone College La Plume, PA	3.0	85%	High
Rosemont College Rosemont, PA	3.2	76%	High
Holy Family University Philadelphia, PA	3.13	71%	High

View all 25 safety colleges

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

See all colleges nationally for a 3.5 GPA

Published: August 19, 2026