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)

View Colleges

Colleges By Region

Change GPA

Explore colleges for other GPAs

-1 +1
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.

Mercer University
Connect Me
M
Macon, GA

Mercer University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

3.98 Average GPA

#2 Best Value Colleges in Georgia

  • 8,889enrollment
  • $22,087net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 1190-1360SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance76%

Applications Due Jul 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Tufts University
Connect Me
T
Medford, MA

Tufts University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

3.91 Estimated Average GPA

#6 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 13,431enrollment
  • $30,479net price
  • 10%acceptance rate
  • 1450-1550SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance12%

Applications Due Jan 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Davidson College
Connect Me
D
Davidson, NC

Davidson College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

3.81 Average GPA

#2 Best Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,927enrollment
  • $26,704net price
  • 17%acceptance rate
  • 1350-1500SAT range
  • 31-33ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance24%

Applications Due Jan 7

Compare Calculate my chances 
Nova Southeastern University
Connect Me
N
Fort Lauderdale, FL

Nova Southeastern University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

3.99 Average GPA

#8 Best Private Colleges in Florida

  • 20,948enrollment
  • $29,589net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1310SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance76%

Compare Calculate my chances 
University of Connecticut
Connect Me
C
Storrs, CT

University of Connecticut

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

3.74 Estimated Average GPA

#12 Best Public Universities in America

  • 27,003enrollment
  • $23,985net price
  • 55%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1440SAT range
  • 28-33ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance69%

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
Virginia Commonwealth University
Connect Me
V
Richmond, VA

Virginia Commonwealth University

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

3.75 Average GPA

#9 Best Public Universities in Virginia

  • 28,082enrollment
  • $21,294net price
  • 91%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1290SAT range
  • 22-30ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance95%

Applications Due Jan 18

Compare Calculate my chances 
Rhode Island School of Design
Connect Me
R
Providence, RI

Rhode Island School of Design

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

3.71 Estimated Average GPA

#2 Best Colleges in Rhode Island

  • 2,620enrollment
  • $39,800net price
  • 17%acceptance rate
  • 1340-1525SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance29%

Applications Due Feb 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
University of North Florida
Connect Me
N
Jacksonville, FL

University of North Florida

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

3.89 Average GPA

#6 Best Public Universities in Florida

  • 16,406enrollment
  • $11,338net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1210SAT range
  • 18-25ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance76%

Compare Calculate my chances 
California Institute of Technology
Connect Me
C
Pasadena, CA

California Institute of Technology

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

3.97 Estimated Average GPA

#5 Best Colleges in America

  • 2,401enrollment
  • $20,755net price
  • 3%acceptance rate
  • 1530-1580SAT range
  • 35-36ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance3%

Applications Due Jan 3

Compare Calculate my chances 
Emerson College
Connect Me
E
Boston, MA

Emerson College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

3.73 Average GPA

#21 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 5,891enrollment
  • $51,432net price
  • 43%acceptance rate
  • 1250-1430SAT range
  • 30-32ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance59%

Applications Due Feb 20

Compare Calculate my chances 
Belmont University
Connect Me
B
Nashville, TN

Belmont University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

3.83 Average GPA

#6 Best Private Colleges in Tennessee

  • 8,910enrollment
  • $36,225net price
  • 96%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1340SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance97%

Applications Due Jul 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
University of Denver
Connect Me
D
Denver, CO

University of Denver

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

3.72 Average GPA

#2 Best Colleges in Colorado

  • 13,734enrollment
  • $42,423net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1400SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance87%

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
Colgate University
Connect Me
C
Hamilton, NY

Colgate University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

3.77 Average GPA

#3 Best Colleges in New York

  • 3,141enrollment
  • $27,074net price
  • 12%acceptance rate
  • 1410-1530SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance19%

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
Lehigh University
Connect Me
L
Bethlehem, PA

Lehigh University

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

3.81 Estimated Average GPA

#5 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 7,394enrollment
  • $30,453net price
  • 37%acceptance rate
  • 1340-1490SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance48%

Applications Due Jan 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Pomona College
Connect Me
P
Claremont, CA

Pomona College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

3.89 Estimated Average GPA

#21 Best Colleges in America

  • 1,716enrollment
  • $19,962net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1480-1560SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance9%

Applications Due Jan 8

Compare Calculate my chances 
University of Rochester
Connect Me
R
Rochester, NY

University of Rochester

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

3.75 Average GPA

#10 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 12,197enrollment
  • $39,775net price
  • 39%acceptance rate
  • 1390-1540SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance54%

Applications Due Jan 5

Compare Calculate my chances 
Northern Arizona University
Connect Me
N
Flagstaff, AZ

Northern Arizona University

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

3.7 Average GPA

 

  • 28,086enrollment
  • $17,115net price
  • 80%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance89%

Applications Due Aug 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Washington University in St Louis
Connect Me
W
Saint Louis, MO

Washington University in St Louis

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

3.92 Estimated Average GPA

#20 Best Colleges in America

  • 17,012enrollment
  • $23,432net price
  • 12%acceptance rate
  • 1500-1570SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance14%

Applications Due Jan 4

Compare Calculate my chances