Here’s my take: The short answer is yes, the long answer is no, but the realistic (and frustrating) answer is it depends.
Determining whether a GPA is 'good' or 'bad' is completely subjective and can vary depending on individual perspectives or context. However, despite this subjectivity, the concepts of good and bad GPAs are still widely recognized and used.
There are a handful of things that we should consider when it comes to judging the value and worth of having a ‘good’ GPA in college:
University enrollment
Financial aid requirements
Scholarship opportunities
Graduate school admissions
Job and internship prospects
The first four bullets are pretty straightforward. Universities, or certain majors, typically have a minimum GPA that students need to meet in order to stay enrolled. Additionally, if you’re given a financial aid package on the condition of maintaining a specific GPA or above in college, then GPA is—or should be—pretty important to you. You’ll also have a better shot at scoring a scholarship or getting into graduate school if your GPA isn’t a failing one.
But what about when it comes to jobs and internships? Does GPA matter?
Last week, we asked our readers: How important do you think GPA is in getting your first job after college? Here were the results:
61.54% of you said GPA is somewhat important.
23.08% of you said GPA is extremely important.
7.7% of you said GPA is not very important.
7.7% of you said GPA is not important at all.
One reader commented, “I’m sure it’s a valued consideration, but I doubt it makes or breaks someone’s chance at being hired. I guess if you had like a GPA of 1 then it would probably hurt your chances though.”
Back in April, I started applying for summer internship opportunities. When I was in the third round of one company’s interview process, one of the interviewers asked me a question that caught me off guard. She said, “I was impressed to see that you have a 4.0 GPA. How do you feel about GPA in general and about maintaining your current GPA as you head into the fall semester?”
I didn’t really know how to answer her question at first. But it got me thinking… Most of these employers used to be college students with GPAs, too. My guess is that their own experience with academia might influence how they think about hiring students with various GPAs that range from ‘good’ to ‘bad.’
It turns out that the interviewer who asked me the question about my GPA had made a 3.9 GPA in college (it was posted on her LinkedIn profile). Between the fact that she specifically asked me about my GPA in our interview and, as an adult who was well-established and relatively far in her career, still had her college GPA listed on her LinkedIn profile, I could tell that grade point average is something that is important to her.
With all of that being said, this isn’t meant to scare anyone. I doubt the majority of employers share the same mindset as that one interviewer I spoke with.
The argument that you’ll find most common is that, ultimately, GPA doesn’t matter. Employers are unlikely to hire or bar a student or recent graduate from a position solely based on their GPA, and many probably don’t even consider GPA at all.
It’s 2024, and a lot of employers and HR representatives know that they need to hire people—not numbers.
A good GPA certainly doesn’t hurt, but a ‘bad’ GPA might not necessarily hurt you, either. Employers want to know what skills, mindset, personality, and attitude you bring to the table, and a GPA cannot accurately tell them that. Your time spent engaging in and reflecting on extracurriculars, volunteer work, leadership positions, personal projects and hobbies, side hustles, and on- or off-campus jobs can definitely outweigh whatever number shows up on your transcript.
With that being said, however, there are a couple of other bullets we can add to the list of things to consider when it comes to judging the worth of a ‘good’ GPA:
Personal satisfaction
Work ethic and soft skills associated with higher GPAs
Yes, college is all about getting a degree so that you can get your foot in the door upon entering the workforce and have a leg up once you’re inside.
But it’s also about learning and growing as a person. You gain more than just specific knowledge and facts—you start to figure out what you’re passionate about, who you are, and how you operate as an individual.
Sometimes, GPA matters solely because a student chooses to make it matter.
To be clear, your GPA does not define you. But it can serve as a reflection of your dedication, priorities, and growth during your time in college. In the end, how much your GPA matters is up to you and what you make of it.
