Southern Colleges for a 4.0 GPA

Southern 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 Southern colleges like University of Florida, The University of Texas at Austin and Florida State University. Based on incoming freshman GPA data for Southern schools, our analysis indicates that 102 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 South Public Private 4 year

102 results

List of 4.0 GPA Colleges

Displaying 102 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 201 target schools (good chance), 21 reach (harder) schools and 1,560 safety (easier) schools you can consider.

Georgia Institute of Technology Main Campus
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G
Atlanta, GA

Georgia Institute of Technology Main Campus

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

3.85 Estimated Average GPA

#1 Best Public Universities in Georgia

  • 45,296enrollment
  • $17,402net price
  • 17%acceptance rate
  • 1370-1550SAT range
  • 31-35ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance23%

Applications Due Jan 4

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Appalachian State University
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A
Boone, NC

Appalachian State University

Public 4 Year

7 reviews

3.96 Average GPA

#7 Best Public Universities in North Carolina

  • 20,436enrollment
  • $13,084net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1270SAT range
  • 21-27ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance84%

Applications Due Feb 1

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Emory University
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E
Atlanta, GA

Emory University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

3.8 Average GPA

#24 Best Colleges in America

  • 14,841enrollment
  • $26,680net price
  • 11%acceptance rate
  • 1430-1550SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance17%

Applications Due Jan 1

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University of Delaware
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D
Newark, DE

University of Delaware

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

3.94 Average GPA

#1 Best Value in Delaware

  • 24,039enrollment
  • $18,044net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 1190-1360SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance77%

Applications Due Jan 15

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Florida Atlantic University
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F
Boca Raton, FL

Florida Atlantic University

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

3.74 Average GPA

#8 Best Public Universities in Florida

  • 29,592enrollment
  • $9,711net price
  • 81%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1200SAT range
  • 20-25ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance89%

Applications Due May 1

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Rice University
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R
Houston, TX

Rice University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

3.96 Estimated Average GPA

#9 Best Colleges in America

  • 8,672enrollment
  • $19,902net price
  • 9%acceptance rate
  • 1490-1570SAT range
  • 34-36ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance10%

Applications Due Jan 1

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Florida Gulf Coast University
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F
Fort Myers, FL

Florida Gulf Coast University

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

4.0 Average GPA

#9 Best Public Universities in Florida

  • 15,969enrollment
  • $10,834net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1200SAT range
  • 20-25ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance74%

Applications Due Nov 1

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College of William and Mary
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W
Williamsburg, VA

College of William and Mary

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

3.85 Estimated Average GPA

#4 Best Public Universities in America

  • 9,654enrollment
  • $25,688net price
  • 33%acceptance rate
  • 1375-1520SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance41%

Applications Due Jan 2

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The University of Texas at Dallas
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T
Richardson, TX

The University of Texas at Dallas

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

3.78 Estimated Average GPA

#3 Best Public Universities in Texas

  • 31,570enrollment
  • $13,555net price
  • 85%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1430SAT range
  • 24-32ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance90%

Applications Due May 1

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Spelman College
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S
HBCU
Atlanta, GA

Spelman College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

3.75 Average GPA

#5 Best Private Colleges in Georgia

  • 3,102enrollment
  • $37,085net price
  • 28%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1200SAT range
  • 20-25ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance41%

Applications Due Feb 1

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Coastal Carolina University
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C
Conway, SC

Coastal Carolina University

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

3.72 Average GPA

#6 Best Public Universities in South Carolina

  • 10,337enrollment
  • $14,016net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1190SAT range
  • 20-25ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance88%

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College of Charleston
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C
Charleston, SC

College of Charleston

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

3.94 Average GPA

#4 Best Public Universities in South Carolina

  • 10,885enrollment
  • $21,120net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1300SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance78%

Applications Due Jan 15

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Florida International University
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F
Miami, FL

Florida International University

Public 4 Year

7 reviews

4.0 Average GPA

#5 Best Public Universities in Florida

  • 55,609enrollment
  • $9,881net price
  • 64%acceptance rate
  • 1060-1250SAT range
  • 21-26ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance64%

Applications Due Apr 1

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Mercer University
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M
Macon, GA

Mercer University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

3.98 Average GPA

#2 Best Value Colleges in Georgia

  • 8,889enrollment
  • $22,087net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 1190-1360SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance76%

Applications Due Jul 1

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Davidson College
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D
Davidson, NC

Davidson College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

3.81 Average GPA

#2 Best Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,927enrollment
  • $26,704net price
  • 17%acceptance rate
  • 1350-1500SAT range
  • 31-33ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance24%

Applications Due Jan 7

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Nova Southeastern University
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N
Fort Lauderdale, FL

Nova Southeastern University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

3.99 Average GPA

#8 Best Private Colleges in Florida

  • 20,948enrollment
  • $29,589net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1310SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance76%

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Virginia Commonwealth University
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V
Richmond, VA

Virginia Commonwealth University

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

3.75 Average GPA

#9 Best Public Universities in Virginia

  • 28,082enrollment
  • $21,294net price
  • 91%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1290SAT range
  • 22-30ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance95%

Applications Due Jan 18

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University of North Florida
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N
Jacksonville, FL

University of North Florida

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

3.89 Average GPA

#6 Best Public Universities in Florida

  • 16,406enrollment
  • $11,338net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1210SAT range
  • 18-25ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance76%

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