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.

Birmingham Southern College
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B
Birmingham, AL

Birmingham Southern College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

3.72 Average GPA

 

  • 975enrollment
  • $21,153net price
  • 57%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1280SAT range
  • 22-29ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance72%

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Pitzer College
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P
Claremont, CA

Pitzer College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

3.93 Average GPA

 

  • 1,212enrollment
  • $39,809net price
  • 18%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance21%

Applications Due Jan 1

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Lee University
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L
Cleveland, TN

Lee University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

3.73 Average GPA

#16 Best Private Colleges in Tennessee

  • 3,927enrollment
  • $19,726net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1240SAT range
  • 19-27ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance84%

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Mount Holyoke College
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M
South Hadley, MA

Mount Holyoke College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

3.87 Average GPA

#10 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 2,392enrollment
  • $35,765net price
  • 40%acceptance rate
  • 1350-1540SAT range
  • 30-34ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance48%

Applications Due Jan 15

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Dominican University
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D
River Forest, IL

Dominican University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

3.74 Average GPA

#19 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 3,196enrollment
  • $18,162net price
  • 90%acceptance rate
  • 890-1140SAT range
  • 16-22ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance94%

Applications Due Aug 31

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Hanover College
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H
Hanover, IN

Hanover College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

3.79 Average GPA

#9 Best Private Colleges in Indiana

  • 1,124enrollment
  • $26,599net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1270SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance82%

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Coe College
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C
Cedar Rapids, IA

Coe College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

3.74 Average GPA

 

  • 1,264enrollment
  • $21,237net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

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Baldwin Wallace College
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B
Berea, OH

Baldwin Wallace College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

3.7 Average GPA

#10 Best Private Colleges in Ohio

  • 3,220enrollment
  • $28,705net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1043-1298SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance87%

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Taylor University
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T
Upland, IN

Taylor University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

3.87 Average GPA

#10 Best Private Colleges in Indiana

  • 2,221enrollment
  • $27,366net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1310SAT range
  • 23-30ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance80%

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St John's College
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S
Annapolis, MD

St John's College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

3.81 Average GPA

 

  • 541enrollment
  • $27,643net price
  • 50%acceptance rate
  • 1250-1460SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance61%

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Citadel Military College of South Carolina
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C
Charleston, SC

Citadel Military College of South Carolina

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

3.8 Average GPA

#3 Best Public Universities in South Carolina

  • 3,721enrollment
  • $21,846net price
  • 99%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1270SAT range
  • 23-27ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance99%

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Agnes Scott College
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A
Decatur, GA

Agnes Scott College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

3.77 Average GPA

#3 Best Private Colleges in Georgia

  • 1,114enrollment
  • $24,305net price
  • 67%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1350SAT range
  • 24-31ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance78%

Applications Due May 1

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Kalamazoo College
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K
Kalamazoo, MI

Kalamazoo College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

3.73 Average GPA

#1 Best Private Colleges in Michigan

  • 1,210enrollment
  • $26,981net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1200-1370SAT range
  • 26-32ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance88%

Applications Due Jan 15

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Randolph Macon College
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R
Ashland, VA

Randolph Macon College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

3.7 Average GPA

#7 Best Private Colleges in Virginia

  • 1,490enrollment
  • $28,389net price
  • 85%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1220SAT range
  • 23-27ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance92%

Applications Due Mar 1

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Kettering University
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K
Flint, MI

Kettering University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

3.77 Average GPA

#2 Best Private Colleges in Michigan

  • 1,769enrollment
  • $34,486net price
  • 81%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1370SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance88%

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Ohio Northern University
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O
Ada, OH

Ohio Northern University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

3.78 Average GPA

#6 Best Private Colleges in Ohio

  • 3,015enrollment
  • $27,398net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1340SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance66%

Applications Due Aug 15

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United States Coast Guard Academy
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C
New London, Connecticut

United States Coast Guard Academy

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

3.79 Average GPA

 

  • 1,037enrollment
  • -net price
  • 24%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1365SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance34%

Applications Due Jan 15

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University of South Carolina Beaufort
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S
Bluffton, SC

University of South Carolina Beaufort

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

3.82 Average GPA

#11 Best Public Universities in South Carolina

  • 2,124enrollment
  • $16,113net price
  • 80%acceptance rate
  • 940-1110SAT range
  • 17-22ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance86%

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