Is a 3.7 GPA good?
Yes, a 3.7 GPA is very good. It is an A- average, about 90 to 92 percent on the US 4.0 scale, and well above the commonly cited US average of about 3.0. A 3.7 clears most scholarship, dean's list and honors cutoffs and earns magna cum laude at many schools. At the most selective programs it sits at the low end of the admitted range.
In more detail
What is a 3.7 GPA? It is an A- in every class, or a steady mix of A's and B's: seven A's and three B's average exactly 3.7. Some schools have an honor roll above the dean's list, often called the provost's list, that starts near 3.7, though names and cutoffs differ.
For college applications, a 3.7 unweighted is strong at state universities and most private colleges. The most selective schools admit mostly students above it, so there a 3.7 needs course rigor, test scores and the rest of the application to carry it. For grad school, a 3.7 is competitive almost everywhere and tends to sit close to the typical admitted GPA at medical schools, where the MCAT and experience weigh as much.
If you want to go higher, the math is on your side early. After 60 credits at 3.7, straight A's over the next 60 credits finish you at 3.85.
Where a 3.7 GPA stands
| Goal | Usual GPA bar | Does a 3.7 meet it? |
|---|---|---|
| Graduate and keep good standing | 2.0 | Yes, by a wide margin |
| Most merit scholarships | 3.0 to 3.5 | Yes |
| Dean's list and honors societies | Often 3.5 | Yes |
| Magna cum laude | Often about 3.7 | Yes, right at the line |
| Summa cum laude | Often about 3.9 | No, a little below |
| Grad programs | 3.0 minimum, 3.5 competitive | Yes |
| Top programs, medical and law school | Often 3.7 to 3.9 | At the low end of the range |
Step by step
- 1
Check whether your 3.7 is weighted or unweighted, since an unweighted 3.7 is the stronger number.
- 2
List the schools or programs you want and find the GPA range of their admitted students.
- 3
Aim your best work at the classes that count most for your major and for those programs.
- 4
Use the math: after 60 credits at 3.7, straight A's over the next 60 credits finish at 3.85.
- 5
Study with practice questions and spaced review instead of re-reading, so what you learn lasts until the final.
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More questions
Is a 3.7 GPA good for medical school?
It is close to the typical admitted GPA at many medical schools, which tends to sit around 3.7 to 3.8, so it is competitive. Admissions also weigh the MCAT, science grades and experience, so check the numbers for each school.
What is a 3.7 GPA as a percentage?
A 3.7 is about 90 to 92 percent, an A-. Schools use their own cutoffs, so the exact percent for a 3.7 varies.