What is a GPA?

During your high school, college, and university education, you receive a grade every time you complete a class.

Each of your letter (or percentage) grades is assigned a specific number of points so that the average of those equivalencies makes up your final GPA.

What does GPA stand for?

GPA stands for Grade Point Average.

It's a standard method of measuring academic performance across high schools and universities.

Your GPA is calculated by assigning a number to the grades you've received in your courses, then averaging those scores over a specified period, usually a semester or an academic year.

Many institutions in the US use a 4.0 scale:

Note: Some high schools use weighted GPA scoring for advanced placement (AP) classes, meaning your letter grade can be worth more grade points than an unweighted score for the same grade. Weighted scores are calculated on a 5.0 scale and need to be adjusted in some cases.

Cumulative GPA vs major GPA explained

There are two types of GPA: cumulative and major.

• The cumulative GPA includes all college courses
• Major GPA only counts courses that are a part of your major

If you need help figuring out your GPA, there are many GPA calculators available online. All you need to do is input the number of courses you've taken, the grades you earned, and the credit value of each course for every semester of your college studies.

Why is GPA important?

GPA can affect your eligibility for scholarships and funding in general, university admissions, and other important parts of your study journey.

Here are a few key reasons why GPA matters:

College admissions

Many colleges and universities use your GPA as a component of their admissions process.

A solid GPA can significantly strengthen your application and increase your chances of being accepted into your dream school.

Scholarship opportunities

Your GPA plays a key role in determining your eligibility for many scholarships, making it more than just a number on your transcript—it can directly impact your ability to afford college.

Scholarships are one of the most sought-after forms of financial aid because they don’t require repayment.

However, a lot of scholarships, especially merit-based, have minimum GPA requirements. That means the higher your GPA, the more options you'll have for financial aid.

GPA and scholarships statistics

→ Only around 25-30% of US government scholarships are merit-based, so the competition is higher.

→ Globally, scholarships for university students tend to be more merit-based. In many countries, merit-based scholarships ("excellence scholarships") are the norm, while purely need-based scholarships are rare.

Job opportunities and salary

How GPA affects your job prospects

Interestingly, the implications of your GPA don't stop at graduation.

• Your GPA can impact your job opportunities, especially for your first job out of college. Around 60% of hiring managers use GPA for screening candidates in the USA, while this percentage is much higher in Europe.
• Recent studies show that higher GPA predicted increases in career success across the person's entire career.

GPA and salary predictions

A recent study showed that recent graduates earned more:

• When GPA goes up by 1 point, a person's first monthly salary goes up by around 30%
• Having a higher GPA helped at almost every salary level.
• The effect stayed about the same for most people, but got even stronger for those earning the highest wages.

What's the highest GPA you can get?

On the standard 4.0 scale, the highest GPA you can earn is... 4.0.

However, many high schools also use a weighted GPA scale, which can be higher. This system gives extra points for more challenging courses, like Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) classes.

For example, if you earn an A in an AP class, it might count as a 5.0 instead of a 4.0. This rewards students for taking on tougher academic challenges.

Frequently asked questions about GPAs

Q: Is 3.0 a good GPA?

A: A 3.0 GPA, which equals a "B" average, is generally considered good. It meets the minimum requirement for admission to various programs, including undergraduate and graduate degrees. While a 3.0 might not be competitive for the most selective universities, it's a solid GPA for many schools and programs.

Q: Can you get into college with a 3.0 GPA?

A: Yes, you can absolutely get into college with a 3.0 GPA. Many universities accept students with this GPA, especially if you have strong extracurriculars, cover letters, or test scores.

Q: What GPA is high?

A: If your GPA is 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale, it’s considered high. Many universities use this threshold for honors or Dean’s List recognition.

Q: What GPA is required for Harvard?

A: There's no official minimum GPA for admission at Harvard. Instead, the admissions committee looks at your entire profile. That said, most students who get in have very high GPAs and are among the top students in their class.

Conclusion

Your GPA is an essential piece of your academic puzzle, serving as a reflection of your hard work and determination throughout your studies. Now that you know what GPA means, why it's so important, and how it fits into your educational journey, you can take a more informed approach to your studies.