A 3.38 GPA is above average in college and puts you in solid academic standing. The national average college GPA is about 3.15, according to data from the National Center for Education Statistics, so a 3.38 sits comfortably above that benchmark. Whether it counts as “good” depends on what you plan to do with it.
How a 3.38 Compares to the Average
A 3.38 falls in the B-plus range and clears the national average by roughly a fifth of a grade point. That gap matters more than it might sound. GPA distributions tend to cluster tightly, so being 0.2 points above average means you’re outperforming a meaningful share of your peers. You’re not at the top of the class, but you’re well above the midpoint.
Your major adds important context. Average GPAs vary by discipline. Data from UC San Diego’s institutional research illustrates the pattern: arts and humanities majors averaged around 3.25 to 3.29, while science and math majors averaged closer to 3.11 to 3.13, and engineering students landed around 3.24. A 3.38 in a science or engineering program represents stronger relative performance than a 3.38 in a field where higher grades are more common. Employers and graduate admissions committees generally understand this.
What Employers Think of a 3.38
For most entry-level hiring, a 3.38 clears the bar. More than half of employers screen out applicants below a 3.0, which means your GPA keeps you in the running at the majority of companies that use GPA filters. Some competitive employers in finance, consulting, and tech set their cutoff at 3.5, and a 3.38 falls just short of that threshold. But many of those firms still consider candidates slightly below 3.5 if the rest of their application is strong, particularly relevant internships, leadership roles, or technical skills.
The further you get into your career, the less your GPA matters. Most employers stop asking about it after your first or second job. If you’re a freshman or sophomore, you still have time to push it higher. If you’re closer to graduation, focusing on internships, projects, and networking will likely do more for your job prospects than squeezing out another tenth of a point.
Graduate School Expectations
Graduate programs vary widely in their GPA expectations. Many master’s programs list a 3.0 as their minimum, and a 3.38 puts you safely above that floor. More selective programs, especially top-tier MBA, law, or medical schools, typically expect GPAs closer to 3.5 or higher, though they weigh standardized test scores, research experience, personal statements, and recommendations alongside your transcript.
A 3.38 won’t automatically disqualify you from competitive programs, but it may mean other parts of your application need to be especially strong. A high GRE, LSAT, or MCAT score can offset a GPA that’s slightly below a program’s median. Strong letters of recommendation and relevant experience help too. If you’re still early in your coursework, even a modest improvement toward 3.5 over your remaining semesters can make a noticeable difference on applications.
Where a 3.38 Falls on the Honors Scale
Latin honors (cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude) typically start at 3.5, though exact thresholds vary by school. At many universities, cum laude requires a 3.5, magna cum laude a 3.7, and summa cum laude a 3.9. A 3.38 falls short of cum laude at most institutions, but it’s close enough that strong performance in your remaining semesters could get you there. If honors recognition matters to you, calculate how many credit hours you have left and what grades you’d need to hit 3.5 by graduation.
How to Strengthen a 3.38
If you want to push your GPA higher, the math works in your favor if you’re early in college. A student with 60 credit hours at a 3.38 who earns a 3.8 over their remaining 60 hours would graduate around a 3.59, enough for cum laude at many schools. The more credits you’ve already completed, the harder it becomes to move the needle, since each new grade is diluted across a larger pool of coursework.
A few practical moves can help. Retaking a course where you earned a C or D can replace the old grade at many schools, giving you an outsized GPA boost. Choosing electives in areas where you perform well can also help, though loading up on easy courses at the expense of relevant skills isn’t a great long-term trade. Prioritizing office hours, study groups, and consistent review over cramming tends to produce the most reliable grade improvements.
If your GPA is unlikely to change much, shift your energy toward the things that complement it. A 3.38 paired with two strong internships and a portfolio of real work tells a more compelling story than a 3.6 with no practical experience. Employers and admissions committees evaluate the full picture, and a 3.38 gives you a solid foundation to build on.