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.

Samford University
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S
Birmingham, AL

Samford University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

3.84 Average GPA

#1 Best Private Colleges in Alabama

  • 5,682enrollment
  • $31,803net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1270SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance88%

Applications Due May 1

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Haverford College
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H
Haverford, PA

Haverford College

Private 4 Year

7 reviews

3.9 Estimated Average GPA

#1 Best Value in Pennsylvania

  • 1,421enrollment
  • $23,476net price
  • 14%acceptance rate
  • 1430-1540SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance17%

Applications Due Jan 15

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CUNY Bernard M Baruch College
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B
New York, NY

CUNY Bernard M Baruch College

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

3.7 Average GPA

#4 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 19,854enrollment
  • $4,991net price
  • 50%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1360SAT range
  • 26-30ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance67%

Applications Due Feb 1

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Duquesne University
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D
Pittsburgh, PA

Duquesne University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

3.8 Average GPA

#16 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 8,107enrollment
  • $33,919net price
  • 87%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1330SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance91%

Applications Due Aug 15

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University of Redlands
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R
Redlands, CA

University of Redlands

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

3.74 Average GPA

#16 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 3,460enrollment
  • $28,157net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 1113-1278SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance89%

Applications Due Jul 1

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University of Mary Washington
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M
Fredericksburg, VA

University of Mary Washington

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

3.71 Average GPA

#7 Best Public Universities in Virginia

  • 3,757enrollment
  • $21,863net price
  • 86%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1340SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance92%

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Florida Southern College
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F
Lakeland, FL

Florida Southern College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

3.73 Average GPA

#7 Best Private Colleges in Florida

  • 3,281enrollment
  • $27,324net price
  • 57%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1290SAT range
  • 22-29ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance71%

Applications Due May 1

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Reed College
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R
Portland, OR

Reed College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

4.0 Average GPA

#1 Best Value in Oregon

  • 1,534enrollment
  • $33,106net price
  • 31%acceptance rate
  • 1320-1500SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance31%

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United States Military Academy
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A
West Point, New York

United States Military Academy

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

4.0 Average GPA

 

  • 4,393enrollment
  • -net price
  • 12%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1450SAT range
  • 27-33ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance12%

Applications Due Jan 31

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Drake University
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D
Des Moines, IA

Drake University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

3.7 Average GPA

#2 Best Colleges in Iowa

  • 4,685enrollment
  • $30,333net price
  • 67%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1340SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance80%

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Wofford College
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W
Spartanburg, SC

Wofford College

Private 4 Year

8 reviews

3.7 Average GPA

#3 Best Colleges in South Carolina

  • 1,823enrollment
  • $31,192net price
  • 60%acceptance rate
  • 1200-1353SAT range
  • 27-31ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance75%

Applications Due Jan 15

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Harvey Mudd College
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H
Claremont, CA

Harvey Mudd College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

3.96 Estimated Average GPA

 

  • 922enrollment
  • $39,850net price
  • 13%acceptance rate
  • 1480-1560SAT range
  • 34-36ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance14%

Applications Due Jan 5

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Colby College
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C
Waterville, ME

Colby College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

3.86 Estimated Average GPA

#11 Best Value Colleges in America

  • 2,299enrollment
  • $16,951net price
  • 8%acceptance rate
  • 1430-1540SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance11%

Applications Due Jan 1

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Creighton University
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C
Omaha, NE

Creighton University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

3.84 Average GPA

#1 Best Value in Nebraska

  • 8,397enrollment
  • $32,877net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 1206-1420SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance82%

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Pratt Institute Main
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P
Brooklyn, NY

Pratt Institute Main

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

3.86 Average GPA

#23 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 5,494enrollment
  • $47,326net price
  • 50%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1430SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance58%

Applications Due Jan 5

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Salisbury University
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S
Salisbury, MD

Salisbury University

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

3.73 Average GPA

#4 Best Public Universities in Maryland

  • 7,123enrollment
  • $19,756net price
  • 91%acceptance rate
  • 1180-1320SAT range
  • 22-27ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance95%

Applications Due Jan 15

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Wellesley College
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W
Wellesley, MA

Wellesley College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

3.86 Estimated Average GPA

#17 Best Colleges in America

  • 2,447enrollment
  • $21,362net price
  • 14%acceptance rate
  • 1430-1550SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance18%

Applications Due Jan 8

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Carleton College
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C
Northfield, MN

Carleton College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

3.9 Estimated Average GPA

#1 Best Value in Minnesota

  • 2,059enrollment
  • $31,494net price
  • 17%acceptance rate
  • 1430-1550SAT range
  • 32-35ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance21%

Applications Due Jan 15

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