An 87 is a B+ letter grade, which converts to roughly a 3.2 to 3.3 on the standard 4.0 GPA scale. It places you solidly above average in most American high schools and colleges, though how much weight it carries depends on where you’re applying or what your academic goals are.
Letter Grade and GPA Conversion
On the most widely used grading scale in the United States, an 87 falls in the B+ range (typically 87 to 89 percent). The exact GPA value can vary slightly by institution. Some schools assign an 87 a 3.2 on a 4.0 scale, while others place the entire 87 to 89 range at a 3.3. The difference is minor, but if your school publishes its own conversion chart, that version is the one that appears on your transcript.
A B+ sits two notches below an A and one notch above a straight B (usually 83 to 86 percent). It signals strong performance without quite reaching the top tier. For context, the national average high school GPA is around a 3.0, so an 87 puts you above the midpoint.
What an 87 Average Means for College Admissions
For most state universities and less selective private colleges, an 87 average (roughly a 3.3 GPA) is considered above average and positions you well for admission. Many schools in this category accept students with GPAs between 2.5 and 3.5, so a 3.3 lands comfortably in range.
At highly selective schools, a 3.3 falls on the lower end of admitted students’ GPA ranges. These institutions typically look for GPAs of 3.8 and above. That doesn’t mean an 87 average automatically disqualifies you, but it does mean you’d need to stand out in other areas: strong test scores, compelling essays, leadership in extracurriculars, or meaningful work experience.
Course rigor matters here too. An 87 earned in a schedule loaded with AP or honors classes carries more weight than an 87 in standard-level courses. Many admissions offices recalculate GPAs using a weighted scale that gives extra points for advanced coursework, which can push a 3.3 closer to a 3.5 or higher in their evaluation.
How an 87 Fits Into Your Overall GPA
A single 87 on one assignment, exam, or course won’t define your GPA by itself. Your cumulative GPA averages every graded course together, weighted by credit hours. If you earn an 87 in a three-credit class and a 95 in another three-credit class, your average for those two courses would be about a 91, or an A-minus range.
This means one B+ doesn’t drag down an otherwise strong transcript very much, and it also means one B+ won’t rescue a transcript full of C’s. What matters most is the pattern across all your courses over time. If you’re consistently scoring in the mid-to-high 80s, you can expect a cumulative GPA in the 3.2 to 3.4 range.
How 87 Percent Translates Outside the US
Grading scales vary significantly by country. In the United Kingdom, an 87 percent would be an exceptionally high mark. UK universities classify degrees into bands, and anything at or above 70 percent earns a First-Class Honours, the highest classification. Scores in the high 80s are rare and considered outstanding in that system.
In Canada, an 87 typically falls in the A-minus range at most universities, which is notably higher than the B+ it represents on the American scale. If you’re comparing grades across borders, keep in mind that the same number can mean very different things depending on the country’s grading culture and how exams are designed.
Raising an 87 to an A
If you’re sitting at an 87 in a class and want to push into A territory, you generally need to hit 90 percent or above on remaining assignments. The earlier in the semester you identify the gap, the more room you have to close it. Check your syllabus for how heavily each category is weighted. In many courses, final exams or major projects account for 20 to 30 percent of the total grade, so a strong finish can move the needle.
It’s also worth checking whether your instructor rounds up. Some professors will bump an 89.5 to a 90, while others hold firm at published cutoffs. Knowing the policy early helps you set a realistic target rather than hoping for a last-minute break.