Is a 3.5 GPA good?
Yes, a 3.5 GPA is good. It sits between a B+ (3.3) and an A- (3.7), about 88 to 90 percent on the US 4.0 scale. A 3.5 is above the typical college GPA, is often the line for the dean's list and honors societies, and meets the bar for many merit scholarships and most grad programs.
What is a 3.5 GPA? It is halfway between a B (3.0) and an A (4.0). One way to get it is equal parts A's and B's. Another is three A's and one C, which also average 3.5, so one weak grade does not sink it.
The table shows where a 3.5 opens doors and where it stops. Highly selective programs, and many medical and law schools, tend to admit students above 3.7, so a 3.5 helps but rarely carries an application on its own. Bars vary by school and program, so check the numbers for yours.
To go higher, plan early. After 60 credits at 3.5, straight A's over the next 60 credits finish you at 3.75. The fewer credits you have left, the less each new grade can move the average.
| Goal | Usual GPA bar | Does a 3.5 meet it? |
|---|---|---|
| Graduate and keep good standing | 2.0 | Yes, easily |
| Most merit scholarships | 3.0 to 3.5 | Yes, for most |
| Dean's list and honors societies | Often 3.5 | Yes, usually right at the line |
| Grad programs | 3.0 minimum, 3.5 competitive | Yes |
| Top programs, medical and law school | Often 3.7 or higher | Usually below the middle of admitted students |
- 1Protect your A's in the classes that count most for your major and for the programs you want.
- 2Do not let one low grade scare you. Three A's and one C still average 3.5.
- 3Track your grades as you go. Multiply each grade's points by its credits, add them up and divide by your total credits.
- 4Study with practice questions and spaced review instead of re-reading, so what you learn lasts until the final.
- 5If you want 3.75 or more, plan early. After 60 credits at 3.5, straight A's over the next 60 credits finish you at 3.75.