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 / 5.6% chance
  • Yale - 3.95 average GPA / 4.5% chance
  • Penn - 3.95 average GPA / 6.3% chance
  • Dartmouth - 3.9 average GPA / 6.0% chance
  • Brown - 3.94 average GPA / 4.6% chance
  • Cornell - 3.9 average GPA / 7.0% chance
  • Columbia - 3.91 average GPA / 3.9% chance
  • Stanford - 3.96 average GPA / 3.5% chance
  • MIT - 3.96 average GPA / 3.5% 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 738 target schools (good chance), 138 reach (harder) schools and 4,185 safety (easier) schools you can consider.

Missouri State University Springfield
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M
Springfield, MO

Missouri State University Springfield

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

3.73 Average GPA

#7 Best Public Universities in Missouri

  • 22,535enrollment
  • $17,677net price
  • 93%acceptance rate
  • 973-1230SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
Your 3.9 GPA
Admission Chance95%

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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

  • 4,805enrollment
  • $19,558net price
  • 45%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1300SAT range
  • 20-28ACT range
Your 3.9 GPA
Admission Chance56%

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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

  • 1,104enrollment
  • $11,251net price
  • 32%acceptance rate
  • 1115-1350SAT range
  • 22-30ACT range
Your 3.9 GPA
Admission Chance40%

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

  • 4,712enrollment
  • $17,008net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 980-1195SAT range
  • 19-26ACT range
Your 3.9 GPA
Admission Chance65%

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Willamette University
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W
Salem, OR

Willamette University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

3.97 Average GPA

 

  • 1,909enrollment
  • $32,957net price
  • 81%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
Your 3.9 GPA
Admission Chance78%

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

  • 15,755enrollment
  • $29,651net price
  • 85%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1400SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
Your 3.9 GPA
Admission Chance83%

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Clarkson University
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C
Potsdam, NY

Clarkson University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

3.8 Average GPA

#28 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 3,719enrollment
  • $32,450net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 1190-1370SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
Your 3.9 GPA
Admission Chance82%

Applications Due Jan 15

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Illinois Institute of Technology
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I
Chicago, IL

Illinois Institute of Technology

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

3.84 Average GPA

#5 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 6,943enrollment
  • $28,702net price
  • 61%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1410SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
Your 3.9 GPA
Admission Chance64%

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

  • 4,704enrollment
  • $27,937net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1320SAT range
  • 23-30ACT range
Your 3.9 GPA
Admission Chance79%

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Gardner Webb University
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G
Boiling Springs, NC

Gardner Webb University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

3.74 Average GPA

#9 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina

  • 3,144enrollment
  • $22,339net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1210SAT range
  • 20-25ACT range
Your 3.9 GPA
Admission Chance81%

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Anderson University
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A
Anderson, SC

Anderson University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

3.72 Average GPA

 

  • 4,121enrollment
  • $21,633net price
  • 45%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
Your 3.9 GPA
Admission Chance56%

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University of Alabama at Birmingham
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A
Birmingham, AL

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

3.82 Average GPA

#1 Best Value Colleges in Alabama

  • 21,639enrollment
  • $16,834net price
  • 87%acceptance rate
  • 1200-1410SAT range
  • 23-30ACT range
Your 3.9 GPA
Admission Chance89%

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

  • 2,175enrollment
  • $36,095net price
  • 28%acceptance rate
  • 1340-1500SAT range
  • 30-34ACT 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

  • 6,690enrollment
  • $18,304net price
  • 60%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1240SAT range
  • 22-27ACT range
Your 3.9 GPA
Admission Chance71%

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Calvin College
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C
Grand Rapids, MI

Calvin College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

3.84 Average GPA

#4 Best Private Colleges in Michigan

  • 3,231enrollment
  • $25,775net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1370SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
Your 3.9 GPA
Admission Chance77%

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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

  • 1,967enrollment
  • $28,976net price
  • 56%acceptance rate
  • 1250-1450SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
Your 3.9 GPA
Admission Chance64%

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

 

  • 7,308enrollment
  • $46,876net price
  • 57%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
Your 3.9 GPA
Admission Chance57%

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

 

  • 689enrollment
  • $10,496net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 1103-1360SAT range
  • 24-31ACT range
Your 3.9 GPA
Admission Chance76%

Applications Due May 30

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