2.5 GPA Colleges: Browse Schools That Accept a 2.5 GPA
A Grade Point Average (GPA) is a number that summarizes academic performance by averaging each of your classes’ final grades throughout your high school career. A 2.5 GPA corresponds to a C average, making it a common starting GPA for many colleges and universities, even some more competitive institutions — though acceptance at that level would be a long shot.
Is a 2.5 GPA Good?
“Good” is always relative — and it largely depends on your ambitions post-high school. The average GPA for graduating high school students is a 3.0, which 2.5 falls below. A 2.5 means that you received a C-average for academic performance, equally out to a percentile between 73% and 76%.
If you’re interested in continuing your education at college, you’ll certainly find colleges that will accept you — however you may find it more difficult and you won’t have a competitive chance at more prestigious institutions.
What Colleges Can I Apply to with a 2.5 GPA?
We’ve assembled a list of the colleges that might accept students with a 2.5 GPA below. While a 2.5 GPA doesn’t guarantee admission to these schools, they’ve shown in the past that they admit students with a GPA in the 2.5-2.6 range.
If you’re a freshman or sophomore, you have plenty of time to improve your GPA to apply for more competitive institutions. You’re already at a college-eligible GPA range, but if you want to be a competitive candidate, aiming for 3.0 is the goal. Take a look at your current grades and start with the class that you’re the weakest in. Devote some extra study time, find a study buddy, or speak with your teacher about areas you can improve on. Then, if that’s successful, apply the same concentration to academic strengths and try to bring home as many As as you can.
For juniors, even though it will be harder to improve your GPA, every tenth of a point it increases is worth the effort. As recommended above, try to turn as many Cs into Bs and Bs into As as possible. If a 2.5 GPA can inch up, even to a 2.6 or 2.7, you’ll be eligible to apply at more colleges and universities during your college search.
If you’re a senior with a 2.5 GPA, it’s not possible to significantly raise your GPA by application season, but there are always options. Since your average grade is still considered a B-, there are dozens of college options to choose from, but to stand out you’ll want a compelling personal essay and to make sure you have a list handy of all of your after school and weekend activities. If you want to try to edge up your GPA even a tiny bit, identify colleges with later deadlines, ones into February or March, and do the work to increase a 2.5 GPA. As a different option, consider applying to a 2-year community college. Earning a good GPA over those two years opens up the possibility of transferring to a 4-year college or university to earn a bachelor’s degree.
What Are Colleges Looking At Other Than a 2.5 GPA?
When applying to a college with a 2.5 GPA, colleges will also be looking at the whole package. They’ll be interested to see solid standardized testing scores, participation outside of class, such as in clubs or sports. You’ll want to show off:
- SAT Scores / ACT Scores
- Extracurricular/Afterschool activities
- Sports
- Application Essays
- Volunteer Work / Community Service
- Jobs / Internships / Special Projects
- FAFSA
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a 2.5 GPA in high school considered good?
The average GPA for graduating high school students is 3.0, leaving a 2.5 on the low side. However, a 2.5 can still gain you admittance to a number of colleges.
What colleges can I get into with a 2.5 GPA?
Bowie State University, Fisher College, and Miles College accept students with an average GPA of 2.5. There are plenty of other institutions to consider, so take a look at the full list!
What percentile is a 2.5 GPA?
A 2.5 GPA puts you at a C-average, indicating a percentile of 80.
What scholarships can you get with a 2.5 GPA?
You may find some scholarships with a minimum of a 2.5 GPA, but your best bet would likely be to find scholarships that don’t have a required GPA. Scholarships can really add up when you’re applying for multiple, and even an extra $500 dollars can alleviate some of the burden of tuition costs.
