3.8 GPA

What if it’s weighted?

A 3.8 weighted GPA is about a 3.55 unweighted, an A− (89–90%).

Est. unweighted GPA

3.55

Letter grade

A−

Percentage

89–90%

Starts at a typical load, 24 classes with 6 AP/IB. Enter your own and the estimate updates.

Total classesAP / IB classes (+1.0)Honors classes (+0.5)

Uses +1.0 for AP/IB and +0.5 for Honors, the most common boosts; your school may differ. Our GPA calculator 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 3.8 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−	92–93%	3.8
	A−	90–92%	3.7
Good	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 3.8 GPA good?

Yes. A 3.8 is an excellent GPA: it means A− work across your classes, 92–93%, and it is well above the national average. High school graduates in 2019 averaged 3.11, according to the NAEP High School Transcript Study. A grade point average near the top moves very little with each new grade, which is why a 3.8 is hard to change.

In high school

Admissions officers will read it as consistent, high-level work. At this level the rest of your application (course rigor, test scores if you send them, essays, activities) decides the most competitive admissions.

In college

In college a GPA this high stands out for scholarships, honors programs and graduate school, where 3.0 to 3.5 is a common minimum.

What colleges can I get into with a 3.8 GPA?

A 3.8 makes you a competitive applicant at most colleges, including many selective ones. At the most selective schools most admitted students have a GPA this high or higher, so your courses, essays and activities carry the decision.

Apply to a balanced list: a few reach schools, several where your GPA is at or above their typical range, and a couple of likely admits.

Freshman

If you are a freshman, your GPA tends to change before your application is sent to the college but having a 3.8 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 3.8 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 3.8 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 3.8 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 3.8. 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 3.8 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 3.8 up to a 3.9, assuming every class counts the same.

Classes so far	Classes of A’s needed
8	8
16	16
24	24

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

What helps

Raising a 3.8 GPA is very challenging – so find areas where you can improve and focus your energy on perfecting those subjects. 

1. Stay Ahead of the Game: Keep organized so you can prepare for assignments, projects, tests, and quizzes well in advance.
2. Keep Exceptional Study Habits: Establish a routine for studying and pick dedicated study time every day.
3. Go Above and Beyond: Ask your professors/teachers for extra work to build deep understanding and maybe even earn some extra credit!

3.8 GPA – Frequently asked questions