Free tool
Is my GPA competitive?
The median admitted GPA is 3.85 at top-10 US MS programs and 3.7 at top-25, where the middle
half of admits fall between 3.5 and 3.85. Pick your target tier — US Top 25 MS, M7 MBA,
Oxbridge, U15 Canada, Go8 Australia, or German TU9 — to see where your GPA lands against the
admit distribution.
Check my GPA6 admission tiers
Below 25th percentile
Your 3.40 is below the 25th percentile (3.5) for Top-25 US MS (Cornell, UMich, GT, UCLA class). Consider 1-2 tiers down or strong test scores + research to compensate.
25th %ile
3.50
Median
3.70
75th %ile
3.85
Benchmarks are approximate, drawn from program-published class profiles + cohort posts on Yocket / r/gradadmissions. Use them as a sanity check, not a verdict.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is a 3.5 GPA good for an MS in the US?
3.5 is competitive for top-50 US MS programs (around the 50th percentile of admits), workable for top-25 (below median, but viable with strong test scores + experience), and below the 25th percentile for top-10. Use the tool above to see your specific position.
What if my GPA is below the 25th percentile?
Two paths: (1) compensate with strong test scores (GRE 325+, GMAT 720+) and meaningful research / work experience, or (2) target one tier below where you'd otherwise apply. Both can produce strong outcomes.
Are these benchmarks official?
They're approximate — drawn from program-published class profiles, admit posts on Yocket, and cohort threads on r/gradadmissions. Use them as a sanity check, not a verdict. Each program publishes its own admitted-class average.