Harvard University’s Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid, William Fitzsimmons, once asserted that Harvard rejects five classes worth of students with perfect grades and perfect scores. After all, Harvard has its pick of the litter among students with such numbers (for the Harvard Class of 2026, 72.91% of students boasted perfect GPAs), so it’s not only about having top grades and scores when seeking admission to one of the world’s most selective institutions.
That said, what kind of GPA does a student need when applying to Harvard? Let’s take a close gander at the data over the last three years.
Harvard Admissions Rate
First, just how difficult is it to get into Harvard? For applicants to Harvard’s Class of 2027, a mere 3.41% earned admission. For the Class of 2026, this figure stood at an even lower 3.19%.
What is a Good GPA for Getting into Harvard?
GPA
Percentage of Harvard University Class of 2026
4.0
72.91%
3.75-3.99
20.82%
3.5-3.74
4.18%
3.25-3.49
1.3%
3.0-3.24
0.43%
2.5-2.99
0.29%
2.0-2.49
0.07%
GPA Percentage of Harvard University Class of 2025
So, last year, 72.91% of students who enrolled in Harvard’s Class of 2026 boasted perfect GPAs, while 75.76% of students in Harvard’s Class of 2025 and 70.55% of students in Harvard’s Class of 2024 had perfect GPAs. And for all three admissions cycles, most of the remaining students in each class boasted GPAs in the 3.75-3.99 range.
But remember, while most students admitted to Harvard choose to enroll (Harvard often boasts a yield of over 80%), imagine how many students who did not earn admission to the Ivy League institution also submitted perfect or near-perfect GPAs.
It’s why we will not offer an answer when parents rattle off their child’s GPA during free consultations with Ivy Coach and ask if they can get into Harvard. Without context — including the high school attended, the rigor of the student’s coursework, their extracurriculars, essays, letters of recommendation, and so much more — the answer would be meaningless.
Harvard, after all, like all of America’s highly selective universities, has a holistic admissions process. If it were just about a student’s GPA, the institution would be overfilled with students –many of them dull students.
Can I Get into Harvard with a Low GPA?
While it’s certainly possible to get into Harvard with a low GPA, as the numbers bear out, it’s improbable. For the Class of 2026, a mere 2.09% of admitted students to Harvard had GPAs below 3.5. Such students often meet other institutional needs (e.g., star quarterback for the football team, development case, etc.).
How Ivy Coach Can Gauge Your Child’s Chances at Harvard
If you’re interested in discerning if your child has a shot of getting into Harvard, we recommend setting up Ivy Coach’s Strategy Session. Not only will you find out if your child has a chance of getting into Harvard, but you’ll receive a game plan of how your child can optimize their admission to the best school possible. To learn more about Ivy Coach’s Strategy Session, fill out ourfree consultation form, and we’ll be in touch.
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It's true that a 3.5 GPA might be considered low for Harvard, but it doesn't mean that your application will be dismissed entirely. Your unique background and achievements could compensate for your GPA to some extent.
It's true that a 3.5 GPA might be considered low for Harvard, but it doesn't mean that your application will be dismissed entirely. Your unique background and achievements could compensate for your GPA to some extent.
If you don't pass their SAT/ACT and GPA requirements, they'll likely reject you without much consideration. To have the best shot of getting in, you should aim for the 75th percentile, with a 1580 SAT or a 36 ACT. You should also have a 4 GPA or higher.
Of college applicants, however, the average GPA is more likely to be closer to 3.5 to 4.0. If you're aiming for a top university such as the Ivy Leagues, a 4.0 average – or close to – is expected.
Even though the average weighted GPA for Harvard is 4.2, this is still an average. Successful applicants may have scores that fall well above or below that figure. That means you won't automatically be rejected if your GPA is under 4.0. Some say that the lowest GPA accepted to Harvard is about 3.0 (weighted).
No, you cannot get into Harvard University with a 2.5 GPA. The minimum GPA for admission into Harvard is 4.18 on a 4.0 scale on your official high school transcript. This means that you have to be an advanced placement student to stand a chance of getting admitted to Harvard University.
What GPA do I need to get into Harvard? To be considered for admission to Harvard, you must earn top grades in high school. According to College Data, 76% of the admitted freshmen in the class of 2026 had a GPA of 4.0 or above, and 18% had GPAs from 3.78 to 3.99.
For example, Harvard states they don't have a minimum GPA requirement, but the average GPA of students accepted to Harvard is 3.9, and the average MCAT score is 520.59. While Harvard says they take the complete background of each applicant into account, high grades are clearly a critical factor.
This makes Harvard Extremely Competitive for GPAs. (Most schools use a weighted GPA out of 4.0, though some report an unweighted GPA. With a GPA of 4, Harvard requires you to be at the top of your class. You'll need nearly straight A's in all your classes to compete with other applicants.
Getting into Harvard is not easy, but it is possible. Being admitted will require dedication, focus, perseverance, and organization. It is best if you can start preparing to apply for Harvard as early as possible. To learn more about how the professionals at Going Ivy can help, schedule a consultation today.
Earning a 3.7 GPA indicates consistent academic achievement. It means you can apply to just about any school with a good chance of being accepted (except for the Ivy League schools, but that's because there are no circ*mstances of guaranteed admission at Ivies).
Academic Standing Requirements for the Undergraduate Program
If your GPA falls below 2.0, you are in poor academic standing. If you remain in poor academic standing for the following two terms, you are required to withdraw from the degree program. Your transcript will reflect this new status: RW (required to withdraw).
It's worth noting that a 3.0 GPA does not automatically disqualify you from consideration for admission to Harvard, and there have been students with lower GPAs who have been admitted in the past.
The average GPA at Yale is 4.13. This makes Yale Extremely Competitive for GPAs. (Most schools use a weighted GPA out of 4.0, though some report an unweighted GPA. This school did not officially report its average GPA, but we've estimated it here using data from over 1,000 schools.)
You'll need to rely on other impressive achievements to improve your chances. Fortunately, even though a 3.5 GPA itself might not suffice, it isn't far from a GPA that will. A GPA of 3.7 is enough competitiveness to win you serious consideration for an Ivy League offer.
A 3.5 GPA is below average at Ivy League schools. While we wouldn't say acceptance is impossible, you'll need to offset a lower GPA with an otherwise strong application. You may be able to offset a low GPA with high test scores, thoughtful application narratives, and strong extracurricular activities.
It's worth noting that a 3.0 GPA does not automatically disqualify you from consideration for admission to Harvard, and there have been students with lower GPAs who have been admitted in the past.
Is a 3.5 GPA good? A 3.5 unweighted GPA means that you've earned an A- average across all of your classes. You're well above the national average for GPA and should have a solid chance of acceptance at a wide variety of colleges. 70.11% of schools have an average GPA below a 3.5.
Introduction: My name is Kareem Mueller DO, I am a vivacious, super, thoughtful, excited, handsome, beautiful, combative person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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