Eastern Colleges for a 4.0 GPA

Eastern 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 Eastern colleges like Harvard University, New York University and Princeton University. Based on incoming freshman GPA data for Eastern schools, our analysis indicates that 81 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 East Public Private 4 year

81 results

List of 4.0 GPA Colleges

Displaying 81 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 129 target schools (good chance), 78 reach (harder) schools and 972 safety (easier) schools you can consider.

SUNY College at Cortland
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Cortland, NY

SUNY College at Cortland

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

3.7 Average GPA

#16 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 6,780enrollment
  • $18,474net price
  • 51%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1240SAT range
  • 22-27ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance68%

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Worcester Polytechnic Institute
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W
Worcester, MA

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

3.9 Average GPA

 

  • 7,353enrollment
  • $47,799net price
  • 58%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance64%

Applications Due Feb 15

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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

  • 2,276enrollment
  • $31,806net price
  • 34%acceptance rate
  • 1310-1460SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance45%

Applications Due Jan 17

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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

#14 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 1,743enrollment
  • $43,571net price
  • 59%acceptance rate
  • 1270-1440SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance72%

Applications Due Jan 15

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Bryn Mawr College
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Bryn Mawr, PA

Bryn Mawr College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

3.85 Estimated Average GPA

#11 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,666enrollment
  • $39,383net price
  • 31%acceptance rate
  • 1300-1470SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance39%

Applications Due Jan 15

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Simmons University
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Boston, MA

Simmons University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

3.87 Average GPA

#15 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 5,053enrollment
  • $29,575net price
  • 66%acceptance rate
  • 1230-1390SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance72%

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

  • 2,830enrollment
  • $27,823net price
  • 20%acceptance rate
  • 1408-1540SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance20%

Applications Due Jan 15

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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

 

  • 402enrollment
  • $40,370net price
  • 22%acceptance rate
  • 1480-1560SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance26%

Applications Due Jan 1

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Mount Holyoke College
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South Hadley, MA

Mount Holyoke College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

3.87 Average GPA

#11 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 2,330enrollment
  • $35,782net price
  • 38%acceptance rate
  • 1350-1500SAT range
  • 31-33ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance45%

Applications Due Jan 15

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United States Coast Guard Academy
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New London, Connecticut

United States Coast Guard Academy

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

3.79 Average GPA

 

  • 1,081enrollment
  • -net price
  • 24%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1380SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance34%

Applications Due Jan 15

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Messiah College
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Grantham, PA

Messiah College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

3.8 Average GPA

#28 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 3,344enrollment
  • $29,882net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1340SAT range
  • 22-30ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance85%

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Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
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Albany, NY

Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

3.75 Average GPA

 

  • 875enrollment
  • $26,804net price
  • 59%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1380SAT range
  • 28-33ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance72%

Applications Due Jul 1

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Canisius College
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C
Buffalo, NY

Canisius College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

3.7 Average GPA

#40 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 2,545enrollment
  • $19,321net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1320SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance90%

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Chatham University
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C
Pittsburgh, PA

Chatham University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

3.86 Average GPA

#27 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,319enrollment
  • $29,051net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1290SAT range
  • 23-27ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance76%

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Lebanon Valley College
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Annville, PA

Lebanon Valley College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

3.79 Average GPA

#26 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,142enrollment
  • $28,640net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 1093-1300SAT range
  • -ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance83%

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SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
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Syracuse, NY

SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

3.7 Average GPA

#7 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 2,737enrollment
  • $19,644net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1300SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance91%

Applications Due Feb 1

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Connecticut College
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New London, CT

Connecticut College

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

3.7 Average GPA

#4 Best Private Colleges in Connecticut

  • 1,995enrollment
  • $42,941net price
  • 38%acceptance rate
  • 1340-1470SAT range
  • 31-33ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance55%

Applications Due Jan 1

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Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
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C
New York, NY

Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

3.75 Average GPA

 

  • 983enrollment
  • $28,199net price
  • 19%acceptance rate
  • 1400-1520SAT range
  • 33-34ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance30%

Applications Due Jan 8

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