Colleges for a 4.0 GPA

colleges that accept a 4.0 grade point average

What is a 4.0 GPA?

A 4.0 grade point average is a numerical representation of your course letter grades on a 4.0 scale. Your 4.0 GPA indicates you averaged A/A+ grades in your classes and delivered perfect performance. The percent equivalent of a 4.0 grade point average is 93-100% on the percentage grading scale. This means that you scored an average of 93-100% on tests and assignments. At most high schools and colleges, an A or A+ are both worth 4.0 grade points. A student with a 4.0 may have a mix of A+'s or A's. Any grade below an A, including an A-, will result in not achieving a 4.0. Learn more about what the A/A+ letter grade signifies.

Is a 4.0 GPA good?

A 4.0 is the highest possible GPA on the unweighted 4.0 scale and is far above the national high school average of 3.0. It indicates you've achieved straight A's throughout your high school career. Earning a 4.0 demonstrates exceptional academic performance an mastery of all of the classes you've taken. This outstanding achievement reflects a strong work ethic, dedication, and mastery of the subject matter. A 4.0 puts you in an excellent position for acceptance at the most selective colleges in the U.S including the Ivy League. A 4.0 GPA is also highly beneficial towards you chances in receiving a merit based scholarship.

What colleges can I get into with a 4.0 GPA?

Graduating with a high school GPA of 4.0 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 4.0 GPA competitive. The most popular colleges, historically accepting students with GPAs within the range of 3.8 to 4.2 (4.0 +/- 0.2), are listed below. To view your chances of admission at each school, scroll down and explore the full list.

What is a perfect 4.0 GPA?

A 4.0 is considered "perfect" as it can only be earned if you earn all A's or A+'s in every class you take. If you get any A-'s or lower grades your GPA will drop below a 4.0 and can never be recovered to a 4.0. You cannot have a 4.0 with any B grades. This is true for the unweighted 4.0 grade scale. If using a weighted scale, it's possible to get a B+ in an AP class and still have a 4.0.

4.0 for Harvard and Ivy League

A 4.0 unweighted can definitely get you into Harvard or any Ivy League school. 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 intense that even a 4.0 usually doesn't cut it.

Here are the average GPAs and estimated chances for admission with a 4.0 at Ivy League and other prestigious colleges and universities.

  • Harvard - 4.0 average GPA / 3.0% chance
  • Princeton - 3.93 average GPA / 7.0% chance
  • Yale - 3.95 average GPA / 5.6% chance
  • Penn - 3.95 average GPA / 7.8% chance
  • Dartmouth - 3.9 average GPA / 7.5% chance
  • Brown - 3.94 average GPA / 5.7% chance
  • Cornell - 3.9 average GPA / 8.7% chance
  • Columbia - 3.91 average GPA / 4.9% chance
  • Stanford - 3.96 average GPA / 4.4% chance
  • MIT - 3.96 average GPA / 4.4% chance
  • Caltech - 3.97 average GPA / 3.2% 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 4.0 GPA is typically eligible for the summa cum laude distinction.

Demographic Statistics

Let's examine how a 4.0 GPA stacks up to the national high school averages across various demographic groups

Gender

  • Male: A 4.0 is 1 points (33%) higher than the average male student GPA of 3.0
  • Female: A 4.0 is 0.8 points (24%) higher than the average female student GPA of 3.23

Race/ethnicity

  • White: A 4.0 is 0.8 points (24%) higher than the average white student GPA of 3.23
  • Black: A 4.0 is 1.2 points (41%) higher than the average black student GPA of 2.83
  • Hispanic: A 4.0 is 1 points (36%) higher than the average Hispanic student GPA of 2.95
  • Asian/Pacific Islander: A 4.0 is 0.6 points (18%) 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)

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GPA 4.0 Public Private 4 year

294 results nationwide

List of 4.0 GPA Colleges

Displaying 294 colleges where your 4.0 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 525 target schools (good chance), 138 reach (harder) schools and 4,500 safety (easier) schools you can consider.

Trinity College
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T
Hartford, CT

Trinity College

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

3.8 Estimated Average GPA

#3 Best Colleges in Connecticut

  • 2,205enrollment
  • $32,704net price
  • 36%acceptance rate
  • 1300-1470SAT range
  • 30-32ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance47%

Applications Due Jan 17

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Colorado College
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C
Colorado Springs, CO

Colorado College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

3.98 Average GPA

#1 Best Value in Colorado

  • 2,203enrollment
  • $33,178net price
  • 16%acceptance rate
  • 1260-1480SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance17%

Applications Due Jan 15

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Rose Hulman Institute of Technology
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R
Terre Haute, IN

Rose Hulman Institute of Technology

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

4.0 Average GPA

#3 Best Private Colleges in Indiana

  • 2,188enrollment
  • $41,678net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 1290-1483SAT range
  • 27-33ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance73%

Applications Due Mar 1

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Oglethorpe University
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O
Atlanta, GA

Oglethorpe University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

3.73 Average GPA

#7 Best Private Colleges in Georgia

  • 1,491enrollment
  • $20,094net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 1065-1305SAT range
  • 22-29ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance82%

Applications Due Jul 15

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Sarah Lawrence College
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S
Bronxville, NY

Sarah Lawrence College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

3.75 Average GPA

#15 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 1,696enrollment
  • $42,781net price
  • 50%acceptance rate
  • 1260-1450SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance64%

Applications Due Jan 15

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Shenandoah University
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S
Winchester, VA

Shenandoah University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

3.7 Average GPA

#8 Best Private Colleges in Virginia

  • 4,260enrollment
  • $26,143net price
  • 80%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1230SAT range
  • 19-26ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance89%

Applications Due Aug 1

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Soka University of America
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S
Aliso Viejo, CA

Soka University of America

Private 4 Year

18 reviews

3.7 Average GPA

 

  • 455enrollment
  • $17,928net price
  • 57%acceptance rate
  • 1240-1440SAT range
  • -ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance73%

Applications Due Jan 15

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University of Evansville
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E
Evansville, IN

University of Evansville

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

3.71 Average GPA

#3 Best Value Colleges in Indiana

  • 2,017enrollment
  • $19,301net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 1045-1300SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance86%

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Bryn Mawr College
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B
Bryn Mawr, PA

Bryn Mawr College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

3.85 Estimated Average GPA

#11 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,742enrollment
  • $39,072net price
  • 31%acceptance rate
  • 1280-1495SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance39%

Applications Due Jan 15

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Texas Lutheran University
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T
Seguin, TX

Texas Lutheran University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

3.9 Average GPA

#16 Best Private Colleges in Texas

  • 1,369enrollment
  • $21,442net price
  • 92%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1220SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance94%

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Simmons University
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S
Boston, MA

Simmons University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

3.87 Average GPA

#13 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 5,710enrollment
  • $24,423net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 1200-1390SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance81%

Applications Due Feb 1

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Smith College
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S
Northampton, MA

Smith College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

4.0 Average GPA

#8 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 2,873enrollment
  • $30,790net price
  • 23%acceptance rate
  • 1370-1520SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance23%

Applications Due Jan 15

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Pacific University
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P
Forest Grove, OR

Pacific University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

3.73 Average GPA

#5 Best Private Colleges in Oregon

  • 3,559enrollment
  • $33,472net price
  • 92%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1350SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance96%

Applications Due Aug 25

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Texas A&M International University
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T
Laredo, TX

Texas A&M International University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

3.7 Average GPA

#14 Best Public Universities in Texas

  • 8,505enrollment
  • $5,383net price
  • 48%acceptance rate
  • 910-1110SAT range
  • 16-21ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance65%

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University of Alabama at Huntsville
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A
Huntsville, AL

University of Alabama at Huntsville

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

3.81 Average GPA

#4 Best Public Universities in Alabama

  • 9,237enrollment
  • $18,588net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 1226-1430SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance85%

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Pacific Lutheran University
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P
Tacoma, WA

Pacific Lutheran University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

3.71 Average GPA

#2 Best Value Colleges in Washington

  • 2,633enrollment
  • $24,825net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 1253-1423SAT range
  • 27-30ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance94%

Applications Due Aug 15

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Hendrix College
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H
Conway, AR

Hendrix College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

3.79 Average GPA

#2 Best Colleges in Arkansas

  • 1,144enrollment
  • $22,626net price
  • 60%acceptance rate
  • 1133-1328SAT range
  • 23-30ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance71%

Applications Due Jun 1

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Olin College of Engineering
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O
Needham, MA

Olin College of Engineering

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

3.9 Average GPA

 

  • 386enrollment
  • $38,502net price
  • 19%acceptance rate
  • 1490-1560SAT range
  • 35-35ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance23%

Applications Due Jan 1

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