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)

View Colleges

Colleges By Region

Change GPA

Explore colleges for other GPAs

-1 +1
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.

Truman State University
Connect Me
T
Kirksville, MO

Truman State University

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

3.81 Average GPA

#3 Best Value Colleges in Missouri

  • 3,960enrollment
  • $13,993net price
  • 45%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1330SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance56%

Compare Calculate my chances 
Illinois Wesleyan University
Connect Me
I
Bloomington, IL

Illinois Wesleyan University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

3.86 Average GPA

#3 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 1,527enrollment
  • $30,096net price
  • 42%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1330SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance50%

Compare Calculate my chances 
Cedarville University
Connect Me
C
Cedarville, OH

Cedarville University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

3.9 Average GPA

#11 Best Private Colleges in Ohio

  • 4,960enrollment
  • $25,462net price
  • 65%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1380SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance70%

Compare Calculate my chances 
Messiah College
Connect Me
M
Grantham, PA

Messiah College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

3.8 Average GPA

#29 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 3,231enrollment
  • $24,120net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1340SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance86%

Compare Calculate my chances 
Saint Mary's College
Connect Me
S
Notre Dame, IN

Saint Mary's College

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

3.83 Average GPA

#4 Best Private Colleges in Indiana

  • 1,519enrollment
  • $27,960net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1328SAT range
  • 26-32ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance89%

Compare Calculate my chances 
Drury University
Connect Me
D
Springfield, MO
 

Drury University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

3.79 Average GPA

#5 Best Private Colleges in Missouri

  • 1,595enrollment
  • $20,996net price
  • 63%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1360SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance74%

Applications Due Aug 30

Compare Calculate my chances 
Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Connect Me
A
Albany, NY

Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

3.75 Average GPA

 

  • 930enrollment
  • $29,175net price
  • 66%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1470SAT range
  • 24-32ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance78%

Applications Due Jul 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Canisius College
Connect Me
C
Buffalo, NY

Canisius College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

3.7 Average GPA

#38 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 2,492enrollment
  • $19,635net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1320SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance88%

Compare Calculate my chances 
Francis Marion University
Connect Me
F
Florence, SC

Francis Marion University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

3.89 Average GPA

#9 Best Public Universities in South Carolina

  • 4,045enrollment
  • $12,614net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 890-1123SAT range
  • 15-22ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance86%

Compare Calculate my chances 
George Fox University
Connect Me
G
Newberg, OR

George Fox University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

3.7 Average GPA

#6 Best Private Colleges in Oregon

  • 4,028enrollment
  • $28,840net price
  • 92%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1290SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance96%

Compare Calculate my chances 
Chatham University
Connect Me
C
Pittsburgh, PA

Chatham University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

3.86 Average GPA

#25 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,387enrollment
  • $28,322net price
  • 66%acceptance rate
  • 1060-1270SAT range
  • 21-29ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance73%

Compare Calculate my chances 
North Greenville University
Connect Me
N
Tigerville, SC

North Greenville University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

3.84 Average GPA

#6 Best Private Colleges in South Carolina

  • 2,125enrollment
  • $11,705net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 980-1210SAT range
  • 18-25ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance82%

Applications Due Aug 22

Compare Calculate my chances 
College of the Ozarks
Connect Me
O
Point Lookout, MO

College of the Ozarks

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

3.71 Average GPA

 

  • 1,487enrollment
  • $12,611net price
  • 21%acceptance rate
  • 1065-1234SAT range
  • 20-25ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance34%

Compare Calculate my chances 
Whitworth University
Connect Me
W
Spokane, WA

Whitworth University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

3.72 Average GPA

#6 Best Private Colleges in Washington

  • 2,415enrollment
  • $28,299net price
  • 91%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1350SAT range
  • 19-27ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance95%

Applications Due Mar 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Covenant College
Connect Me
C
Lookout Mountain, GA

Covenant College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

3.7 Average GPA

 

  • 886enrollment
  • $25,028net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1380SAT range
  • 24-32ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance91%

Applications Due Mar 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott
Connect Me
E
Prescott, AZ

Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

3.82 Average GPA

#1 Best Private Colleges in Arizona

  • 3,162enrollment
  • $38,909net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1380SAT range
  • 24-31ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance76%

Compare Calculate my chances 
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Connect Me
M
Rolla, MO

Missouri University of Science and Technology

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

3.81 Average GPA

#1 Best Public Universities in Missouri

  • 7,080enrollment
  • $14,023net price
  • 81%acceptance rate
  • 1173-1370SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance87%

Applications Due Jul 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Lebanon Valley College
Connect Me
L
Annville, PA

Lebanon Valley College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

3.79 Average GPA

#19 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,080enrollment
  • $26,743net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1280SAT range
  • 23-31ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance85%

Compare Calculate my chances