Midwestern Colleges for a 4.0 GPA

Midwestern 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 Midwestern colleges like University of Michigan, Michigan State University and Ohio State University. Based on incoming freshman GPA data for Midwestern schools, our analysis indicates that 62 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 Midwest Public Private 4 year

62 results

List of 4.0 GPA Colleges

Displaying 62 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 108 target schools (good chance), 15 reach (harder) schools and 1,188 safety (easier) schools you can consider.

Wheaton College
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W
Wheaton, IL

Wheaton College

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

3.75 Average GPA

#4 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 2,885enrollment
  • $29,961net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 1250-1430SAT range
  • 28-33ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance93%

Applications Due Aug 1

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Case Western Reserve University
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C
Cleveland, OH

Case Western Reserve University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

3.86 Estimated Average GPA

#1 Best Private Colleges in Ohio

  • 12,201enrollment
  • $38,279net price
  • 27%acceptance rate
  • 1410-1540SAT range
  • 32-35ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance34%

Applications Due Jan 15

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Bradley University
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B
Peoria, IL

Bradley University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

3.83 Average GPA

#7 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 5,552enrollment
  • $24,053net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1280SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance82%

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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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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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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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Valparaiso University
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V
Valparaiso, IN

Valparaiso University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

3.76 Average GPA

#7 Best Private Colleges in Indiana

  • 2,958enrollment
  • $22,755net price
  • 94%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1360SAT range
  • 27-30ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance96%

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Denison University
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D
Granville, OH

Denison University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

3.76 Estimated Average GPA

#3 Best Colleges in Ohio

  • 2,416enrollment
  • $38,267net price
  • 22%acceptance rate
  • 1270-1460SAT range
  • 29-32ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance33%

Applications Due Jan 15

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Grinnell College
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G
Grinnell, IA

Grinnell College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

3.89 Estimated Average GPA

#1 Best Value in Iowa

  • 1,759enrollment
  • $33,467net price
  • 11%acceptance rate
  • 1380-1530SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance14%

Applications Due Jan 15

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Kenyon College
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K
Gambier, OH

Kenyon College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

3.84 Estimated Average GPA

#2 Best Colleges in Ohio

  • 1,885enrollment
  • $43,044net price
  • 34%acceptance rate
  • 1350-1515SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance43%

Applications Due Jan 15

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Michigan Technological University
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M
Houghton, MI

Michigan Technological University

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

3.78 Average GPA

#3 Best Public Universities in Michigan

  • 7,063enrollment
  • $18,235net price
  • 94%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1350SAT range
  • 24-31ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance96%

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DePauw University
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D
Greencastle, IN

DePauw University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

3.97 Average GPA

#2 Best Colleges in Indiana

  • 1,752enrollment
  • $29,486net price
  • 66%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1360SAT range
  • 24-31ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance68%

Applications Due Feb 1

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Hope College
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H
Holland, MI

Hope College

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

3.83 Average GPA

#3 Best Private Colleges in Michigan

  • 3,251enrollment
  • $25,800net price
  • 80%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1330SAT range
  • 24-31ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance86%

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Missouri State University Springfield
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M
Springfield, MO

Missouri State University Springfield

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

3.73 Average GPA

#7 Best Public Universities in Missouri

  • 22,535enrollment
  • $17,677net price
  • 93%acceptance rate
  • 973-1230SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance96%

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Saint Louis University Main Campus
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S
Saint Louis, MO

Saint Louis University Main Campus

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

3.95 Average GPA

#2 Best Colleges in Missouri

  • 15,755enrollment
  • $29,651net price
  • 85%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1400SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance86%

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Illinois Institute of Technology
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I
Chicago, IL

Illinois Institute of Technology

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

3.84 Average GPA

#5 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 6,943enrollment
  • $28,702net price
  • 61%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1410SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance69%

Applications Due Mar 1

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Macalester College
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M
Saint Paul, MN

Macalester College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

3.81 Estimated Average GPA

#2 Best Colleges in Minnesota

  • 2,175enrollment
  • $36,095net price
  • 28%acceptance rate
  • 1340-1500SAT range
  • 30-34ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance38%

Applications Due Jan 15

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Calvin College
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C
Grand Rapids, MI

Calvin College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

3.84 Average GPA

#4 Best Private Colleges in Michigan

  • 3,231enrollment
  • $25,775net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1370SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance81%

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