Is the 4.0 GPA scale commonly used in colleges?

Hey there, just a quick question. I'm used to the 4.0 GPA scale in my high school. I was wondering if it's the same in most colleges or if universities use a different scale? Your feedback would be really helpful.

Absolutely! You'll be relieved to know the 4.0 GPA scale is quite universally practiced in most U.S. colleges and universities. It's a standard grading system that is widely recognized across institutions, and thus is understood to provide a consistent measure of student academic performance.

Like many high schools, many colleges also follow a plus/minus system where the grades such as A-, B+, B-, etc, are assigned specific point values slightly different from the full letter grades (for example, an A- may be 3.7 instead of 4.0).

Do note that there are some institutions that follow a unique grading method. For instance, some liberal arts colleges or innovative tech-focused institutions may use a narrative evaluation system instead of the traditional grading system, where you'll receive written feedback rather than a letter grade.

You'll want to acquaint yourself with the grading system of the specific colleges you're considering, as there can be variation, and you want to know how your performance will be quantified. If you have any questions don't hesitate to reach out to the admissions office, or potentially to the registrar.

However, the vast majority of institutions across the United States do indeed use the 4.0 GPA scale that you are familiar with from high school, so odds are you won't need to adjust to a new system. Hope you find this overview helpful!