Do you have a 3.7 GPA? Are you wondering whether a 3.7 is good, and what colleges you can get into with a 3.7?
We've written the most detailed guide to your GPA here:
- Find out which colleges you can get into with a 3.7 GPA.
- Learn how you can raise your GPA.
- Learn what you should be doing to maximize your chances of getting into the best colleges.
Quick disclaimer: unlike standardized test scores like SAT/ACT, GPA policies vary from high school to high school and from college to college. Some use weighted GPAs and others use unweighted GPAs. In this guide, we’ll generally talk about unweighted GPAs and compare you on a national and college level.
As we'll explain below, the actual GPA number is just one dimension of your coursework. The difficulty of your courseload is important - the more difficult your classes, the more colleges are willing to excuse a dip in GPA.
Finally, even though this guide focuses on a 3.7 GPA, our advice is the same for close GPAs, like 3.72 and 3.68 GPAs. You can use this guide for all GPAs between 3.6500000000000004 and 3.74.
Is a 3.7 GPA good?
A 3.7 GPA is a very good GPA, especially if your school uses an unweighted scale. This means that you've been earning mostly A-s in all of your classes. If you've been taking high level classes and earning a 3.7 unweighted GPA, you're in great shape and can expect to be accepted to many selective colleges.
We've analyzed the student profiles at 1500+ colleges across the United States and the average GPA of its incoming students. Here's how a 3.7 GPA compares to the nation:
-
Percentile:
88th
88.53% of schools have an average GPA below a 3.7.
-
Competitive For:
1389 Schools
You can apply to colleges and have a good shot at getting admitted.
-
Missing Out On:
180 Schools
You have a low chance of getting into with a 3.7 GPA.
To elaborate, the national average for GPA is around a 3.0, so a 3.7 puts you above average nationally. Keep in mind the 3.0 national average represents all students, not just students applying to college, so the average GPA of students admitted to colleges is higher than the national average.
Here's more custom advice for you if you have a 3.7 GPA. Click your grade level to see our evaluation.
You still have a ways to go before you apply to college, but your current GPA means that you're off to a good start. If you manage to maintain this GPA, you'll have access to many options in the college application process. Over the next couple years, you might even be able to widen your range of choices by taking more difficult classes and maintaining responsible study habits. GPA has the potential to change significantly between freshman and senior year, so keep up the effort! Freshman year is a little early to be thinking about where you want to go to college, but if you do happen to have any schools in mind, you should search for them in the next section. You can get an idea of what your chances of admission might look like with your current GPA.
After sophomore year, your GPA becomes much more difficult to change. Luckily, your GPA is high enough at this point that you shouldn't have any trouble getting into selective colleges if it ends up staying the same between now and senior fall. A 3.7 GPA will give you many options in the college application process, but keep in mind that you still have room for improvement during your junior year. If you have any schools in mind right now, you can search for them in the next section to check your chances of admission with your current GPA.
If you currently have a 3.7 GPA, you will probably end up applying to college with the same GPA or one that's slightly lower or higher. With a 3.7, you should be able to get into a wide variety of schools as long as you were enrolled in challenging courses throughout most of high school. You'll still be missing out on the most selective colleges, but overall you're in very good shape. At this point you may already have some schools in mind where you plan on applying. Search for them with our tool in the next section to get an estimate of your chances of admission with your current GPA and test scores.
As a senior, you should expect to apply to college with your current GPA (if you haven't applied already!). A 3.7 gives you many options in the college application process. Though you'll have a tough time getting into highly selective schools, you will be able to access a wide variety of other relatively competitive institutions. You most likely have already chosen the schools where you plan on applying, so you can look them up in the next section to see whether you have a good shot at getting in.
Your Chances With a 3.7 GPA
This is probably the biggest question on your mind. What colleges can you get into with a 3.7? What are your chances of admission at your top choice schools?
We've built a custom admissions calculator that calculates your chances based on the 3 most important factors to determining your chance of admissions:
- The school's admission rate
- Your GPA
- Your SAT/ACT score
Here's how to use this calculator:
- Choose the SAT or the ACT, depending on which you're taking
- Choose your current SAT/ACT score
- Enter the name of each college you're interested in
- Change your SAT/ACT score to see how your chances change
How would your chances improve with a better score?
Try to take your current SAT score and add 160 points (or take your ACT score and add 4 points) to the calculator above. See how much your chances improve?
This is important when you're considering your GPA. You probably know how hard it is to pull up your grades and GPA. If you improve your SAT/ACT score, you'll be able to show colleges that you're academically prepared for college.
At PrepScholar, we've created the leading online SAT/ACT prep program. We guarantee an improvement of 160 SAT points or 4 ACT points on your score, or your money back.
Here's a summary of why we're so much more effective than other prep programs:
- PrepScholar customizes your prep to your strengths and weaknesses. You don't waste time working on areas you already know, so you get more results in less time.
- We guide you through your program step-by-step so that you're never confused about what you should be studying. Focus all your time learning, not worrying about what to learn.
- Our team is made of national SAT/ACT experts. PrepScholar's founders are Harvard graduates and SAT perfect scorers. You'll be studying using the strategies that actually worked for them.
- We've gotten tremendous results with thousands of students across the country. Read about our score results and reviews from our happy customers.
There's a lot more to PrepScholar that makes it the best SAT/ACT prep program. Click to learn more about our program, or sign up for our 5-day free trial to check out PrepScholar for yourself:
Can You Improve Your GPA?
We’re not going to sugarcoat it: GPAs aren’t easy to improve. The later you are in high school, the less your GPA will change before you apply to college.
For example, if you're currently a junior in high school, your grades in freshman and sophomore year will anchor your GPA so that your junior grades won't be able to change your total GPA much.
Here's a calculator for you to see how much your GPA can improve in different cases. Choose your current grade level, and then choose your future grades up until college applications. We'll show you how high or low your GPA can be, depending on your grades from now forward.
| Your Grade Level | Current GPA | Semesters Remaining | Future Grades | GPA for Applications |
3.7 |
0 | 3.7 |
Warning: Because you have no semesters left, your GPA won't change by the time college applications are due. You'll need to apply with a 3.7 GPA. As we explain next, your best chance at improving your chances of getting in may be to improve your SAT/ACT score.
Final Verdict and Advice
Taking all the information above into account, it's safe to say that your GPA is very good for a freshman. Keep in mind that you still have room for improvement though, especially if your school uses a weighted GPA scale. Taking more difficult classes and earning high grades will boost your chances of acceptance at selective schools and give you even more options for college. Right now, you should look at the next couple years as opportunities to really challenge yourself and show coleges what you're made of. Overall, it looks like you're on the right track to become a competitive applicant at most schools in the country. Good work so far!
If you looked up some colleges using our search tool, you know that your GPA gives you a good chance of admission at most schools in the country. Since you still have another year left before you apply, you should think about pushing yourself to the next level. Your GPA can still improve, especially if your schools uses a weighted scale that goes up higher than a 4.0. Taking more difficult classes your junior year will show colleges that you're serious about your intellectual growth.
Sophomore year is also when you might begin thinking about standardized tests. It's a good idea to plan on taking the SAT or ACT your junior fall so that you have plenty of time to retake it if you aren't happy with your scores. A fairly high GPA combined with impressive standardized test scores will go a long way towards getting your into your top choice colleges!
Overall, it seems like you're in pretty good shape. Your GPA is high enough that you will have a good shot at being accepted to most colleges, and it's unlikely to change much between now and when you apply next year. At this stage in high school, you should be focusing on standardized tests. If your test scores are great, you'll have even more options for college. You may have already taken the SAT or ACT, but if you feel that you can improve it's a good idea to take the test again your junior spring. You can also retake it your senior fall, although it's better to have it out of the way before you have to deal with college applications. Your GPA combined with high test scores will allow you to find lots of options for college that fit with your preferences.
Your hard work throughout high school has made you a strong candidate in the college application process. At this stage in the game, you're either working on applications or have already sent them in to schools. As long as you apply to a wide range of colleges and give yourself a few solid options, you should have no problem with getting into a school that you like. If you think you stand a chance at improving your SAT or ACT scores, remember that at most schools you can still send in scores after you've submitted your applications. You may be able to take the test again before your scores are final. Otherwise, you can focus on finishing your applications and preparing for the decision making process in the spring!
Download our free guide on the top 5 strategies you must be using to improve your score. This guide was written by Harvard graduates and SAT perfect scorers. If you apply the strategies in this guide, you'll study smarter and make huge score improvements.
Download our free guide on the top 5 strategies you must be using to improve your score. This guide was written by Harvard graduates and ACT perfect scorers. If you apply the strategies in this guide, you'll study smarter and make huge score improvements.
Colleges that Accept a 3.7 GPA
We've picked out a set of schools that are within range. Click on each school to learn more about it.
Reach Schools: Harder to Get Into
These schools are hard for you to get into now, because their average GPA is higher than a 3.7. But if you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll have a much better shot.
| School Name | Location | SAT | ACT | GPA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Chicago | Chicago, IL | 1520 | 34 | 4 |
| Princeton University | Princeton, NJ | 1518 | 34 | 3.95 |
| Carnegie Mellon University | Pittsburgh, PA | 1510 | 34 | 3.9 |
| University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia, PA | 1500 | 34 | 3.9 |
| New York University | New York, NY | 1455 | 34 | 3.8 |
| Boston College | Chestnut Hill, MA | 1435 | 33 | 3.99 |
| Boston University | Boston, MA | 1418 | 32 | 3.88 |
| Stony Brook University | Stony Brook, NY | 1396 | 31 | 3.6 |
| Villanova University | Villanova, PA | 1395 | 33 | 3.89 |
| Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | Troy, NY | 1393 | 30 | 3.9 |
| Binghamton University | Binghamton, NY | 1375 | 31 | 3.89 |
Same Level: Equally Hard to Get Into
These schools have average GPAs that are close to 3.7. If you apply to these schools, you'll have a decent chance of admission. If you improve your SAT or ACT scores, you'll significantly improve your chances .
| School Name | Location | SAT | ACT | GPA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Massachusetts Amherst | Amherst, MA | 1358 | 30 | 4 |
| Rochester Institute of Technology | Rochester, NY | 1352 | 31 | 3.7 |
| United States Military Academy | West Point, NY | 1331 | 30 | 4 |
| American University | Washington, DC | 1329 | 30 | 3.65 |
| University of Connecticut | Storrs, CT | 1315 | 29 | 3.76 |
| Seton Hall University | South Orange, NJ | 1310 | 30 | 3.68 |
| Syracuse University | Syracuse, NY | 1310 | 29 | 3.75 |
| Chapman University | Orange, CA | 1296 | 28 | 3.75 |
| University of Texas at Dallas | Richardson, TX | 1291 | 28 | 3.71 |
| University of Denver | Denver, CO | 1270 | 29 | 3.8 |
| Penn State University Park | University Park, PA | 1265 | 28 | 3.68 |
Safety Schools: Easier to Get Into
With a GPA of 3.7, you're already strongly competitive for these schools. You're very likely to get admitted if you apply. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, your Safety Schools will get better and better.
| School Name | Location | SAT | ACT | GPA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Oregon | Eugene, OR | 1253 | 27 | 3.76 |
| Hofstra University | Hempstead, NY | 1246 | 27 | 3.74 |
| Texas Christian University | Fort Worth, TX | 1242 | 28 | 3.7 |
| Temple University | Philadelphia, PA | 1241 | 28 | 3.42 |
| University of Alabama | Tuscaloosa, AL | 1225 | 26 | 3.77 |
| University of Cincinnati | Cincinnati, OH | 1223 | 26 | 3.74 |
| University of Oklahoma | Norman, OK | 1210 | 26 | 3.67 |
| Colorado State University | Fort Collins, CO | 1178 | 26 | 3.7 |
| Quinnipiac University | Hamden, CT | 1175 | 25 | 3.54 |
| Ohio University | Athens, OH | 1174 | 25 | 3.75 |
| California State University Long Beach | Long Beach, CA | 1145 | 23 | 3.7 |
Change My GPA
Curious about what your profile is with a different GPA? Choose any GPA to see what you'd be able to do!
Analyze Your SAT/ACT Score
Wondering about how competitive your current SAT or ACT score is? We've created strategy guides for each SAT and ACT score so you can see what your chances are at schools, and what will happen if you improve your score.
Data on this page is sourced from Peterson's Databases © 2023 (Peterson's LLC. All rights reserved.) as well as additional publicly available sources.
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