Colleges for a 3.9 GPA

colleges that accept a 3.9 grade point average

What is a 3.9 GPA?

A 3.9 grade point average is a numerical representation of your course letter grades on a 4.0 scale. Your 3.9 GPA indicates you averaged A- grades in your classes and delivered excellent performance. The percent equivalent of a 3.9 grade point average is 92% on the percentage grading scale. This means that you scored an average of 92% on tests and assignments. GPA values for A- grades range from 3.7 to 3.9. Your 3.9 GPA positions you at the high end of the A- range, demonstrating you have earned almost perfect straight A's. Learn more about what the A- letter grade signifies.

Is a 3.9 GPA good?

A 3.9 is just short of the highest possible unweighted GPA of a 4.0. You've nearly earned straight A's throughout school, with only a few A-'s. Overall a 3.9 indicates consistently high level of academic performance. This near-perfect score positions you as a top candidate for scholarships, honors programs, and very competitive colleges.

What colleges can I get into with a 3.9 GPA?

Graduating with a high school GPA of 3.9 places you within of the academic range at colleges like Harvard University, Stanford University and University of Florida. Based on incoming freshman GPA data for U.S. schools, our analysis indicates that 294 colleges would consider your 3.9 GPA competitive. The most popular colleges, historically accepting students with GPAs within the range of 3.7 to 4.1 (3.9 +/- 0.2), are listed below. To view your chances of admission at each school, scroll down and explore the full list.

3.9 for Harvard and Ivy League

A 3.9 unweighted can definitely get you into Harvard or any Ivy League school. All of these universities have average GPA's in the 3.9 range. However you will need more than a perfect GPA to stand out. These elite colleges take a comprehensive look at at each applicant factoring in SAT, ACT, high school class load, extracurricular activities, volunteer work and essays. Competition is so extreme, even a 3.9 usually doesn't cut it.

Here are the average GPAs and estimated chances for admission with a 3.9 at Ivy League and other prestigious colleges and universities.

  • Harvard - 4.0 average GPA / 2.4% chance
  • Princeton - 3.93 average GPA / 3.7% chance
  • Yale - 3.95 average GPA / 4.5% chance
  • Penn - 3.95 average GPA / 5.4% chance
  • Dartmouth - 3.9 average GPA / 6.0% chance
  • Brown - 3.94 average GPA / 4.6% chance
  • Cornell - 3.9 average GPA / 8.0% chance
  • Columbia - 3.91 average GPA / 3.9% chance
  • Stanford - 3.96 average GPA / 3.5% chance
  • MIT - 3.96 average GPA / 4.4% chance
  • Caltech - 3.97 average GPA / 2.6% chance

Summa Cum Laude

The Latin phrase "summa cum laude" means "with highest honors" and is a distinction awarded to class graduates with the highest academic performance. The exact range for summa cum laude varies by college or high school but is generally between a 3.8 and 4.0 GPA. Thus a 3.9 GPA is typically eligible for the summa cum laude distinction.

3.9 GPA honor roll

Many high schools have honor rolls which are published to recognize students with consistently high performance. The qualifications for getting on the honor roll vary from school to school. Frequently, a high and standard honor roll is established with different criteria, sometimes for students above 3.0, 3.5 or 3.75 GPAs. In most cases a 3.9 will get you on the honor roll.

Demographic Statistics

Let's examine how a 3.9 GPA stacks up to the national high school averages across various demographic groups

Gender

  • Male: A 3.9 is 0.9 points (30%) higher than the average male student GPA of 3.0
  • Female: A 3.9 is 0.7 points (21%) higher than the average female student GPA of 3.23

Race/ethnicity

  • White: A 3.9 is 0.7 points (21%) higher than the average white student GPA of 3.23
  • Black: A 3.9 is 1.1 points (38%) higher than the average black student GPA of 2.83
  • Hispanic: A 3.9 is 0.9 points (32%) higher than the average Hispanic student GPA of 2.95
  • Asian/Pacific Islander: A 3.9 is 0.5 points (15%) higher than the average Asian/Pacific Islander student GPA of 3.39

Statistics source: 2019 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) High School Transcript Study (HSTS)

How high can I still increase my 3.9 GPA?

The table below will help you see how high or low you can possibly change your GPA if you currently have a 3.9. 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.

Freshmen with a 3.9 after first semester can still possibly raise their GPA as high as a 3.99 or drop it to a 0.49. There is still a lot of time to change your GPA before graduation and it can vary by 3.50 grade points in the future.

Possible grades you can raise your 3.9 GPA to before graduation for freshmen
Future Grades 1st Semester Completed 2nd Semester Completed
A 3.99 3.98
A- 3.73 3.75
B+ 3.37 3.45
B 3.11 3.23
B- 2.85 3.00
C+ 2.50 2.70
C 2.24 2.48
C- 1.98 2.25
D+ 1.62 1.95
D 1.36 1.73
D- 1.10 1.50
F 0.49 0.97

Sophomores with a 3.9 after first semester can still raise their GPA as high as a 3.96 or see it fall to a 1.46. You have some time to change your GPA before graduation and it can vary by 2.50 grade points in the future.

Possible grades you can raise your 3.9 GPA to before graduation for sophomores
Future Grades 1st Semester Completed 2nd Semester Completed
A 3.96 3.95
A- 3.77 3.80
B+ 3.52 3.60
B 3.34 3.45
B- 3.15 3.30
C+ 2.90 3.10
C 2.71 2.95
C- 2.52 2.80
D+ 2.27 2.60
D 2.09 2.45
D- 1.90 2.30
F 1.46 1.95

Juniors with a 3.9 after first semester can still raise their GPA to a 3.94 or lower it to a 2.44. You have limited classes left to change your GPA before graduation and it can vary by 1.50 grade points in the future.

Possible grades you can raise your 3.9 GPA to before graduation for juniors
Future Grades 1st Semester Completed 2nd Semester Completed
A 3.94 3.92
A- 3.83 3.85
B+ 3.67 3.75
B 3.56 3.67
B- 3.45 3.60
C+ 3.30 3.50
C 3.19 3.42
C- 3.08 3.35
D+ 2.92 3.25
D 2.81 3.17
D- 2.70 3.10
F 2.44 2.92

After first semester senior year your GPA is fairly locked in. A 3.9 can be raised a 3.91 or slip to a 3.41. You have very little time to change your GPA before graduation and it can vary by 0.50 grade points at the most.

Possible grades you can raise your 3.9 GPA to before graduation for seniors
Future Grades 1st Semester Completed 2nd Semester Completed
A 3.91 3.90
A- 3.88 3.90
B+ 3.83 3.90
B 3.79 3.90
B- 3.75 3.90
C+ 3.70 3.90
C 3.66 3.90
C- 3.62 3.90
D+ 3.58 3.90
D 3.54 3.90
D- 3.50 3.90
F 3.41 3.90
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GPA 3.9 Public Private 4 year

294 results nationwide

List of 3.9 GPA Colleges

Displaying 294 colleges where your 3.9 GPA is within the typical range of past accepted students. You have a chance at being accepted but admission may be challenging at more selective colleges. Filter by admission chance for 717 target schools (good chance), 144 reach (harder) schools and 4,080 safety (easier) schools you can consider.

Missouri State University Springfield
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Springfield, MO

Missouri State University Springfield

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

3.73 Average GPA

#7 Best Public Universities in Missouri

  • 23,418enrollment
  • $17,104net price
  • 91%acceptance rate
  • 990-1220SAT range
  • 19-25ACT range
Your 3.9 GPA
Admission Chance94%

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Harding University
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H
Searcy, AR

Harding University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

3.71 Average GPA

#4 Best Private Colleges in Arkansas

  • 4,608enrollment
  • $21,069net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1280SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
Your 3.9 GPA
Admission Chance99%

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University of North Carolina School of the Arts
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N
Winston-Salem, NC

University of North Carolina School of the Arts

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

3.75 Average GPA

#3 Best Public Universities in North Carolina

  • 1,074enrollment
  • $11,163net price
  • 33%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1350SAT range
  • 24-27ACT range
Your 3.9 GPA
Admission Chance41%

Applications Due Mar 15

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Winthrop University
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W
Rock Hill, SC

Winthrop University

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

4.0 Average GPA

#5 Best Public Universities in South Carolina

  • 4,694enrollment
  • $16,838net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1220SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
Your 3.9 GPA
Admission Chance70%

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Willamette University
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W
Salem, OR

Willamette University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

3.97 Average GPA

#2 Best Value Colleges in Oregon

  • 2,112enrollment
  • $27,716net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1430SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
Your 3.9 GPA
Admission Chance76%

Applications Due Jan 15

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Saint Louis University Main Campus
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S
Saint Louis, MO

Saint Louis University Main Campus

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

3.95 Average GPA

#2 Best Colleges in Missouri

  • 17,202enrollment
  • $30,911net price
  • 81%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1430SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
Your 3.9 GPA
Admission Chance79%

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Clarkson University
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C
Potsdam, NY

Clarkson University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

3.8 Average GPA

#25 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 3,603enrollment
  • $33,192net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1198-1390SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
Your 3.9 GPA
Admission Chance81%

Applications Due Jan 15

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Illinois Institute of Technology
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Chicago, IL

Illinois Institute of Technology

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

3.84 Average GPA

#8 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 8,563enrollment
  • $25,001net price
  • 55%acceptance rate
  • 1180-1410SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
Your 3.9 GPA
Admission Chance58%

Applications Due Mar 1

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Lipscomb University
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L
Nashville, TN

Lipscomb University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

3.73 Average GPA

#5 Best Private Colleges in Tennessee

  • 5,047enrollment
  • $27,386net price
  • 67%acceptance rate
  • 1145-1350SAT range
  • 22-29ACT range
Your 3.9 GPA
Admission Chance75%

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Gardner Webb University
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Boiling Springs, NC

Gardner Webb University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

3.74 Average GPA

#8 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina

  • 3,125enrollment
  • $24,035net price
  • 87%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1260SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
Your 3.9 GPA
Admission Chance91%

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Anderson University
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A
Anderson, SC

Anderson University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

3.72 Average GPA

#6 Best Private Colleges in South Carolina

  • 4,325enrollment
  • $22,222net price
  • 53%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1290SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
Your 3.9 GPA
Admission Chance63%

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University of Alabama at Birmingham
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Birmingham, AL

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

3.82 Average GPA

#2 Best Value Colleges in Alabama

  • 21,160enrollment
  • $17,413net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1400SAT range
  • 22-30ACT range
Your 3.9 GPA
Admission Chance90%

Applications Due Jun 1

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Macalester College
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M
Saint Paul, MN

Macalester College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

3.81 Estimated Average GPA

#2 Best Colleges in Minnesota

  • 2,142enrollment
  • $38,571net price
  • 28%acceptance rate
  • 1350-1510SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
Your 3.9 GPA
Admission Chance32%

Applications Due Jan 15

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SUNY College at Cortland
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C
Cortland, NY

SUNY College at Cortland

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

3.7 Average GPA

#16 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 6,780enrollment
  • $18,474net price
  • 51%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1240SAT range
  • 22-27ACT range
Your 3.9 GPA
Admission Chance62%

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Calvin University
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C
Grand Rapids, MI

Calvin University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

3.84 Average GPA

#5 Best Private Colleges in Michigan

  • 3,364enrollment
  • $26,374net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1340SAT range
  • 22-30ACT range
Your 3.9 GPA
Admission Chance74%

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The College of Wooster
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Wooster, OH

The College of Wooster

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

3.76 Average GPA

#1 Best Value Colleges in Ohio

  • 1,876enrollment
  • $29,529net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 1250-1450SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
Your 3.9 GPA
Admission Chance62%

Applications Due Feb 15

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Worcester Polytechnic Institute
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W
Worcester, MA

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

3.9 Average GPA

 

  • 7,353enrollment
  • $47,799net price
  • 58%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
Your 3.9 GPA
Admission Chance58%

Applications Due Feb 15

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New College of Florida
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N
Sarasota, FL

New College of Florida

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

3.87 Average GPA

 

  • 732enrollment
  • $8,368net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1250SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
Your 3.9 GPA
Admission Chance75%

Applications Due May 30

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