Career Q&A: How to Get a Job When You Have a Low GPA - Multigenerational Work Expert and Speaker, Lindsey Pollak (2024)

FAQs

How do I get a job with a low GPA? ›

Networking is a key part of the employment process, and it is particularly important when your resume and cover letter alone put you at a disadvantage. Communicating face-to-face with a recruiter provides an opportunity to explain your low GPA, highlight strengths and convince the individual to give you a chance.

To get a job with one of the gazillions of other employers in the world, a low GPA is a completely surmountable challenge. In some cases you can squeak through by demonstrating that you've achieved better grades in your particular major or in classes related to the job to which you're applying.

Your GPA has little to no effect on your future employment opportunities after your first job or your first 2 years after graduation. The only other thing that GPA becomes relevant again is if you are applying for grad school.

It depends who you ask. More than half of employers reject applicants who don't have a 3.0 GPA or higher on their college transcripts.

Once you have a few years of professional experience, your undergraduate schooling diminishes in importance. If you're still bragging about your GPA when you're 40, it might seem a little odd. So what are the general rules of thumb? Only put your GPA on your resume if it was 3.0 or higher.

Unofficially, 2.0 is the lowest GPA accepted into a standard college, so while there's a chance that college admission is possible, it's not likely at more than a few institutions.

What colleges can I get into with a 2.4 GPA? There are some 4-year colleges you can get into with a 2.4 GPA, including Southern Vermont College, Southern University at New Orleans, and Talladega College, all three of which admit students with an average GPA of 2.4.

A bad GPA typically falls between 1.5 and 2.0. It can be a tough spot to be in.

GPA only really matters for entry-level roles

Once you start to build up a work history, your GPA will quickly start to not matter very much, as employers tend to value work experience above all else when assessing job applicants.

There's not one number that's a magic cut-off point — the answer depends on several factors. Students sometimes hear that a GPA under 3.0 should be left off your resume. And there is a major at Virginia Tech in which the faculty advised students that a 3.4 GPA or higher is expected.

Can I get into Harvard with a 2.9 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.).

A 2.9 GPA is equivalent to 84% or a B letter grade. The national average GPA is 3.0 which means a 2.9 is an okay GPA, just a tiny bit below average and with a few quick tips can easily be improved to stand out from the crowd.

Sure a high GPA, by default, acts as a sign of discipline and commitment. However, if you have a low GPA but can demonstrate marketable and transferable skills and qualities through relevant work or volunteer experience, you absolutely can still be a competitive candidate for many exciting positions.

The national average GPA is 3.0 which means a 2.7 is below average, and so you may have to work harder to catch up.

Is a 2.4 GPA Good? A 2.4 GPA signals to a college or university that a student has earned average scores within the B- and C+ range. A 2.4 is a hair away from the 2.5 range, which opens up eligibility for a number of colleges, but is still below the competitive benchmark for college applications of 3.0.

One of the first things you can do is to explain the context behind your low GPA, especially if there are valid reasons that affected your academic performance. For example, you can mention any personal, financial, or health challenges that you faced during your studies, and how you overcame them or learned from them.

Community colleges are an excellent choice as they often have open admissions policies, meaning they accept students regardless of GPA. Additionally, some trade schools and less selective state schools may be flexible with GPA requirements.

Most employers want to know that you'll work hard, think creatively, and be passionate about your work. And it all comes down to the hiring manager. For some, your GPA will matter, and others won't care at all (even if their company requires them to ask for your GPA as a part of the application process).