Southeastern Colleges for a 4.0 GPA

Southeastern 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 Southeastern colleges like University of Florida, Florida State University and Clemson University. Based on incoming freshman GPA data for Southeastern schools, our analysis indicates that 86 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)

View Colleges

Change GPA

Explore colleges for other GPAs

-1 +1
GPA 4.0 Southeast Public Private 4 year

86 results

List of 4.0 GPA Colleges

Displaying 86 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 171 target schools (good chance), 18 reach (harder) schools and 1,224 safety (easier) schools you can consider.

University of Florida
Connect Me
F
Gainesville, FL

University of Florida

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

3.9 Average GPA

#7 Best Public Universities in America

  • 55,211enrollment
  • $11,740net price
  • 23%acceptance rate
  • 1300-1490SAT range
  • 28-33ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance27%

Applications Due Mar 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Florida State University
Connect Me
F
Tallahassee, FL

Florida State University

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

3.7 Estimated Average GPA

#3 Best Colleges in Florida

  • 44,161enrollment
  • $14,003net price
  • 25%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1370SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance40%

Applications Due Mar 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Clemson University
Connect Me
C
Clemson, SC

Clemson University

Public 4 Year

9 reviews

3.75 Estimated Average GPA

#1 Best Public Universities in South Carolina

  • 28,466enrollment
  • $24,577net price
  • 43%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1410SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance58%

Applications Due May 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
University of Miami
Connect Me
M
Coral Gables, FL

University of Miami

Private 4 Year

14 reviews

3.7 Average GPA

#1 Best Private Colleges in Florida

  • 19,402enrollment
  • $36,467net price
  • 19%acceptance rate
  • 1310-1480SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance32%

Applications Due Jan 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
University of Georgia
Connect Me
G
Athens, GA

University of Georgia

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

4.0 Average GPA

#3 Best Colleges in Georgia

  • 40,607enrollment
  • $17,180net price
  • 43%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1420SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance43%

Applications Due Jan 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Connect Me
N
Chapel Hill, NC

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

3.83 Estimated Average GPA

#16 Best Value Colleges in America

  • 31,705enrollment
  • $10,614net price
  • 17%acceptance rate
  • 1350-1530SAT range
  • 30-34ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance23%

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
Virginia Tech
Connect Me
V
Blacksburg, VA

Virginia Tech

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

3.97 Average GPA

#3 Best Public Universities in Virginia

  • 38,170enrollment
  • $19,301net price
  • 57%acceptance rate
  • 1240-1430SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance59%

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
Duke University
Connect Me
D
Durham, NC

Duke University

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

3.94 Estimated Average GPA

#3 Best Colleges in America

  • 18,023enrollment
  • $23,694net price
  • 6%acceptance rate
  • 1490-1570SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance7%

Applications Due Jan 3

Compare Calculate my chances 
Vanderbilt University
Connect Me
V
Nashville, TN

Vanderbilt University

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

3.89 Average GPA

#14 Best Colleges in America

  • 13,710enrollment
  • $25,606net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1490-1570SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance9%

Applications Due Jan 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Johns Hopkins University
Connect Me
J
Baltimore, MD

Johns Hopkins University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

3.92 Average GPA

#10 Best Colleges in America

  • 31,275enrollment
  • $24,034net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1520-1570SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance8%

Applications Due Jan 3

Compare Calculate my chances 
The University of Alabama
Connect Me
A
Tuscaloosa, AL

The University of Alabama

Public 4 Year

7 reviews

3.76 Average GPA

#3 Best Colleges in Alabama

  • 38,644enrollment
  • $20,592net price
  • 80%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1410SAT range
  • 23-31ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance88%

Applications Due May 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Auburn University
Connect Me
A
Auburn University, AL

Auburn University

Public 4 Year

9 reviews

3.97 Average GPA

#1 Best Public Universities in Alabama

  • 31,764enrollment
  • $25,271net price
  • 44%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1380SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance46%

Applications Due Feb 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
University of Maryland College Park
Connect Me
M
College Park, MD

University of Maryland College Park

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

3.84 Estimated Average GPA

#13 Best Public Universities in America

  • 40,792enrollment
  • $16,210net price
  • 45%acceptance rate
  • 1360-1520SAT range
  • 30-34ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance54%

Compare Calculate my chances 
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Connect Me
N
Raleigh, NC

North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

3.83 Average GPA

#22 Best Public Universities in America

  • 36,700enrollment
  • $14,852net price
  • 47%acceptance rate
  • 1280-1460SAT range
  • 28-33ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance57%

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
University of Virginia Main Campus
Connect Me
V
Charlottesville, VA

University of Virginia Main Campus

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

3.85 Estimated Average GPA

#3 Best Public Universities in America

  • 26,082enrollment
  • $19,469net price
  • 19%acceptance rate
  • 1400-1540SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance25%

Compare Calculate my chances 
Georgia Institute of Technology Main Campus
Connect Me
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

Compare Calculate my chances 
Appalachian State University
Connect Me
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

Compare Calculate my chances 
Emory University
Connect Me
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

Compare Calculate my chances