<span>3.0 GPA Colleges: See Schools That Accept a 3.0 GPA</span>

3.0 GPA Colleges: See Schools That Accept a 3.0 GPA

GPA, or grade point average, is the average of all final grades throughout your high school career. It indicates that you’ve gotten grades between  B+ and B- for the majority of your classes, giving you a percentile between 83% and 86%. A 3.0 GPA is considered a straight “B” average and makes you a competitive applicant for a number of colleges and universities.

Is a 3.0 GPA Good?

A 3.0 GPA is the national average for all graduating high school students. Because of this, a 3.0 GPA means that you are eligible to apply at most (if not all) colleges and your application will be competitive for admission at many institutions.

What Colleges Can I Apply to With a 3.0 GPA?

Most colleges and universities accept applications from students who attain a 3.0 GPA, and we’ve compiled a list of them below. A 3.0 GPA won’t guarantee admission, but the following schools have a history of accepting students with a GPA in the 3.0-3.1 range.

At all levels of high school, the ideal is to focus on maintaining a consistent performance. A 3.0 GPA implies performing well in all classes, and that’s a great place to start the college application process. Admissions officers from many schools will see that GPA and recognize that it meets their criteria for enrollment. Keep practicing the study habits that led to a 3.0 GPA in the first place.

If you’re a freshman or sophomore, you’re really starting at a great place. Always aim to improve your academic performance, but also put a fair amount of time into your extracurricular activities. If you want to make yourself a more competitive candidate for the college application process in a few years, identify academic strengths and weaknesses and try to fill in any gaps. If any classes feel problematic, budget more study time for those subjects.

For juniors, remember that a 3.0 GPA already makes you competitive for many colleges. Colleges typically consider standardized scores equally important, so make sure to study for the ACT or SAT as much as possible. Set aside study time for taking practice tests and, if possible, sign up for an entrance exam prep class. If you want to improve your GPA, you still have time to increase it with stellar academic performance, but don’t try to do so at the expense of standardized test preparation.

As for seniors, avoid the temptation of senioritis and keep trying to maintain that 3.0 GPA. This is the time to work on all parts of your application to ensure that it will be as attractive to as many colleges as possible, including your essay and list of after-school activities. Consult with your college counselor for feedback on making your application as effective as possible based on your goals. If you feel that you can improve your ACT or SAT scores, this is also a time to consider retaking the test. At this point, every little improvement in any area of the application could make a big difference.

What Are Colleges Looking at Other Than a 3.0 High School GPA?

When submitting a college application, there’s a heavy focus on GPA. While this may be the first aspect admission counselors look at, it's certainly not the only one. College and university admission offices want to see well-rounded students, including participation in after-school activities. Highlight any or all of the following in your application: 

Tips for College Search and Planning with a 3.0 GPA

    Improve Your Academic Profile

    • Summer Courses: Consider taking community college courses over the summer to boost your academic credentials and demonstrate your ability to handle college-level work.

    Highlight Strengths in Your Applications

    • Highlight Strengths: Emphasize any strong subjects, extracurricular activities, volunteer work, or other areas where you excel.
    • Explain Your GPA: Use your personal statement or essay to explain your GPA, if there were extenuating circumstances, and, more importantly, to showcase your passion, resilience, and readiness for college.

    Maximize Extracurriculars 

    • Leadership and Involvement: Active participation in extracurricular activities, especially in leadership roles, can significantly strengthen your application.

    Apply to a Range of Schools

    Meet with a College Counselor

    • Professional Guidance: A college counselor can provide personalized advice and help you navigate the college application process, including selecting schools that fit your profile well. 

    Explore All Potential Options

    • Community Colleges: These institutions often have open admissions policies, meaning they accept all students who apply, making them a great option for students with lower GPAs.
      State Universities: Some state universities have more flexible admission criteria and may offer provisional or conditional admission programs.
    • Trade Schools: A trade school, or a vocational or technical school, provides hands-on training for trades and skilled occupations. Trade schools typically offer a variety of programs that can prepare you for careers in fields such as construction, automotive repair, welding, cosmetology, culinary arts, and more.

    What Scholarships Can You Get with a 3.0 GPA?

    You’ll find some scholarships that require a higher GPA, but the majority will require at least a 3.0, so you’re in a good position to apply for any number of scholarships. You can View All Scholarships here.
    Explore Colleges for Every GPA with Appily

    Ready to explore colleges that accept a GPA like yours? We have a comprehensive database to help you find and research schools. There, you can see essential data points like acceptance rateaverage financial aid awardaverage test scores, and application deadlines, including those for rolling admissionearly decision, and early action schools. 

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    Casper College is a public, 2-year institution established in the state of Wyoming. The college offers associate degrees and certificates across all subjects, as well as programs in continuing education, workforce training, and adult education...

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    The University of the Virgin Islands is a public, historically black institution established on the scenic islands of St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John. The college offers over 45 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in variety of areas of...

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    Founded in 1876, Stillman College is a liberal arts school and HBCU. It is situated in Tuscaloosa, Alabama and affiliated with the Presbyterian Church, so every student at Stillman College must complete 12 hours of religious education. On top of...

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    Lancaster Bible College is a private, Christ-centered institution established in southern Pennsylvania, with four additional campus locations throughout the country. LBC offers over 40 undergraduate majors and minors, eight accelerated programs, and...

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    Harris-Stowe State University is a public, historically black institution established in St. Louis, Missouri. Students attending HSSU have the opportunity to visit a number of on-campus facilities, such as the Board of Regents Gym, the Bank of...

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    Co-founded by a former state congressman, Laramie County Community College is a 2-year college with two campuses and two outreach centers in southeast Wyoming. Among Laramie County’s degree and certificate programs, the college offers three Equine...

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    laramie county community college is a great place to go right out of high school. it is an easy transition into college, with small class sizes. instructors are always available to help students one on one,

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    Just a few miles from the Indiana/Illinois border, Indiana University-Northwest is a regional campus of IU located in the industrial city of Gary, IN. While IU-Northwest is affiliated with The Hoosier State’s biggest public university, it maintains a...

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    IUN offers a wide variety of classes, and has some of the best teacher I have ever had.

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    Established in 1919, Garden City Community College is a public, 2-year institution established in the state of Kansas. The college offers programs in Business & Industry, General Education, and a number of Career Technical fields, many of which are...

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    Brescia University is a private, Christ-centered institution established in Owensboro, Kentucky. The college offers over 50 major and minor fields of study and features class sizes with an average 13:1 student-to-teacher ratio. Along with its...

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    The Art Academy of Cincinnati is a private, 4-year institution established in the state of Ohio. As one of the country’s smallest 4-year art colleges, students attending The Art Academy benefit from individualized support networks, guaranteed studio...

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    The AAC is by far one of the most artistic places I have ever seen. They want you to grow in your own vision, not a cloan trained classicly. Freedom, expression, and originality are the best three words to describe the AAC.

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    Established in 1966, College of the Mainland is a public, 2-year institution located in Texas City. COM offers programs in university preparation and workforce training, as well as associate degrees and certificates, some of which can be completed...

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    This college is a lot of help to me. It's better than a four-year university.

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    Cowley College is a 2-year community college with five locations in southern Kansas. Cowley features seven academic departments offering over 120 degree and certificate-granting programs of study. Students in the Cosmetology Department provide hair...

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    The teachers work with each student. The classes are small therefore each student gets more one on one time with those teachers. Most teachers know extra ways to help break down material for the students to understand.

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    Formerly known as Universidad del Turabo, the Ana G. Méndez University-Gurabo campus is a private school in the eastern center of Puerto Rico. AGMU Gurabo offers over 100 academic programs conferring bachelor’s, associate degrees, and certificates...

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    Grayson College is a public community college with an open admissions policy serving Grayson County in Texas. The Viticulture and Enology Program at Grayson includes T.V. Munson’s home, the Vinita House, and the campus also hosts Six Ninety One, a...

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    the teachers are no nonsense and want to teach all that they know but at a reasonable price.

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    Rochester College is a private, 4-year institution established in Rochester Hills, Michigan. In order to develop their faith, full-time students at RC are required to earn chapel credits each semester, which result in a letter grade on a 30-point...

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    I am truly excited to start taking courses and see all of what Rochester College has to offer.

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    UAS - Juneau will cover all your basic classes. It will give you time to find what you want to do with your degree. Remember though, UAS - Juneau is known for the ocean sciences programs, but that doesn't restrict you on your learning process.

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    With campus along the banks of the Saranac River, SUNY Plattsburgh is a 4-year liberal arts college in northeast New York State’s Champlain Valley. Part of the State University of New York system, SUNY Plattsburgh offers bachelor’s degrees in over 70...

    “…

    I have met some of the most unique, peculiar, and interesting professors during my time at Plattsburgh, and I can say with full honesty that I have never regretted my choice to attend college at PSU. I learned an incredible amount of vital material...

    ” – Adrian from Saranac, NY

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    Northeast State Community College is a 2-year community college in the northeastern corner of Tennessee. Northeast State grants degrees and certificates in over 130 subjects and provides guaranteed admission for all grads to the University of...

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    I had a lot of trouble first entering college. No one in my family had finished any sort of college degree, not even an associates. I found nothing but friendly, helpful staff. I was directed to what I needed when applying. They offer internet...

    ” – Cassandra from Johnson City, TN

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    Just across the river from Cincinnati, Gateway Community and Technical College is a 2-year college in northern Kentucky. While most of Gateway’s over 30 academic programs are available at its main Urban Metro facility, the college’s healthcare and...