Southeastern Colleges for a 3.5 GPA

With a 3.5 GPA, you are competitive at 427 four-year colleges in the Southeast (185 target, 75 reach, 167 safety). A 3.5 is typically a A- (~88%) on a common grading scale.

Colleges in the Southeast 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
Florida State University Tallahassee, FL	3.7	24%	Medium
University of Miami Coral Gables, FL	3.7	19%	Medium
University of Central Florida Orlando, FL	3.64	40%	Medium
The University of Tennessee Knoxville Knoxville, TN	3.66	42%	Medium
University of Kentucky Lexington, KY	3.59	93%	Medium
East Carolina University Greenville, NC	3.33	89%	Medium
Georgia State University Atlanta, GA	3.54	55%	Medium
University of South Carolina Columbia Columbia, SC	3.69	60%	Medium
The University of Tampa Tampa, FL	3.5	40%	Medium
George Mason University Fairfax, VA	3.68	87%	Medium
Savannah College of Art and Design Savannah, GA	3.56	83%	Medium
James Madison University Harrisonburg, VA	3.57	72%	Medium

View all 185 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 Florida Gainesville, FL	3.9	24%	Low
Clemson University Clemson, SC	3.75	38%	Low
University of Georgia Athens, GA	4.0	38%	Low
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC	3.83	15%	Low
Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA	3.97	55%	Low
Duke University Durham, NC	3.94	6%	Low
Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN	3.89	6%	Low
Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD	3.92	6%	Low
The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, AL	3.76	77%	Low
Auburn University Auburn, AL	3.97	46%	Low
University of Maryland College Park College Park, MD	3.84	45%	Low
North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NC	3.83	42%	Low

View all 75 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
Morgan State University Baltimore, MD	3.1	82%	High
Alabama State University Montgomery, AL	2.95	98%	High
Virginia State University Petersburg, VA	2.85	89%	High
Savannah State University Savannah, GA	2.77	100%	High
Albany State University Albany, GA	2.77	100%	High
Valdosta State University Valdosta, GA	3.23	72%	High
North Carolina Central University Durham, NC	3.27	87%	High
Winston Salem State University Winston-Salem, NC	3.01	78%	High
Valencia College Orlando, FL	-	100%	High
Georgia Gwinnett College Lawrenceville, GA	2.88	95%	High
Broward College Fort Lauderdale, FL	-	100%	High
Miami Dade College Miami, FL	-	100%	High

View all 167 safety colleges

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

See all colleges nationally for a 3.5 GPA

Published: August 19, 2026