Ohio Colleges for a 3.9 GPA

Ohio colleges that accept a 3.9 grade point average

What is a 3.9 GPA?

A 3.9 grade point average is a numerical representation of your course letter grades on a 4.0 scale. Your 3.9 GPA indicates you averaged A- grades in your classes and delivered excellent performance. The percent equivalent of a 3.9 grade point average is 92% on the percentage grading scale. This means that you scored an average of 92% on tests and assignments. GPA values for A- grades range from 3.7 to 3.9. Your 3.9 GPA positions you at the high end of the A- range, demonstrating you have earned almost perfect straight A's. Learn more about what the A- letter grade signifies.

Is a 3.9 GPA good?

A 3.9 is just short of the highest possible unweighted GPA of a 4.0. You've nearly earned straight A's throughout school, with only a few A-'s. Overall a 3.9 indicates consistently high level of academic performance. This near-perfect score positions you as a top candidate for scholarships, honors programs, and very competitive colleges.

What colleges can I get into with a 3.9 GPA?

Graduating with a high school GPA of 3.9 places you within of the academic range at Ohio colleges like Ohio State University, Miami University and University of Dayton. Based on incoming freshman GPA data for ohio schools, our analysis indicates that 12 colleges would consider your 3.9 GPA competitive. The most popular colleges, historically accepting students with GPAs within the range of 3.7 to 4.1 (3.9 +/- 0.2), are listed below. To view your chances of admission at each school, scroll down and explore the full list.

3.9 for Harvard and Ivy League

A 3.9 unweighted can definitely get you into Harvard or any Ivy League school. All of these universities have average GPA's in the 3.9 range. 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 extreme, even a 3.9 usually doesn't cut it.

Here are the average GPAs and estimated chances for admission with a 3.9 at Ivy League and other prestigious colleges and universities.

  • Harvard - 4.0 average GPA / 2.4% chance
  • Princeton - 3.93 average GPA / 3.7% chance
  • Yale - 3.95 average GPA / 4.5% chance
  • Penn - 3.95 average GPA / 5.4% chance
  • Dartmouth - 3.9 average GPA / 6.0% chance
  • Brown - 3.94 average GPA / 4.6% chance
  • Cornell - 3.9 average GPA / 8.0% chance
  • Columbia - 3.91 average GPA / 3.9% chance
  • Stanford - 3.96 average GPA / 3.5% chance
  • MIT - 3.96 average GPA / 4.4% chance
  • Caltech - 3.97 average GPA / 2.6% 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 3.9 GPA is typically eligible for the summa cum laude distinction.

3.9 GPA honor roll

Many high schools have honor rolls which are published to recognize students with consistently high performance. The qualifications for getting on the honor roll vary from school to school. Frequently, a high and standard honor roll is established with different criteria, sometimes for students above 3.0, 3.5 or 3.75 GPAs. In most cases a 3.9 will get you on the honor roll.

Demographic Statistics

Let's examine how a 3.9 GPA stacks up to the national high school averages across various demographic groups

Gender

  • Male: A 3.9 is 0.9 points (30%) higher than the average male student GPA of 3.0
  • Female: A 3.9 is 0.7 points (21%) higher than the average female student GPA of 3.23

Race/ethnicity

  • White: A 3.9 is 0.7 points (21%) higher than the average white student GPA of 3.23
  • Black: A 3.9 is 1.1 points (38%) higher than the average black student GPA of 2.83
  • Hispanic: A 3.9 is 0.9 points (32%) higher than the average Hispanic student GPA of 2.95
  • Asian/Pacific Islander: A 3.9 is 0.5 points (15%) 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)

How high can I still increase my 3.9 GPA?

The table below will help you see how high or low you can possibly change your GPA if you currently have a 3.9. As you progress in school it becomes more and more difficult to improve your overall grade point average. Select the tab and table column corresponding to the last semester you completed. Then find a row for your predicted future letter grade average. The result would be your GPA at graduation if you can maintain that letter grade.

Freshmen with a 3.9 after first semester can still possibly raise their GPA as high as a 3.99 or drop it to a 0.49. There is still a lot of time to change your GPA before graduation and it can vary by 3.50 grade points in the future.

Possible grades you can raise your 3.9 GPA to before graduation for freshmen
Future Grades 1st Semester Completed 2nd Semester Completed
A 3.99 3.98
A- 3.73 3.75
B+ 3.37 3.45
B 3.11 3.23
B- 2.85 3.00
C+ 2.50 2.70
C 2.24 2.48
C- 1.98 2.25
D+ 1.62 1.95
D 1.36 1.73
D- 1.10 1.50
F 0.49 0.97

Sophomores with a 3.9 after first semester can still raise their GPA as high as a 3.96 or see it fall to a 1.46. You have some time to change your GPA before graduation and it can vary by 2.50 grade points in the future.

Possible grades you can raise your 3.9 GPA to before graduation for sophomores
Future Grades 1st Semester Completed 2nd Semester Completed
A 3.96 3.95
A- 3.77 3.80
B+ 3.52 3.60
B 3.34 3.45
B- 3.15 3.30
C+ 2.90 3.10
C 2.71 2.95
C- 2.52 2.80
D+ 2.27 2.60
D 2.09 2.45
D- 1.90 2.30
F 1.46 1.95

Juniors with a 3.9 after first semester can still raise their GPA to a 3.94 or lower it to a 2.44. You have limited classes left to change your GPA before graduation and it can vary by 1.50 grade points in the future.

Possible grades you can raise your 3.9 GPA to before graduation for juniors
Future Grades 1st Semester Completed 2nd Semester Completed
A 3.94 3.92
A- 3.83 3.85
B+ 3.67 3.75
B 3.56 3.67
B- 3.45 3.60
C+ 3.30 3.50
C 3.19 3.42
C- 3.08 3.35
D+ 2.92 3.25
D 2.81 3.17
D- 2.70 3.10
F 2.44 2.92

After first semester senior year your GPA is fairly locked in. A 3.9 can be raised a 3.91 or slip to a 3.41. You have very little time to change your GPA before graduation and it can vary by 0.50 grade points at the most.

Possible grades you can raise your 3.9 GPA to before graduation for seniors
Future Grades 1st Semester Completed 2nd Semester Completed
A 3.91 3.90
A- 3.88 3.90
B+ 3.83 3.90
B 3.79 3.90
B- 3.75 3.90
C+ 3.70 3.90
C 3.66 3.90
C- 3.62 3.90
D+ 3.58 3.90
D 3.54 3.90
D- 3.50 3.90
F 3.41 3.90
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GPA 3.9 Ohio Public Private 4 year

12 results

List of 3.9 GPA Colleges

Displaying 12 colleges where your 3.9 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 36 target schools (good chance), 0 reach (harder) schools and 210 safety (easier) schools you can consider.

Ohio State University
O
Columbus, OH

Ohio State University

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

3.76 Estimated Average GPA

#1 Best Public Universities in Ohio

  • 60,046enrollment
  • $19,575net price
  • 51%acceptance rate
  • 1330-1480SAT range
  • 29-32ACT range
Your 3.9 GPA
Admission Chance59%

Applications Due Feb 1

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Miami University
M
Oxford, OH

Miami University

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

3.85 Average GPA

#2 Best Public Universities in Ohio

  • 18,618enrollment
  • $27,928net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1380SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
Your 3.9 GPA
Admission Chance84%

Applications Due Feb 1

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University of Dayton
D
Dayton, OH

University of Dayton

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

3.77 Average GPA

#6 Best Private Colleges in Ohio

  • 11,304enrollment
  • $31,551net price
  • 62%acceptance rate
  • 1195-1370SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
Your 3.9 GPA
Admission Chance69%

Applications Due Feb 1

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Case Western Reserve University
C
Cleveland, OH

Case Western Reserve University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

3.86 Estimated Average GPA

#1 Best Private Colleges in Ohio

  • 12,266enrollment
  • $41,351net price
  • 29%acceptance rate
  • 1430-1540SAT range
  • 32-35ACT range
Your 3.9 GPA
Admission Chance31%

Applications Due Jan 15

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Denison University
D
Granville, OH

Denison University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

3.76 Estimated Average GPA

#3 Best Colleges in Ohio

  • 2,405enrollment
  • $42,177net price
  • 17%acceptance rate
  • 1300-1470SAT range
  • 29-32ACT range
Your 3.9 GPA
Admission Chance22%

Applications Due Jan 15

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Kenyon College
K
Gambier, OH

Kenyon College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

3.84 Estimated Average GPA

#2 Best Colleges in Ohio

  • 2,184enrollment
  • $44,470net price
  • 31%acceptance rate
  • 1360-1500SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
Your 3.9 GPA
Admission Chance34%

Applications Due Jan 15

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The College of Wooster
W
Wooster, OH

The College of Wooster

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

3.76 Average GPA

#1 Best Value Colleges in Ohio

  • 1,876enrollment
  • $29,529net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 1250-1450SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
Your 3.9 GPA
Admission Chance62%

Applications Due Feb 15

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Baldwin Wallace College
B
Berea, OH

Baldwin Wallace College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

3.7 Average GPA

#10 Best Private Colleges in Ohio

  • 3,308enrollment
  • $28,190net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1285SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
Your 3.9 GPA
Admission Chance84%

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Ohio Northern University
O
Ada, OH

Ohio Northern University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

3.78 Average GPA

#7 Best Private Colleges in Ohio

  • 3,042enrollment
  • $26,396net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 1173-1376SAT range
  • 25-29ACT range
Your 3.9 GPA
Admission Chance78%

Applications Due Aug 15

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Cedarville University
C
Cedarville, OH

Cedarville University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

3.9 Average GPA

#11 Best Private Colleges in Ohio

  • 5,374enrollment
  • $27,047net price
  • 63%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1360SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
Your 3.9 GPA
Admission Chance63%

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The University of Findlay
F
Findlay, OH

The University of Findlay

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

3.7 Average GPA

#16 Best Private Colleges in Ohio

  • 5,057enrollment
  • $26,215net price
  • 86%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1213SAT range
  • 19-26ACT range
Your 3.9 GPA
Admission Chance91%

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Franciscan University of Steubenville
F
Steubenville, OH

Franciscan University of Steubenville

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

3.78 Average GPA

#20 Best Private Colleges in Ohio

  • 3,750enrollment
  • $24,490net price
  • 72%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1290SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
Your 3.9 GPA
Admission Chance77%

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