What if it’s weighted?
A 3.6 weighted GPA is about a 3.35 unweighted, a B+ (≈88%).
- Est. unweighted GPA
- 3.35
- Letter grade
- B+
- Percentage
- ≈88%
Set to a typical load: 24 classes, 6 of them AP/IB. Change them 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 your 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.
Here is where a 3.6 sits on the standard 4.0 scale, from A+ down to F:
| GPA | Percentage | Letter grade |
|---|---|---|
| 4.0 | 97–100% | A+ |
| 4.0 | 93–96% | A |
| 3.7 | 90–92% | A− |
| 3.3 | 87–89% | B+ |
| 3.0 | 83–86% | B |
| 2.7 | 80–82% | B− |
| 2.3 | 77–79% | C+ |
| 2.0 | 73–76% | C |
| 1.7 | 70–72% | C− |
| 1.3 | 67–69% | D+ |
| 1.0 | 63–66% | D |
| 0.7 | 60–62% | D− |
| 0.0 | Below 60% | F |
On this page · 4 sections
Is a 3.6 GPA good?
Yes. A 3.6 is a good GPA: A− work, about 90%, and comfortably above the national average of 3.11 for 2019 graduates (NAEP High School Transcript Study).
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.
What a 3.6 GPA means for college
A 3.6 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.
Check each college’s published GPA range (often on its admissions page or Common Data Set) and build a balanced list around it.
Freshman
If you are a freshman, your GPA tends to change before your application is sent to the college but having a 3.6 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 3.6 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 3.6 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 3.6 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 3.6. 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 3.6 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 3.6 up to a 3.7, assuming every class counts the same.
| Classes so far | Classes of A’s needed |
|---|---|
| 8 | 3 |
| 16 | 6 |
| 24 | 8 |
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.
3.6 GPA – Frequently asked questions
Is a 3.6 GPA good?
Yes. A 3.6 is a good GPA. It is above the national average of about 3.1 and meets or beats the typical range at a wide range of four-year colleges.
What letter grade and percentage is a 3.6 GPA?
A 3.6 GPA is an A− average on the standard unweighted 4.0 scale, which is about 90%. Schools set their own cutoffs, so check how your school converts percentages to grade points.
Can I get into college with a 3.6 GPA?
Yes. A 3.6 fits the typical range at many four-year colleges and is competitive at a good number of selective ones. Treat the most selective schools as reaches and compare your GPA with each college’s published range.
Is a 3.6 weighted GPA the same as a 3.6 unweighted GPA?
No. A 3.6 weighted GPA includes extra points for Honors, AP or IB classes, so the unweighted GPA behind it is lower: with a quarter of your classes AP at +1.0, it works out to about a 3.35 unweighted. Open “What if it’s weighted?” on this page to estimate yours from your own classes.
How can I raise a 3.6 GPA to a 3.7?
With A’s in your next classes. If you have finished 8 equal-credit classes, about 3 more A’s take a 3.6 to a 3.7; after 16 classes it takes about 6. The earlier you start, the faster it moves, so focus first on the classes closest to the next grade up.
Is a 3.6 GPA good enough for scholarships?
Yes, for many of them. A 3.6 meets the minimum GPA for a large number of merit scholarships; the most competitive awards may ask for more, so check each one’s requirements.