GPA scale chart with a 3.1 GPA marked: B letter grade, 85–86%

3.1 GPA

A 3.1 is a B (85–86%). It's right at the 3.11 national average. A few more A's each year move it clearly above.

Updated

[gpa_scale_view home_anchor=”online GPA calculator”]

Here is where a 3.1 sits on the standard 4.0 scale, from A+ down to F:

GPAPercentageLetter grade
4.097–100%A+
4.093–96%A
3.790–92%A−
3.387–89%B+
3.083–86%B
2.780–82%B−
2.377–79%C+
2.073–76%C
1.770–72%C−
1.367–69%D+
1.063–66%D
0.760–62%D−
0.0Below 60%F
Where a 3.1 GPA sits on the standard 4.0 scale. Schools set their own cutoffs, so check yours.
On this page · 3 sections

Is a 3.1 GPA good?

A 3.1 is a solid GPA that sits right around the national average, which was 3.11 for 2019 high school graduates (NAEP High School Transcript Study). It works out to B work, 85–86%. The national figure and yours are both a grade point average, an average of grade points across all credits.

In high school

Most colleges will consider it, especially with a challenging course load or an upward trend in your grades. Selective colleges usually expect more.

In college

In college it meets the 3.0 that many scholarships, graduate programs and employers use as a cutoff, so keep it there.

How a 3.1 compares to real cutoffs

  • Meets: Tennessee HOPE: 3.0
  • Meets: UC Berkeley graduate admission: 3.0 minimum
  • Short: Maryland dean's list: 3.5 semester GPA, 0.4 short

Cutoffs vary, so check your own school or program.

What a 3.1 GPA means for college

A 3.1 is close to the middle of the range at many state universities and four-year colleges. Selective colleges usually look for higher, so they are reaches.

A strong senior year, a challenging course load and good test scores (if you send them) can make up ground. Compare your GPA with each college’s published range.

How to raise a 3.1 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 3.1 up to a 3.5, assuming every class counts the same.

Classes so farClasses of A’s needed
87
1613
2420
From a 3.1 to a 3.5, unweighted, equal-credit classes. Your school’s credits may differ.

To use your own classes, credits and target, try the Raise GPA calculator.

What helps

  • Target two classes: pick the classes closest to the next grade up and focus there first.
  • Never skip assignments: missing work pulls grades down faster than low scores.
  • Study in short daily blocks: regular review beats cramming before tests.

3.1 GPA – Frequently asked questions

Is a 3.1 GPA the national average?

Yes, almost exactly. The latest study found 2019 high school graduates averaging 3.11, essentially your GPA. The University of Wisconsin–Parkside and Albertus Magnus College both put their 2024–25 first-year average at 3.11.

What letter grade and percentage is a 3.1 GPA?

The nearest letter is still B, and the percentage is 85–86%. Seven courses, six B’s and one A−, all of equal credit, come to 3.1 exactly.

How fast can I raise a 3.1 GPA to a 3.5?

The 3.5 line is 36 credits of A’s away when 45 credits sit at 3.1; that’s about 12 courses. A−’s stretch it to 90.

Is a 3.1 GPA enough for Bright Futures?

Yes for Medallion Scholars, whose bar is a weighted 3.00. The Academic award is harder: at 3.1 through eight of the 16 required courses, you’d need a weighted 3.9 in the rest to make 3.50.

Can I join Phi Theta Kappa with a 3.1 GPA?

Not at the usual cutoff. The honor society says a 3.5 is typically required, though some colleges go lower. With 24 credits at 3.1, about 20 credits of A’s would reach 3.5.

Sources

Reviewed by the GPA Calculator team · Updated October 2026

Spot a mistake or have an idea? Send feedback