Is a 3.5 GPA good?
3.5A−/B+
Halfway between B+ (3.3) and A− (3.7)
A 3.5 GPA is halfway between a B+ and an A− on the standard 4.0 scale — a record of mostly As and Bs. It clears any requirement set at 3.5 or lower; for anything higher, it depends on the requirement.
(4.0 + 3.0) ÷ 2 = 3.5
- An A and a B in equal-credit classes average exactly 3.5
- So do an A− and a B+
- 3.5 is 87.5% of the 4.0 maximum
- A 3.5 weighted can be well under 3.5 unweighted
- From 3.3 over 60 credits, 30 credits at 3.9 reach 3.5
Raise GPA calculator
Where you are, where you want to be, and how many credits you have left to get there.
Weighted or unweighted?
A 3.5 unweighted is a stronger record than a 3.5 weighted, because the weighted figure includes bonus points for Honors or AP classes. Say which one you have.
On other scales
On a 4.3 scale the same grades give the same 3.5 unless you have A+ grades. On the thirds scale, an A− is 3.67 instead of 3.7, which changes a GPA by a few hundredths.
Getting from 3.5 to 3.7
From a 3.5 over 60 credits, 30 credits at 4.0 give a 3.67. The more credits behind you, the more it takes to move — see the raise GPA calculator.
What it says
A 3.5 says you earn As regularly. Alongside the number, programs look at which classes the grades came from and whether they are going up.
Frequently asked questions
Is a 3.5 GPA an A or a B?
Neither exactly: it is halfway between a B+ (3.3) and an A− (3.7).
What percentage is a 3.5 GPA?
There is no exact conversion, because GPA is averaged from letter grades. A 3.5 is between a B+ (87–89%) and an A− (90–93%) on common plus/minus bands.
Is a 3.5 GPA good in college?
It is a strong A−/B+ average. Whether it meets a specific honors, scholarship or graduate-program requirement depends on that requirement.