Colleges for a 3.5 GPA

What colleges will likely accept a 3.5 grade point average?

Is a 3.5 good?

Yes, a 3.5 is well above the the average U.S. high school GPA of 3.0 and demonstrates that you are a serious A level student, well prepared for many top colleges and universities. There are many large four-year colleges to choose from where a 3.5 is well within the typical GPA range of accepted students and you will find yourself a strong applicant. While a 3.5 is low for highly selective colleges, it offers you a chance at many of the more selective schools in the U.S.

What is a 3.5 GPA?

A 3.5 is equal to a 90% on the standard U.S. high school unweighted 4.0 scale. The letter grade equivalent of a 3.5 is a B+ average.

What colleges can I get into?

Graduating with a high school GPA of 3.5 places you within of the academic range at these colleges. CollegeSimply has analyzed the incoming freshman grade point averages for a large portion of U.S. schools and selected 719 colleges where students have a competitive chance of getting in with a 3.5. Here are some of the top ranked colleges which have historically accepted students in the 3.5 range plus or minus .3 points. Scroll down further to explore, search, sort and filter the full list.

Best ranked colleges for a 3.5 GPA
CollegeAverage GPA
Johns Hopkins University3.74
Vanderbilt University3.76
Emory University3.8
Colgate University3.64
University of Southern California3.73
New York University3.6
Vassar College3.8
Trinity College3.8
Skidmore College3.75
Carnegie Mellon University3.69
Santa Clara University3.66
University of Rochester3.8
Yeshiva University3.51
Lafayette College3.46
Loyola Marymount University3.72
GPA 3.5 Public Private 4 year

719 results nationwide

List of 3.5 GPA Colleges

Displaying 719 colleges where your 3.5 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. Hint: Filter by admission chance for 1,806 target schools (good chance), 210 reach (harder) schools and 1,156 safety (easier) schools you can consider.

The University of Texas at Austin
T
Austin, TX
The University of Texas at Austin

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

3.8 Average GPA (estimated)

#14 Best Public Universities in America

  • 51,832enrollment
  • $15,502net price
  • 32%acceptance rate
  • 1230-1480SAT range
  • 27-33ACT range
Your 3.5 GPA
Admission Chance19%
Compare Calculate my chances 
University of Southern California
S
Los Angeles, CA
University of Southern California

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

3.73 Average GPA

#5 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 47,310enrollment
  • $37,521net price
  • 11%acceptance rate
  • 1360-1530SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
Your 3.5 GPA
Admission Chance7%
Compare Calculate my chances 
Arizona State University
A
Tempe, AZ
Arizona State University

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

3.42 Average GPA

#1 Best Value in Arizona

  • 51,585enrollment
  • $14,081net price
  • 86%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1360SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
Your 3.5 GPA
Admission Chance88%
Compare Calculate my chances 
Penn State Main Campus
P
University Park, PA
Penn State Main Campus

Public 4 Year

10 reviews

3.59 Average GPA

#2 Best Public Universities in Pennsylvania

  • 46,810enrollment
  • $24,724net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1310SAT range
  • 23-30ACT range
Your 3.5 GPA
Admission Chance72%
Compare Calculate my chances 
New York University
Yes, connect me!
N
New York, NY
New York University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

3.6 Average GPA

#6 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 51,847enrollment
  • $37,739net price
  • 16%acceptance rate
  • 1350-1530SAT range
  • 30-34ACT range
Your 3.5 GPA
Admission Chance13%
Compare Calculate my chances 
Vanderbilt University
Yes, connect me!
V
Nashville, TN
Vanderbilt University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

3.76 Average GPA

#14 Best Colleges in America

  • 12,824enrollment
  • $25,855net price
  • 9%acceptance rate
  • 1460-1560SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
Your 3.5 GPA
Admission Chance5%
Compare Calculate my chances 
Michigan State University
Yes, connect me!
S
East Lansing, MI
Michigan State University

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

3.62 Average GPA

#2 Best Colleges in Michigan

  • 50,351enrollment
  • $16,579net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1320SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
Your 3.5 GPA
Admission Chance65%
Compare Calculate my chances 
Johns Hopkins University
Yes, connect me!
J
Baltimore, MD
Johns Hopkins University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

3.74 Average GPA

#12 Best Colleges in America

  • 26,152enrollment
  • $28,999net price
  • 11%acceptance rate
  • 1460-1560SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
Your 3.5 GPA
Admission Chance7%
Compare Calculate my chances 
The University of Alabama
A
Tuscaloosa, AL
The University of Alabama

Public 4 Year

7 reviews

3.6 Average GPA

#2 Best Value Colleges in Alabama

  • 38,390enrollment
  • $20,623net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1340SAT range
  • 23-31ACT range
Your 3.5 GPA
Admission Chance79%
Compare Calculate my chances 
San Diego State University
S
San Diego, CA
San Diego State University

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

3.6 Average GPA

#10 Best Public Universities in California

  • 35,303enrollment
  • $14,499net price
  • 34%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1320SAT range
  • 22-29ACT range
Your 3.5 GPA
Admission Chance29%
Compare Calculate my chances 
Boston University
Yes, connect me!
B
Boston, MA
Boston University

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

3.59 Average GPA

#8 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 34,657enrollment
  • $29,479net price
  • 19%acceptance rate
  • 1340-1510SAT range
  • 30-34ACT range
Your 3.5 GPA
Admission Chance16%
Compare Calculate my chances 
Auburn University
A
Auburn University, AL
Auburn University

Public 4 Year

8 reviews

3.74 Average GPA

#1 Best Public Universities in Alabama

  • 30,440enrollment
  • $23,562net price
  • 81%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1320SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
Your 3.5 GPA
Admission Chance71%
Compare Calculate my chances 
Ohio State University
Yes, connect me!
O
Columbus, OH
Ohio State University

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

3.76 Average GPA (estimated)

#1 Best Public Universities in Ohio

  • 61,170enrollment
  • $18,706net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 1250-1460SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
Your 3.5 GPA
Admission Chance39%
Compare Calculate my chances 
Baylor University
B
Waco, TX
Baylor University

Private 4 Year

7 reviews

3.74 Average GPA (estimated)

#5 Best Private Colleges in Texas

  • 17,217enrollment
  • $38,372net price
  • 45%acceptance rate
  • 1200-1380SAT range
  • 26-32ACT range
Your 3.5 GPA
Admission Chance32%
Compare Calculate my chances 
University of Washington Seattle Campus
W
Seattle, WA
University of Washington Seattle Campus

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

3.75 Average GPA

#7 Best Public Universities in America

  • 47,400enrollment
  • $10,692net price
  • 52%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1470SAT range
  • 27-33ACT range
Your 3.5 GPA
Admission Chance38%
Compare Calculate my chances 
University of Kentucky
K
Lexington, KY
University of Kentucky

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

3.46 Average GPA

#2 Best Public Universities in Kentucky

  • 29,182enrollment
  • $18,958net price
  • 96%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1320SAT range
  • 22-29ACT range
Your 3.5 GPA
Admission Chance96%
Compare Calculate my chances 
Purdue University Main Campus
P
West Lafayette, IN
Purdue University Main Campus

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

3.7 Average GPA

#15 Best Public Universities in America

  • 44,474enrollment
  • $12,684net price
  • 60%acceptance rate
  • 1190-1440SAT range
  • 25-32ACT range
Your 3.5 GPA
Admission Chance48%
Compare Calculate my chances 
Texas A & M University College Station
T
College Station, TX
Texas A & M University College Station

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

3.68 Average GPA (estimated)

#21 Best Public Universities in America

  • 68,679enrollment
  • $19,237net price
  • 58%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1390SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
Your 3.5 GPA
Admission Chance47%
Compare Calculate my chances