If you have been through high school or college, I believe you know what an average GPA is and why it’s important to get the best grades.
Generally, there are several requirements to get into a college or university. It begins with pre-school, elementary school, and then high school before getting into college.
It’s a process that most people go through before heading off to college. In high school, your grade point average matters, as it’s your ticket to a college or university.
Colleges and universities only admit high schoolers who meet their standards when it comes to academic qualifications. Some are very selective and require a higher grade point average to admit a student.
So, what’s the average GPA to obtain from high school or college? How do I calculate my grade points average while in high school?
The answer to those questions we will get to in a moment, so stay with us to find out more.
What Is the Meaning of GPA?
Generally, GPA is an acronym for grade point average, which is a number that shows the academic performance of a student. GPAs show how high a student scored in his or her courses on average.
A student’s grade point average indicates their academic performance whether in high school or college. For those in high school, their grade point average is used to assess if they satisfy the standard requirements to study a degree program at a college or university.
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What’s an Average GPA?
A grade point average is an academic score used to assess the performance of a student. A student’s average GPA is a number that indicates what they scored in each class during the term, semester, and year.
In a particular semester or term, you may obtain a higher or lower grade point average. The next semester may be better than the previous one and vice versa.
At the end of your time at the university, your grade point average will show how you performed academically. In places where you improved your overall grades, the difference will be indicated and where your performance was poor will also be indicated.
What Is the Average GPA for High Schools?
Your grade point average starts to count and is calculated once you step into 9th grade. This is a pattern in the United States and it may be different in your home country.
After high school education, the next step is college. So, if you are a student to get into college once you graduate from high school, this is something important you must do.
As a student who is eager to get into a college, you must conduct a little research. Yes, doing a little research about a college’s admission process and grade point average requirement will help you in your quest.
Some universities in the United States are very selective when it comes to admission, especially Ivy League Schools. Their grade point average requirement is something you should look out for.
If you do your research while in high school, you will benefit and have a better advantage by setting your academic goals.
Recent research shows that high schoolers attending more affluent schools had a median grade point average of 3.0. Those attending less affluent schools have a GPA of 2.59.
Back in the early 1990s, the average high school grade point average in the United States was 2.68. It increased in the early 2000s to 2.94 and according to recent reports, the average GPA in an American high school is 3.0.
What Is the Average GPA for Colleges?
Every college and university across the world has specific grade point average requirements for applicants. Those who want to study professional courses are required to present excellent academic records.
Getting into a graduate or medical school is not that easy for students who have completed their degrees. It requires more than the average grade point average and you need to show that you deserve a place there.
So, how would you earn your place in a graduate or medical school?
Before you got into college, you had a grade point average that was accepted by the institution. Meeting all academic requirements to secure your entry to your preferred degree program.
Well, to move further, you need to improve, as well as pay attention to your grades. It gets tougher as you advance in your academic journey.
Your grade point average is your ticket to academic excellence. It’s a result that shows how you have performed so far and that is why it’s important in any application process.
Whether is a graduate school, law school, or medical school, grade point average matters in the application process.
According to recent reports, the average GPA for students at a 4-year college or university in the United States is about 3.15 or a B average.
What Is Considered a Good Grade Point Average in College?
What is seen as an excellent grade point average in high school may be a poor performance for a college student. One thing you should know is that a grade point average may get you into a college or university, but it might not be enough to get you into a specific department or major.
So, here are a few things you must do to get that good GPA.
Firstly, you need to ask yourself what grade will be on your resume once you graduate from college. Keep in mind that a grade point average below 3.5 is less likely to be considered by employers out there.
Secondly, an excellent grade point average obtained from a college or university can be regarded more broadly when it comes to honour designations.
College students graduate cum laude (the Latin word for “With Praise”) when they obtain a 3.5-3.7 GPA, and magna cum laude (“With Great Praise”), when they obtain a 3.7-3.9 GPA.
Summa cum laude (“With Highest Praise”) when they obtain a grade point average 0f 3.9 or above.
Lastly, if you wish to apply to a graduate school, ensure you maintain an excellent college grade point average. Most programs offered at graduate school require a minimum grade point average of 3.0 or above.
Top-tier programs offered at graduate schools require a minimum grade point average of 3.5 or higher.
Also Read: How Admission in US Universities for International Students Works in 2024
What Is Considered a Good Grade Point Average in High School?
Before now the average high school GPA in the United States was 2.68 in the early 90s and 2.94 in the early 2000s.
Recent reports show that the average high school grade point average in the United States is about 3.0, or a B average. The average 3.0 GPA is also the minimum requirement for various college scholarships in the United States.
If you have a grade point average of 3.5 or higher, you have a better chance to get the scholarship.
Your grade point average shows your academic performance and it’s also an important factor when it comes to college admission. Coming from a high school with a good grade point average shows how prepared you are for college.
Remember we talked about doing thorough research before applying to any college or university. It’s important you look at first-year class data to understand the average high school grade point average of newly admitted students.
For instance, if the average first-year student admitted into a particular college had a grade point average of 3.6, you should try to meet that standard.
We also talked about earning a grade that will get you into a college or university but might not be enough for admission into a department or major.
Now, what you may consider a good grade point average while in high school might fall below expectations in college.
As a high schooler with intentions to major in engineering, if you present a grade point average of 2.3 in mathematics and science classes, you will likely be denied admission into a college or university.
How to Calculate/Convert Your GradePoint Average to a 4.0 Scale
Generally, high schools in the United States report GPAs on a 4.0 scale. A is the top grade, which equals 4.0 followed by B, which equals 3.3.
So, how do you calculate your grade point average?
The simple method to calculate your overall grade point average is by averaging the scores of your entire class.
Below is the common scale often used at various high schools and colleges in the United States.
| Letter Grade | Percentage Grade | GPA (4.0 Scale) |
| A+ | 97-100 | 4.0 |
| A | 93-96 | 4.0 |
| A- | 90-92 | 3.7 |
| B+ | 87-89 | 3.3 |
| B | 83-86 | 3.0 |
| B- | 80-82 | 2.7 |
| C+ | 77-79 | 2.3 |
| C | 73-76 | 2.0 |
| C- | 70-72 | 1.7 |
| D+ | 67-69 | 1.3 |
| D | 65-66 | 1.0 |
| F | Below 65 | 0.0 |
With this chart above, it’s easier to understand how to calculate your grade point average in high school. Other schools might decide to use a different grading scale.
Grading Systems and Grade Point Average Scores
The grading system used in the United States is quite different from what other countries use. Other grading systems may decide to use different grading scales, numbers, letters, etc.
Countries around the world use different grading systems and here are some of them.
- A-F: used in the United States, Canada, Saudi Arabia, and Thailand,
- 1-10: used Colombia, Latvia, Israel, and the Netherlands
- Percentage: used in Belgium, Hungary, Poland, and Kuwait
- 1-5: used in Austria, Germany, Paraguay, Slovakia, and Russia
These are just a few methods used in different countries, as there are other methods used by universities to assess students’ rank.
Universities in Europe use the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) to convert students’ grades. This process is easier for universities in Europe and it makes education more transparent.
It also allows students to present their academic grades in other European countries where they will be recognized.
How to Easily Calculate an Average GPA
Whether you find yourself in a numerical system, percentage system, or letter grading system, every grade you obtain is important and corresponds to a quality point.
The highest grade available in every grading system is an A, 5, 10, or 100%, which is the highest number on that scale.
For those in the United States, A is the highest grade any student can wish for and receive in their classes. Generally, A is equal to 4 or is equal to a multiple of 4 (like 8 or 16).
Once you have completed a few classes, these points will be added and divided by the total amount of credit for every course you have taken. After doing that, the number you will get is your average grade point average.
Simple Steps
Allow me to give you a simple example to make things more understandable. Let’s say you are a student who decides to take three courses, Mathematics (2 credits), English (3 credits), and Biology (2 credits).
Assuming your grades are;
Mathematics: B (B is equal to 3.0 on the GPA scale)
English: A (A is equal to 4.0 on the GPA scale)
Biology: C (C is equal to 2.0 on the GPA scale)
Now let’s multiply the grades you have taken by the number of credits for every course. Since Biology (2 credits) and your grade is C (2.0 on the GPA scale), 2X2= 4. The number of credits for English is 3 and your grade is A (4.0 on the GPA scale), 3X4 = 12.
And Mathematics (2 credits) and your grade is B (3.0 on the GPA scale), 2X3=6. So, you have four grade points for Biology, 12 for English, and 6 for Mathematics, which is twenty-two grade points in total.
To get your average grade point average, divide the total number of your grade point average by the number of credits of the courses (2+2+3=7). 22 divided by 7 = 3.14 and that is your average GPA.
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What Is the Difference Between High School Grade Point Average and College Grade Point Average?
There is a huge difference between high school grade point average and college GPA. Based on the analysis conducted by Jeff Allen and Justin Radnuzel, students are likely to obtain lower grades in college than in high school.
Statistics also show that high school GPAs are 0.66 higher than GPAs in college first-year. Data collected shows that the average high school grade point average is around 3.36, while that of a college is 2.70.
According to statistics, the average difference tends to decrease just as the ACT composite score is on the increase. When the ACT composite score was 12, the college grade point average was at a low of 0.84 points.
US Universities with the Highest Average GPAs
Below are the top 10 U.S. universities with the highest average GPAs.
| Universities | College Average GPA |
| Brown University | 3.71 |
| Stanford University | 3.66 |
| Harvard University | 3.64 |
| Yale University | 3.62 |
| Columbia University | 3.59 |
| Vanderbilt University | 3.57 |
| Duke University | 3.56 |
| Baylor University | 3.56 |
| Northeastern University | 3.55 |
| Dartmouth College | 3.54 |
Conclusion
GPAs are important when it comes to the admission process in any college or university. Your academic performance in high school may determine if you have a chance to gain entry into a selective major.
Always do your research before applying to any college or university to prevent getting rejected by a college or university.
