Colleges for a 4.0 GPA

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 colleges like Harvard University, Stanford University and University of Florida. Based on incoming freshman GPA data for U.S. schools, our analysis indicates that 294 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 Public Private 4 year

294 results nationwide

List of 4.0 GPA Colleges

Displaying 294 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. Hint: Filter by admission chance for 525 target schools (good chance), 138 reach (harder) schools and 4,500 safety (easier) schools you can consider.

Boston College
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B
Chestnut Hill, MA

Boston College

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

3.86 Estimated Average GPA

#7 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 15,287enrollment
  • $30,559net price
  • 17%acceptance rate
  • 1435-1540SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance22%

Applications Due Jan 1

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Brown University
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B
Providence, RI

Brown University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

3.94 Estimated Average GPA

#11 Best Colleges in America

  • 11,189enrollment
  • $26,723net price
  • 5%acceptance rate
  • 1490-1580SAT range
  • 34-36ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance6%

Applications Due Jan 5

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University of Oregon
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O
Eugene, OR

University of Oregon

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

3.73 Average GPA

#1 Best Public Universities in Oregon

  • 23,163enrollment
  • $22,077net price
  • 86%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1370SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance92%

Applications Due Jan 15

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Indiana University Bloomington
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I
Bloomington, IN

Indiana University Bloomington

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

3.74 Average GPA

#2 Best Public Universities in Indiana

  • 47,005enrollment
  • $16,234net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 1180-1400SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance89%

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Stony Brook University
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S
Stony Brook, NY

Stony Brook University

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

3.94 Average GPA

#25 Best Public Universities in America

  • 25,710enrollment
  • $17,213net price
  • 49%acceptance rate
  • 1320-1500SAT range
  • 28-34ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance53%

Applications Due Jan 15

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Iowa State University
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I
Ames, IA

Iowa State University

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

3.7 Average GPA

#2 Best Public Universities in Iowa

  • 29,969enrollment
  • $15,310net price
  • 90%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1350SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance95%

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SUNY at Binghamton
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B
Vestal, NY

SUNY at Binghamton

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

4.0 Average GPA

#23 Best Public Universities in America

  • 18,312enrollment
  • $19,535net price
  • 42%acceptance rate
  • 1340-1510SAT range
  • 29-34ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance42%

Applications Due Jan 15

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University of Massachusetts Amherst
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M
Amherst, MA

University of Massachusetts Amherst

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

3.99 Average GPA

#1 Best Public Universities in Massachusetts

  • 32,229enrollment
  • $22,291net price
  • 64%acceptance rate
  • 1260-1480SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance65%

Applications Due Jan 15

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Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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M
Cambridge, MA

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

3.96 Estimated Average GPA

#8 Best Colleges in America

  • 11,858enrollment
  • $20,232net price
  • 4%acceptance rate
  • 1530-1580SAT range
  • 35-36ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance4%

Applications Due Jan 1

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Northeastern University
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N
Boston, MA

Northeastern University

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

3.91 Estimated Average GPA

#16 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 30,013enrollment
  • $35,827net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1440-1550SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance9%

Applications Due Jan 1

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Columbia University in the City of New York
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C
New York, NY

Columbia University in the City of New York

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

3.91 Estimated Average GPA

#22 Best Colleges in America

  • 34,782enrollment
  • $22,058net price
  • 4%acceptance rate
  • 1490-1580SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance5%

Applications Due Jan 1

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United States Air Force Academy
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A
USAFA, Colorado

United States Air Force Academy

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

3.81 Average GPA

 

  • 4,085enrollment
  • -net price
  • 16%acceptance rate
  • 1310-1480SAT range
  • 28-33ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance23%

Applications Due Dec 31

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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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University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
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I
Champaign, IL

University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

3.79 Estimated Average GPA

#18 Best Public Universities in America

  • 56,916enrollment
  • $14,544net price
  • 45%acceptance rate
  • 1320-1510SAT range
  • 29-34ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance57%

Applications Due Jan 5

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University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
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P
Pittsburgh, PA

University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

3.79 Estimated Average GPA

#24 Best Public Universities in America

  • 33,767enrollment
  • $24,286net price
  • 49%acceptance rate
  • 1280-1470SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance61%

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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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Loyola Marymount University
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L
Los Angeles, CA

Loyola Marymount University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

3.92 Average GPA

#8 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 10,165enrollment
  • $52,815net price
  • 41%acceptance rate
  • 1300-1460SAT range
  • 29-32ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance46%

Applications Due Jan 15

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University of San Diego
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S
San Diego, CA

University of San Diego

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

3.95 Average GPA

 

  • 8,815enrollment
  • $36,008net price
  • 53%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance56%

Applications Due Dec 15

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