Western Colleges for a 4.0 GPA

Western 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 Western colleges like Stanford University, University of California Los Angeles and University of Southern California. Based on incoming freshman GPA data for Western schools, our analysis indicates that 45 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

Change GPA

Explore colleges for other GPAs

-1 +1
GPA 4.0 West Public Private 4 year

45 results

List of 4.0 GPA Colleges

Displaying 45 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 75 target schools (good chance), 24 reach (harder) schools and 633 safety (easier) schools you can consider.

Brigham Young University Provo
Connect Me
B
Provo, UT

Brigham Young University Provo

Private 4 Year

15 reviews

3.89 Average GPA

#1 Best Private Colleges in Utah

  • 34,464enrollment
  • $13,521net price
  • 67%acceptance rate
  • 1280-1468SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance72%

Applications Due Dec 16

Compare Calculate my chances 
University of California Riverside
Connect Me
C
Riverside, CA

University of California Riverside

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

3.84 Average GPA

#9 Best Public Universities in California

  • 26,809enrollment
  • $14,487net price
  • 69%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1280SAT range
  • 22-31ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance76%

Applications Due Nov 30

Compare Calculate my chances 
Chapman University
Connect Me
C
Orange, CA

Chapman University

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

3.7 Average GPA

#10 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 10,014enrollment
  • $45,033net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 1200-1400SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance85%

Applications Due Jan 15

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 
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 
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 
Azusa Pacific University
Connect Me
A
Azusa, CA
 

Azusa Pacific University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

3.74 Average GPA

#18 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 7,169enrollment
  • $26,666net price
  • 87%acceptance rate
  • 980-1240SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance92%

Applications Due Jun 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Colorado School of Mines
Connect Me
C
Golden, CO

Colorado School of Mines

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

3.84 Average GPA

#1 Best Public Universities in Colorado

  • 7,403enrollment
  • $29,425net price
  • 58%acceptance rate
  • 1330-1488SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance67%

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
University of Redlands
Connect Me
R
Redlands, CA

University of Redlands

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

3.74 Average GPA

#16 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 3,460enrollment
  • $28,157net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 1113-1278SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance89%

Applications Due Jul 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Reed College
Connect Me
R
Portland, OR

Reed College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

4.0 Average GPA

#1 Best Value in Oregon

  • 1,534enrollment
  • $33,106net price
  • 31%acceptance rate
  • 1320-1500SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance31%

Compare Calculate my chances 
Harvey Mudd College
Connect Me
H
Claremont, CA

Harvey Mudd College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

3.96 Estimated Average GPA

 

  • 922enrollment
  • $39,850net price
  • 13%acceptance rate
  • 1480-1560SAT range
  • 34-36ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance14%

Applications Due Jan 5

Compare Calculate my chances 
Claremont McKenna College
Connect Me
C
Claremont, CA

Claremont McKenna College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

3.89 Estimated Average GPA

#18 Best Colleges in America

  • 1,389enrollment
  • $28,701net price
  • 10%acceptance rate
  • 1440-1550SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance13%

Applications Due Jan 5

Compare Calculate my chances 
Scripps College
Connect Me
S
Claremont, CA

Scripps College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

4.0 Average GPA

#6 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 1,099enrollment
  • $43,923net price
  • 28%acceptance rate
  • 1390-1510SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance28%

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
Lewis & Clark College
Connect Me
L
Portland, OR

Lewis & Clark College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

3.95 Average GPA

#3 Best Colleges in Oregon

  • 3,595enrollment
  • $35,832net price
  • 69%acceptance rate
  • 1260-1400SAT range
  • 29-32ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance71%

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
California Lutheran University
Connect Me
C
Thousand Oaks, CA

California Lutheran University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

3.73 Average GPA

#22 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 3,615enrollment
  • $30,416net price
  • 87%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1320SAT range
  • 26-30ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance93%

Applications Due Jan 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Willamette University
Connect Me
W
Salem, OR

Willamette University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

3.97 Average GPA

 

  • 1,909enrollment
  • $32,957net price
  • 81%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance82%

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
Colorado College
Connect Me
C
Colorado Springs, CO

Colorado College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

3.98 Average GPA

#1 Best Value in Colorado

  • 2,203enrollment
  • $33,178net price
  • 16%acceptance rate
  • 1260-1480SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance17%

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
Soka University of America
Connect Me
S
Aliso Viejo, CA

Soka University of America

Private 4 Year

18 reviews

3.7 Average GPA

 

  • 455enrollment
  • $17,928net price
  • 57%acceptance rate
  • 1240-1440SAT range
  • -ACT range
Your 4.0 GPA
Admission Chance73%

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances