Ohio Colleges for a 3.5 GPA

With a 3.5 GPA, you are competitive at 80 four-year colleges in Ohio (33 target, 10 reach, 37 safety). A 3.5 is typically a A- (~88%) on a common grading scale.

Colleges in Ohio for a 3.5 GPA

Target Schools (Competitive Chance of Admission)

Target schools have average GPAs near 3.5 - your grades fit squarely in the admitted pool.

College	Avg GPA	Acceptance Rate	Your Chance
University of Cincinnati Main Campus Cincinnati, OH	3.69	85%	Medium
Xavier University Cincinnati, OH	3.68	86%	Medium
Ohio University Main Campus Athens, OH	3.59	85%	Medium
Oberlin College Oberlin, OH	3.67	34%	Medium
Kent State University at Kent Kent, OH	3.61	86%	Medium
Bowling Green State University Main Campus Bowling Green, OH	3.6	81%	Medium
University of Toledo Toledo, OH	3.56	92%	Medium
Cleveland State University Cleveland, OH	3.31	91%	Medium
John Carroll University University Heights, OH	3.66	81%	Medium
University of Akron Main Campus Akron, OH	3.47	60%	Medium
Youngstown State University Youngstown, OH	3.51	84%	Medium
Otterbein University Westerville, OH	3.66	85%	Medium

View all 33 target colleges

Reach Schools (Lower Admission Chance)

Reach schools typically enroll students with higher average GPAs; admission is possible but more competitive.

College	Avg GPA	Acceptance Rate	Your Chance
Ohio State University Main Campus Columbus, OH	3.76	61%	Low
Miami University Oxford Oxford, OH	3.85	75%	Low
University of Dayton Dayton, OH	3.77	65%	Low
Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, OH	3.86	37%	Low
Denison University Granville, OH	3.76	17%	Low
Kenyon College Gambier, OH	3.84	31%	Low
The College of Wooster Wooster, OH	3.76	60%	Low
Ohio Northern University Ada, OH	3.78	74%	Low
Cedarville University Cedarville, OH	3.9	65%	Low
Franciscan University of Steubenville Steubenville, OH	3.78	58%	Low

Safety Schools (Very High Chance of Admission)

Safety schools have average GPAs well below 3.5; you have a very high chance of acceptance.

College	Avg GPA	Acceptance Rate	Your Chance
Central State University Wilberforce, OH	2.8	99%	High
University of Northwestern Ohio Lima, OH	2.86	100%	High
Franklin University Columbus, OH	-	100%	High
Wright State University Lake Campus Celina, OH	3.27	100%	High
Hiram College Hiram, OH	3.28	94%	High
Tiffin University Tiffin, OH	3.11	80%	High
Kent State University at Stark North Canton, OH	3.16	100%	High
Lake Erie College Painesville, OH	3.19	70%	High
Allegheny Wesleyan College Salem, OH	-	100%	High
Shawnee State University Portsmouth, OH	3.3	100%	High
Miami University Hamilton Hamilton, OH	3.23	100%	High
Ohio State University Lima Campus Lima, OH	-	100%	High

View all 37 safety colleges

View the full list of colleges that accept a 3.5 GPA in Ohio

See all colleges nationally for a 3.5 GPA

Published: August 19, 2026