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 / 4.7% chance
  • Yale - 3.95 average GPA / 5.6% chance
  • Penn - 3.95 average GPA / 6.7% chance
  • Dartmouth - 3.9 average GPA / 7.5% chance
  • Brown - 3.94 average GPA / 5.7% chance
  • Cornell - 3.9 average GPA / 9.9% chance
  • Columbia - 3.91 average GPA / 4.9% chance
  • Stanford - 3.96 average GPA / 4.4% chance
  • MIT - 3.96 average GPA / 5.5% 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 510 target schools (good chance), 144 reach (harder) schools and 4,401 safety (easier) schools you can consider.

Barnard College
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B
New York, NY

Barnard College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

3.85 Estimated Average GPA

#5 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 3,353enrollment
  • $27,738net price
  • 8%acceptance rate
  • 1453-1550SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance11%

Applications Due Jan 4

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American University
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A
Washington, DC

American University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

3.7 Estimated Average GPA

#3 Best Colleges in District Of Columbia

  • 13,019enrollment
  • $40,189net price
  • 47%acceptance rate
  • 1300-1450SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance64%

Applications Due Jan 15

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Vassar College
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V
Poughkeepsie, NY

Vassar College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

3.86 Estimated Average GPA

#7 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 2,456enrollment
  • $29,733net price
  • 18%acceptance rate
  • 1435-1550SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance23%

Applications Due Jan 1

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Babson College
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B
Wellesley, MA

Babson College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

3.79 Estimated Average GPA

#14 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 3,943enrollment
  • $30,220net price
  • 20%acceptance rate
  • 1380-1500SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance29%

Applications Due Jan 3

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Amherst College
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A
Amherst, MA

Amherst College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

3.91 Estimated Average GPA

#15 Best Colleges in America

  • 1,910enrollment
  • $17,965net price
  • 10%acceptance rate
  • 1360-1550SAT range
  • 31-35ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance12%

Applications Due Jan 2

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University of Dayton
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D
Dayton, OH

University of Dayton

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

3.77 Average GPA

#6 Best Private Colleges in Ohio

  • 11,304enrollment
  • $31,551net price
  • 62%acceptance rate
  • 1195-1370SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance74%

Applications Due Feb 1

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Azusa Pacific University
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A
Azusa, CA
 

Azusa Pacific University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

3.74 Average GPA

#16 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 6,487enrollment
  • $26,117net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 994-1314SAT range
  • 18-26ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance87%

Applications Due Jun 1

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Bentley University
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B
Waltham, MA

Bentley University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

3.75 Estimated Average GPA

#13 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 5,264enrollment
  • $43,858net price
  • 48%acceptance rate
  • 1250-1410SAT range
  • 29-32ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance62%

Applications Due Jan 15

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Colorado School of Mines
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C
Golden, CO

Colorado School of Mines

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

3.84 Average GPA

#1 Best Public Universities in Colorado

  • 7,599enrollment
  • $29,785net price
  • 60%acceptance rate
  • 1320-1470SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance69%

Applications Due Jan 15

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University of Richmond
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R
University of Richmond, VA

University of Richmond

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

3.71 Average GPA

#2 Best Colleges in Virginia

  • 3,776enrollment
  • $35,263net price
  • 23%acceptance rate
  • 1410-1530SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance37%

Applications Due Jan 1

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Christopher Newport University
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C
Newport News, VA

Christopher Newport University

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

3.79 Average GPA

#8 Best Public Universities in Virginia

  • 4,503enrollment
  • $22,864net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1300SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance92%

Applications Due Feb 1

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Swarthmore College
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S
Swarthmore, PA

Swarthmore College

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

3.9 Estimated Average GPA

#13 Best Value Colleges in America

  • 1,644enrollment
  • $17,930net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1460-1560SAT range
  • 33-34ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance9%

Applications Due Jan 4

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Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
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R
Troy, NY

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

3.88 Average GPA

#12 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 7,024enrollment
  • $35,940net price
  • 58%acceptance rate
  • 1330-1500SAT range
  • 30-34ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance65%

Applications Due Jan 15

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University of Arkansas
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A
Fayetteville, AR

University of Arkansas

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

3.74 Average GPA

#1 Best Public Universities in Arkansas

  • 32,140enrollment
  • $17,475net price
  • 72%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1220SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance83%

Applications Due Aug 1

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Louisiana State University
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L
Baton Rouge, LA

Louisiana State University

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

3.77 Average GPA

#1 Best Public Universities in Louisiana

  • 39,418enrollment
  • $21,808net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1330SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance83%

Applications Due Jul 15

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Butler University
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B
Indianapolis, IN

Butler University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

3.92 Average GPA

#5 Best Private Colleges in Indiana

  • 5,763enrollment
  • $40,140net price
  • 86%acceptance rate
  • 1180-1360SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance88%

Applications Due Aug 1

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Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach
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E
Daytona Beach, FL

Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

3.88 Average GPA

#4 Best Private Colleges in Florida

  • 11,070enrollment
  • $41,550net price
  • 66%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1350SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance72%

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Berry College
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B
Mount Berry, GA

Berry College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

3.84 Average GPA

#5 Best Private Colleges in Georgia

  • 2,370enrollment
  • $25,383net price
  • 62%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1278SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance70%

Applications Due Jul 15

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