Southern Colleges for a 3.9 GPA

With a 3.9 GPA, you are competitive at 531 four-year colleges in the South (89 target, 10 reach, 432 safety). A 3.9 is typically a A (~92%) on a common grading scale.

Colleges in the South for a 3.9 GPA

Target Schools (Competitive Chance of Admission)

Target schools have average GPAs near 3.9 - your grades fit squarely in the admitted pool.

College	Avg GPA	Acceptance Rate	Your Chance
University of Florida Gainesville, FL	3.9	24%	Medium
The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX	3.8	27%	Medium
Florida State University Tallahassee, FL	3.7	24%	Medium
Clemson University Clemson, SC	3.75	38%	Medium
University of Miami Coral Gables, FL	3.7	19%	Medium
University of Georgia Athens, GA	4.0	38%	Medium
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC	3.83	15%	Medium
Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA	3.97	55%	Medium
The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, AL	3.76	77%	Medium
Auburn University Auburn, AL	3.97	46%	Medium
Baylor University Waco, TX	3.74	51%	Medium
University of Maryland College Park College Park, MD	3.84	45%	Medium

View all 89 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
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
Georgia Institute of Technology Main Campus Atlanta, GA	3.85	14%	Low
Emory University Atlanta, GA	3.8	11%	Low
Rice University Houston, TX	3.96	8%	Low
Tulane University of Louisiana New Orleans, LA	3.64	14%	Low
Davidson College Davidson, NC	3.81	13%	Low
United States Naval Academy Annapolis, Maryland	3.8	9%	Low
Washington and Lee University Lexington, VA	3.87	14%	Low

Safety Schools (Very High Chance of Admission)

Safety schools have average GPAs well below 3.9; you have a very high chance of acceptance.

College	Avg GPA	Acceptance Rate	Your Chance
Arizona State University Tempe, AZ	3.54	90%	High
University of Kentucky Lexington, KY	3.59	93%	High
East Carolina University Greenville, NC	3.33	89%	High
University of Arizona Tucson, AZ	3.48	86%	High
Texas State University San Marcos, TX	3.38	89%	High
University of Houston Houston, TX	3.46	74%	High
George Mason University Fairfax, VA	3.68	87%	High
Savannah College of Art and Design Savannah, GA	3.56	83%	High
James Madison University Harrisonburg, VA	3.57	72%	High
University of North Texas Denton, TX	3.46	72%	High
West Virginia University Morgantown, WV	3.45	89%	High
University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte, NC	3.57	80%	High

View all 432 safety colleges

View the full list of colleges that accept a 3.9 GPA in the South

See all colleges nationally for a 3.9 GPA

Published: August 19, 2026