Do you have a low GPA? Are you wondering what colleges you can get into despite your low GPA?
Out of all the schools in the country, we've compiled a complete list of colleges with low GPA requirements and ranked the best ones. Even if you have a low GPA, that doesn't mean a great education is out of reach for you. Keep reading to figure out what your options are for higher education.
If you are looking at your low GPA with worry, let us reassure you: you can absolutely get a great education no matter what college you end up going to.
For example, did you know that the vast majority of people profiled in Forbes Magazine's list of "30 under 30" (basically a list of about 450 young entrepreneurs, artists, and inventors who are making a name for themselves in a bunch of different fields) went to their local or state college? And not only that, but most of them actually found their business partners there as well!
Yes, the old line is totally true: it's up to you to make the most of where you are. How? Well, for one, you can research classes and professors by asking your advisors and friends or by looking at online reviews. No matter where they teach, most professors tend to love their subject—after all, they've devoted their whole life to studying it!—so seek them out during office hours. Trust me, they'll love to talk with you!
Now, let us show you the many choices and possibilities open to you, even if you didn't put your best foot forward in high school. Read on to learn about the following:
First, we should clarify what we mean by a low GPA. The definition of a low GPA depends heavily on your personal goals and target colleges, but a general rule of thumb is that any GPA below a 3.0 puts you in the lower range for most colleges in the country.
According to data from TACT research (reported by ThinkImpact), the average high school GPA is 3.0. But remember that many high school students also don't go to college. Thus, the ones who do go to college usually end up having higher GPAs. As you'll see below, the average GPA of lower-tier colleges is in the 2.9-3.3 range.
GPA can also be complicated because of unweighted and weighted GPAs, and how colleges consider the difficulty of your coursework. Even if you have a low GPA, you can compensate for it if you took a difficult course load, as colleges will reward you for your academic ambition.
Here are a few guides you might want to check out as you read this article:
Finally, keep in mind that even with a low GPA, you still have a great shot at getting into college if you do well on the SAT/ACT. If a low GPA doesn't represent your academic potential well, you can show colleges your true ability through tests that are standardized throughout the country.
Maybe your GPA is hiding you behind a mask?
If you have a low GPA but know that you are capable of so much more, some colleges now give you a totally different way to apply! For instance, the colleges below offer students alternative ways to showcase their skills that don't focus on your GPA:
Just . a . little . longer!
If you just need a little more time to demonstrate what you can do, think about applying to a less competitive campus of a state university system. You can then transfer to a more rigorous campus in the same system.
Below is our list of the least competitive campuses in larger and more competitive state university systems. In this chart, we've included the average GPA of admitted applicants as well as the current acceptance rate for each school. (Pro tip: click the school names to see your chances of getting in with our Admissions Calculator!)
| School | Average GPA | Admission Rate |
| Indiana University Northwest | 3.14 | 85% |
| Louisiana State University Shreveport | 3.38 | 71% |
| SUNY Cobleskill | 3.1 | 81% |
| Texas A&M Corpus Christi | 3.41 | 91% |
| University of Arkansas at Little Rock | 3.42 | 58% |
| University of Colorado at Colorado Springs | 3.36 | 95% |
| University of Illinois at Chicago | 3.4 | 79% |
| University of Louisiana at Monroe | 3.53 | 69% |
| University of Maine at Presque Isle | 3.00 | 99% |
| University of Maryland Eastern Shore | 3.07 | 62% |
| University of Massachusetts Dartmouth | 3.37 | 92% |
| University of Michigan at Flint | 3.54 | 74% |
| University of Minnesota Crookston | 3.28 | 48% |
| University of Missouri Kansas City | 3.54 | 76% |
| University of Nebraska at Kearney | 3.24 | 73% |
| University of North Carolina at Pembroke | 3.44 | 92% |
| University of Pittsburgh at Bradford | 3.31 | 76% |
| University of South Carolina Beaufort | 3.85 | 83% |
| University of Tennessee at Chattanooga | 3.51 | 86% |
| University of Texas at Tyler | 3.42 | 94% |
| University of Washington Tacoma | 3.41 | 83% |
| University of Wisconsin Parkside | 3.31 | 89% |
A name-brand school = a little bling for your resume.
If you would still like to go to a high-profile school but don't see yourself transferring, state colleges are your best bet. Check out these accessible state college systems with fairly low GPA requirements on all of their campuses:
I'll just point my compass at a random point on this globe and go to college there!
If you have an idea of where you want to end up geographically speaking, then you're in luck. Here is a comprehensive list of colleges sorted by state. For each state, the schools are listed alphabetically and are accompanied by their average GPAs for admitted applicants.
Alabama
Alaska
