Can I Get Into College With a Low GPA?

What Is a Bad GPA in High School?

If you have particularly low grades, it's recommended that you hold off on pursuing your dream school right away. Instead, you could earn an associate degree at an online college with plans to transfer your credits. This offers you the opportunity to demonstrate your work ethic and raise your grades in a college setting.

Additionally, online degrees are significantly more approachable than on-campus degrees. They're much more flexible in terms of their learning format, and in some cases, their admission requirements. 

All in all, there are plenty of ways to get into a university with a low GPA; however, it's important to recognize where your grades stand before pursuing postsecondary education. If you've graduated high school with a low GPA but you're on a path of improvement, you can still find success at the collegiate level. In fact, many students find they study better in a college environment than they did during high school.

Can I Still Raise My GPA in High School?

Yes, you can raise your GPA if you're still in high school. First and foremost, it's important to speak with your teachers to learn why your grades are low in the first place. They can provide insights into your performance in specific areas. It's also a good idea to speak with a counselor if you find yourself struggling to focus or you need special arrangements to complete your work. Tutoring is another option that can drastically improve a student's ability to learn new information. In fact, the Brookings Institution notes that 80% of the 96 tutoring studies they analyzed showed "statistically significant effects."

Can I Get Into College With a 2.0 GPA?

If you are wondering whether you can get into college with a 2.0 GPA, there are several factors to consider. The first consideration involves the program you plan to attend. For example, while many STEM programs (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) require a 3.0 GPA, other programs that rely less on academic performance and more on experience and portfolios may not require as high of a GPA. 

Furthermore, some colleges don't have a GPA requirement at all. You can read more about these schools, along with tips on how to get into good colleges with bad grades, in the sections below. 

How To Get Into College With a Low GPA

There are several ways to get into a good university with bad grades, ranging from getting your high school grades remediated to putting extra effort into your admissions essay, or just properly filling out the Common Application. In many cases, you'll be required to show a good deal of patience during this process. 

Coleman offered five ways for low GPA students to increase their chances of attending college: 

• "If a student has a D… they are eligible to get that grade remediated, essentially re-taking the class for a better grade. In many cases, the student can take an online class over the summer to accomplish this, thereby raising their GPA. This is especially important with Ds and lower [grades] because there are many colleges that have a policy of not accepting students with Ds." 

• "Students with a low GPA should study extra hard on standardized tests to compensate for their GPA. If the student can get multiple 5s on AP exams, or an especially high ACT or SAT score, colleges will see the lower GPA as less representative of that student's academic potential." 

• "Students with a low GPA have an opportunity to explain the reasons behind the GPA in the 'Additional Information' section of the Common App. Anything health-related or family-related that caused the low GPA is important to address… That way, colleges know the GPA is not reflective of the student's current academic potential." 

• "If the cause of the low GPA was COVID-related, there is now a 250-word 'how did COVID affect you?' question on the Common App. If applicable, the student should use this space to talk about how distance learning hurt their GPA and how they are improving now that school is back in person." 

• "Lastly, students with a low GPA should make sure they have put together a list of colleges that they will be accepted into. Building a college list that is reasonable and fits the student's academic profile is extremely important." 

How Do I Write a Letter of Explanation for a Low GPA?

A letter of explanation is an additional way for low-GPA students to explain their situation during admissions and outline the cause of their poor performance. Some examples of causes for a low GPA may relate to your physical or mental health, family struggles, or the status of your home environment. 

Here are some helpful tips for writing a letter of explanation: 

Colleges With Low GPA Requirements

If you aren't able to remediate your grades prior to applying to school, you should look for colleges with low GPA requirements. There are countless examples of universities with online degrees that have GPA requirements lower than the standard 3.0: Saint Mary's University of Minnesota asks for a 2.75 GPA, while Tennessee State University requires only a 2.5 GPA. The requirements are even lower for Western Governors University, which — as a part of its community college transfer program — requires only a 2.0 GPA. 

Colleges That Don't Require a GPA

You may also look for colleges with no GPA requirements at all, such as the following examples: 

• Purdue University Global does not have GPA requirements for students applying for an undergraduate program. 
• The same goes for Southern New Hampshire University, which promises to accommodate all GPAs for undergraduate students.

FAQs About Low GPAs