Pick any one. The other two follow.What a GPA means
What if it’s weighted?
A 3.5 weighted GPA is about a 3.25 unweighted, a B+ (87–88%).
- Est. unweighted GPA
- 3.25
- Letter grade
- B+
- Percentage
- 87–88%
Starts at a typical load, 24 classes with 6 AP/IB. Enter your own and the estimate updates.
Uses +1.0 for AP/IB and +0.5 for Honors, the most common boosts; your school may differ. Our calculate my GPA works from your own classes and grades, and the Weighted GPA calculator shows both numbers.
Look up any letter grade on the GPA scale, or use Grade Conversion.
On this page · 3 sections
Here is where a 3.5 sits on the standard 4.0 scale, from A+ down to F:
| Band | Letter grade | % range | Grade points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Excellent | A+ | 97–100% | 4.0 |
| A | 93–96% | 4.0 | |
| A− | 90–92% | 3.7 | |
| Good | B+/A− | 89–90% | 3.5 |
| B+ | 87–89% | 3.3 | |
| B | 83–86% | 3.0 | |
| B− | 80–82% | 2.7 | |
| Average | C+ | 77–79% | 2.3 |
| C | 73–76% | 2.0 | |
| C− | 70–72% | 1.7 | |
| Low pass | D+ | 67–69% | 1.3 |
| D | 63–66% | 1.0 | |
| D− | 60–62% | 0.7 | |
| Fail | F | Below 60% | 0.0 |
Is a 3.5 GPA good?
Yes. A 3.5 is a good GPA: B+/A− work, 89–90%, and comfortably above the national average of 3.11 for 2019 graduates (NAEP High School Transcript Study). A 3.5 sits on the line many programs use, and what a GPA is shows how close calls like that are measured.
In high school
It shows steady, above-average work and keeps a wide range of four-year colleges open. Strong courses and an upward trend make it even more convincing.
In college
In college it keeps you in good standing for most scholarships and clears the 3.0 that many graduate programs and employers ask for.
How a 3.5 compares to real cutoffs
- Meets: Phi Theta Kappa: usually 3.5
- Meets: Florida Bright Futures Academic Scholars: weighted 3.5 (plus test scores)
- Meets: Maryland dean's list: 3.5 semester GPA
- Meets: U.S. federal jobs at GS-7 for new graduates: 3.0 overall, or 3.5 in your major
- Short: Arizona State magna cum laude: 3.60, 0.1 short
Cutoffs vary, so check your own school or program.
Where a 3.5 GPA stands
A 3.5 is at or above 3 of these 6 national GPA marks. For colleges, the mark is the typical average GPA of their new students, on a 4.0 scale.
- High school average3.11, you meet it
- Middle college graduate3.30, you meet it
- Colleges that admit 75%+3.46, you meet it
- Colleges that admit 50–74%3.58, above your GPA
- Top 10% of college graduates3.85, above your GPA
- Colleges that admit under 10%3.92, above your GPA
- New college students in this range
- 49%
- had a high school GPA of 3.5–4.0, among students who took the SAT or ACT.
- College graduates with a lower GPA
- About 66%
- Estimated from bachelor's graduates in the latest federal data.
Data: NAEP High School Transcript Study; NCES Beginning Postsecondary Students 2020/22 and Baccalaureate and Beyond 2016/20; colleges' Common Data Sets (243 colleges).
What colleges can I get into with a 3.5 GPA?
A 3.5 fits the typical range at a large number of four-year colleges and is competitive at many selective ones. The most selective schools usually admit students with higher GPAs, so treat them as reaches.
Target and safety colleges for a 3.5 GPA
A 3.5 is a Target at 117 colleges and a Safety at 51 colleges, out of the 268 that report the average GPA of their first-year students.
| College | AverageAvg GPA | Admitted | Fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montana State UniversityBozeman, Montana82% admitted | 3.51 | 82% | Target |
| University of South DakotaVermillion, South Dakota99% admitted | 3.51 | 99% | Target |
| Aurora UniversityAurora, Illinois81% admitted | 3.51 | 81% | Target |
| Indiana University of Pennsylvania Main CampusIndiana, Pennsylvania91% admitted | 3.50 | 91% | Target |
| Missouri Southern State UniversityJoplin, Missouri97% admitted | 3.49 | 97% | Target |
| Rogers State UniversityClaremore, OklahomaOpen admission | 3.44 | Open admission | Safety |
| Idaho State UniversityPocatello, IdahoOpen admission | 3.40 | Open admission | Safety |
| University of Alaska FairbanksFairbanks, AlaskaOpen admission | 3.37 | Open admission | Safety |
| Ferris State UniversityBig Rapids, Michigan91% admitted | 3.35 | 91% | Safety |
| Austin Peay State UniversityClarksville, Tennessee96% admitted | 3.35 | 96% | Safety |
Target: your 3.5 is within 0.15 of the college's average, above or below. Safety: it's 0.15 or more above the average, or the college has open admission. Selective colleges set a higher bar. Averages are as each college reports them; no college has a GPA cutoff, so treat these as a guide.
See all colleges for a 3.5 GPA: 117 Target 51 Safety
Freshman
If you are a freshman, your GPA tends to change before your application is sent to the college but having a 3.5 GPA is a commendable feat. It is a sign that you are performing excellent and acquired high grades in most of your classes, and the next few years could see you perform as a better student and make a good impression on colleges with your academic development. As a freshman, if you can retain or go beyond the 3.5 GPA, you will be admitted by various selective schools. You may not have chosen colleges yet, and that’s fine: use our GPA calculator each term to see where your GPA is heading.
Sophomore
Having passed through the first two years of high school with a robust GPA is an exceptional achievement. It is likely for your GPA to change slightly before you find admission to the college in your senior year but there will be no much difference if you continue to study at the same pace. Most of the best schools will consider you if you have a 3.5 GPA and this will offer you a range of choices when you want to select the college you want to study in. To see which grades would move it higher from here, try our Raise GPA calculator.
Junior
With a 3.5 GPA, you have succeeded in getting to the college application time. However, your GPA will not be changed at this point, and you should be applying to colleges with a GPA close to the value of a 3.5. It indicates that you would be counting on your eligibility to be admitted by various selective colleges. If you have schools in mind, compare your GPA with their published ranges, and use the Raise GPA calculator to see what this year’s grades can still change.
Senior
This is your senior year, and there are chances that you have applied to various schools with your GPA. The process of getting admitted into schools should not be a problem for you if you have maintained a strong GPA throughout your high school except in rare cases where some schools are applying stringent measures. If you are still finishing senior-year classes, the GPA calculator shows how your final grades will change the GPA colleges see.
How to raise a 3.5 GPA
The more classes you have finished, the more it takes to move your GPA. This table shows how many more classes you would need at one grade to bring a 3.5 up to a 3.7, assuming every class counts the same.
| Classes so far | Classes of A’s needed |
|---|---|
| 8 | 6 |
| 16 | 11 |
| 24 | 16 |
To use your own classes, credits and target, try the Raise GPA calculator.
What helps
- Find the weakest class: moving one B+ to an A− lifts your GPA more than polishing classes you already ace.
- Use office hours: ask teachers what separates your work from an A.
- Plan ahead: keep a calendar of tests and deadlines so nothing is done last-minute.
3.5 GPA – Frequently asked questions
Is a 3.5 GPA typical for college freshmen?
At many colleges, yes. Splitting a B+ and an A−, a 3.5 runs 0.39 ahead of 3.11, what the latest national study found for 2019 high school graduates. It’s the typical entering GPA at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (3.5, 2024–25) and Montana State University (3.51).
What letter grade and percentage is a 3.5 GPA?
It straddles B+ and A−, at 89–90%. Split your classes evenly between A’s and B’s (equal credits) and the average is exactly 3.5.
How do I raise a 3.5 GPA to a 3.6?
With 60 credits at 3.5, it takes 15 credits of A’s to reach 3.6. A−’s need 60 credits, as many as you already have.
Does a 3.5 GPA qualify for Bright Futures?
Yes for the top award, if 3.5 is your weighted GPA in the 16 required courses: Florida Academic Scholars asks for exactly 3.50. One weaker grade could drop you to the Medallion award’s 3.00 tier.
Can I make the dean’s list with a 3.5 GPA?
A 3.5 semester is exactly enough at the University of Maryland if you take 12 or more credits. Four A−’s and one B+ in 15 credits average 3.62, a little above the line.
Sources
- Join Phi Theta KappaPhi Theta Kappa Honor Society
- Florida Academic Scholars and Florida Medallion Scholars requirementsFlorida Department of Education, Office of Student Financial Assistance
- Academic PerformanceUniversity of Maryland Office of the Registrar
- University Undergraduate Graduation RequirementsArizona State University Catalog
- General Schedule Qualification Policies: Superior Academic AchievementU.S. Office of Personnel Management
- Average GPA of high school graduates rose to 3.11 in 2019 (High School Transcript Study)National Assessment Governing Board
- Montana State University Common Data Set 2025–26Montana State University