Don’t give up just yet if you’re concerned about your GPA and believe you might not be able to complete a master’s program in the United States! In the USA, a number of universities offer master’s programs that accept low GPAs, allowing individuals with lesser academic standing to pursue further education. Many of these universities also take into account your personal statement, GRE scores, and professional experience. Therefore, there is still a way for you to pursue your studies in the US even if your GPA isn’t flawless! To find out more about US institutions that accept master’s degrees with low GPAs and how to improve your application, keep reading this blog.
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Get Up to $100,000 Student Loan for Your Master in US or Canada.
Table of Contents
Categories of GPA in the USA
A thorough breakdown of GPA categories is provided below to help you understand where you stand academically and identify the opportunities for pursuing a Master’s degree in the USA, even with a low GPA.
| US Degree Classification | Grade/Percentage | GPA |
| First-Class Honours (First or 1st) – Very Good GPA | Grade A or 90% or above | 3.7-4.0 |
| Upper Second-Class Honours (2:1) – Good GPA | Grade B or 80-89% | 2.7-3.6 |
| Lower Second-Class Honours (2:2) – Low GPA | Grade C or 70-79% | 1.7-2.6 |
| Third-Class Honours (Third or 3rd) – Very Low GPA | Grade D or 60-69% | 1.0-1.6 |
Universities in the USA That Accept Masters Students with Low GPAs
For foreign students, discovering American universities that accept low GPAs for master’s degrees can be a game-changer. It is well known that these universities consider things like relevant professional experience, personal statements, and GRE scores.
It’s crucial to remember, too, that some universities could need a higher GPA for prestigious programs like business administration or computer science. This is the average GPA that some US universities require for master’s degrees.
| University | GPA Required |
| University of Michigan at Flint | 3.0 |
| University of Maine at Presque Isle | 3.0 |
| University of Maryland Eastern Shore | 2.5 – 3.0 |
| University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff | 2.7 – 3.0 |
| University of Minnesota Crookston | 3.0 – 3.5 |
| University of Pittsburgh at Bradford | 3.3 |
| University of South Carolina Beaufort | 2.0 – 3.5 |
| University of Tennessee at Chattanooga | 3.0 – 3.5 |
| University of Texas at Tyler | 3.0 – 3.3 |
| University of Washington Tacoma | 3.0 – 3.4 |
| University of Wisconsin Parkside | 3.0 |
| University of Massachusetts Dartmouth | 3.0 – 3.2 |
| Indiana University Northwest | 3.0 |
| Louisiana State University Shreveport | 2.5 – 3.0 |
Read Also: Top 30 Global Universities with the Highest Acceptance Rates 2024?
List of Universities that Accept 2.0 GPA for Masters in the USA
If you’re wondering which universities in the USA accept a 2.0 GPA for master’s programs, here is a helpful list to guide you. These universities accept students with a 2.0 GPA only in certain courses. Therefore, always check the official university website to ensure your marks align with the requirements.
Here’s your table with the universities and their GPA requirements:
| # | University Name | GPA Required |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Maryland Eastern Shore | 2.5+ |
| 2 | Oakwood University | 2.5+ |
| 3 | Stillman College | 2.5+ |
| 4 | Talladega College | 2.0+ |
| 5 | University of Alaska Southeast | 2.5+ |
| 6 | University of Arkansas at Monticello | 2.0+ |
| 7 | Arkansas Baptist College | 2.0+ |
| 8 | University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff | 2.5+ |
| 9 | Lincoln University | 2.0+ |
| 10 | Northwestern Polytechnic University | 2.0+ |
| 11 | Metropolitan State University of Denver | 2.5+ |
| 12 | Post University | 2.0+ |
| 13 | Beacon College | 2.5+ |
| 14 | Bethune-Cookman University | 2.5+ |
| 15 | Carlos Albizu University – Miami | 2.5+ |
| 16 | Edward Waters College | 2.0+ |
| 17 | Florida Memorial University | 2.4+ |
| 18 | Webber International University | 2.5+ |
| 19 | Fort Valley State University | 2.0+ |
| 20 | Life University | 2.5+ |
| 21 | Luther Rice University | 2.0+ |
| 22 | Savannah State University | 2.0+ |
| 23 | East-West University | 2.0+ |
| 24 | Governors State University | 2.5+ |
| 25 | National Louis University | 2.0+ |
| 26 | Northeastern Illinois University | 2.5+ |
| 27 | University of Dubuque | 2.5+ |
| 28 | William Penn University | 2.0+ |
| 29 | Kentucky State University | 2.5+ |
| 30 | Dillard University | 2.5+ |
| 31 | Grambling State University | 2.0+ |
| 32 | Southern University at New Orleans | 2.0+ |
| 33 | Bowie State University | 2.5+ |
| 34 | Coppin State University | 2.5+ |
| 35 | University of Baltimore | 2.5+ |
| 36 | Finlandia University | 2.0+ |
| 37 | Mississippi Valley State University | 2.0+ |
| 38 | Harris-Stowe State University | 2.5+ |
| 39 | Lincoln University | 2.0+ |
| 40 | Montana State University—Northern | 2.5+ |
| 41 | Shaw University | 2.0+ |
| 42 | Central State University | 2.2+ |
| 43 | Langston University | 2.2+ |
| 44 | Cheyney University of Pennsylvania | 2.0+ |
| 45 | Bayamon Central University | 2.0+ |
| 46 | Caribbean University | 2.0+ |
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Universities That Accept 2.5 GPA for Master’s in the USA
| # | University Name | GPA Required | Admission Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Maryland Eastern Shore | 2.5+ | SAT/ACT optional, transcripts required |
| 2 | Oakwood University | 2.5+ | Faith-based institution, requires personal statement |
| 3 | Stillman College | 2.5+ | Open to all majors, SAT/ACT optional |
| 4 | Talladega College | 2.0+ | Personal statement and transcripts required |
| 5 | University of Alaska Southeast | 2.5+ | SAT/ACT recommended, flexible admissions |
| 6 | University of Arkansas at Monticello | 2.0+ | Open admissions, transcripts required |
| 7 | Arkansas Baptist College | 2.0+ | Open admissions, faith-based institution |
| 8 | University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff | 2.5+ | SAT/ACT recommended, transcripts required |
| 9 | Lincoln University | 2.0+ | Standard admissions, SAT/ACT optional |
| 10 | Northwestern Polytechnic University | 2.0+ | STEM-focused, international-friendly |
| 11 | Metropolitan State University of Denver | 2.5+ | SAT/ACT optional, holistic review process |
| 12 | Post University | 2.0+ | Open admissions, online programs available |
| 13 | Beacon College | 2.5+ | Specializes in learning disabilities, essay required |
| 14 | Bethune-Cookman University | 2.5+ | HBCU, faith-based, holistic admissions |
| 15 | Carlos Albizu University – Miami | 2.5+ | Bilingual programs, psychology-focused |
| 16 | Edward Waters College | 2.0+ | Open admissions, HBCU institution |
| 17 | Florida Memorial University | 2.4+ | SAT/ACT recommended, HBCU institution |
| 18 | Webber International University | 2.5+ | Business-focused, SAT/ACT optional |
| 19 | Fort Valley State University | 2.0+ | SAT/ACT optional, HBCU institution |
| 20 | Life University | 2.5+ | Specializes in health sciences, SAT/ACT optional |
| 21 | Luther Rice University | 2.0+ | Faith-based institution, essay required |
| 22 | Savannah State University | 2.0+ | HBCU, holistic admissions, SAT/ACT optional |
| 23 | East-West University | 2.0+ | Open admissions, international-friendly |
| 24 | Governors State University | 2.5+ | SAT/ACT optional, holistic review |
| 25 | National Louis University | 2.0+ | Open admissions, essay required |
| 26 | Northeastern Illinois University | 2.5+ | SAT/ACT optional, holistic admissions |
| 27 | University of Dubuque | 2.5+ | Christian-affiliated, SAT/ACT optional |
| 28 | William Penn University | 2.0+ | Open admissions, transcripts required |
| 29 | Kentucky State University | 2.5+ | HBCU, SAT/ACT optional |
| 30 | Dillard University | 2.5+ | HBCU, SAT/ACT recommended |
| 31 | Grambling State University | 2.0+ | Open admissions, HBCU institution |
| 32 | Southern University at New Orleans | 2.0+ | HBCU, flexible admissions |
| 33 | Bowie State University | 2.5+ | HBCU, SAT/ACT recommended |
| 34 | Coppin State University | 2.5+ | HBCU, holistic admissions |
| 35 | University of Baltimore | 2.5+ | SAT/ACT optional, business-focused |
| 36 | Finlandia University | 2.0+ | Open admissions, transcripts required |
| 37 | Mississippi Valley State University | 2.0+ | HBCU, SAT/ACT optional |
| 38 | Harris-Stowe State University | 2.5+ | HBCU, SAT/ACT recommended |
| 39 | Lincoln University | 2.0+ | Open admissions, SAT/ACT optional |
| 40 | Montana State University—Northern | 2.5+ | SAT/ACT optional, STEM-focused |
| 41 | Shaw University | 2.0+ | HBCU, holistic review process |
| 42 | Central State University | 2.2+ | HBCU, SAT/ACT optional |
| 43 | Langston University | 2.2+ | HBCU, open admissions |
| 44 | Cheyney University of Pennsylvania | 2.0+ | HBCU, flexible admissions |
| 45 | Bayamon Central University | 2.0+ | Spanish-speaking institution, open admissions |
| 46 | Caribbean University | 2.0+ | Open admissions, bilingual programs |
Read Also: Universities in Australia that Accept HND, Second Class and Third Class for Masters
How to Get into Universities with Low GPA
Even though your GPA may be low, it doesn’t imply you can’t get into an international university. When applying to a university in the United States, keep these points in mind:
- Describe the cause of your poor grades. This can be mentioned at an interview or in an SOP or personal statement. Another option is to write a different letter about this.
- A compelling statement of purpose or personal statement will be very helpful.
- Emphasize the courses or areas of study where you performed well. You can emphasize the subjects in which you did well, even if your overall result was low.
- Getting high grades on tests like the GRE or GMAT will help your application.
- Focus on other aspects of your application. Add any pertinent project experience, internships, professional experience, and personal abilities and knowledge.
- Enroll in Courses: To improve your profile and demonstrate to the admissions committee the abilities you have earned, enroll in more online short certification courses or Examlabs.
Documents Required to Study at Universities that Accept Low GPA for Masters in the USA
Depending on the degree and the university you are applying to, different documents will be needed. The typical documentation needed are as follows:
- Filled-out application
- A personal statement outlining your reasons for selecting the program and university, your poor academic performance, any relevant experience and skills you have gained through job or study, and your future professional goals and how this program will help you achieve them
- Academic Transcripts
- Copy of bachelor’s degree or equivalent
- Copy of English language test scores
- Copy of GMAT/GRE/LSAT/MCAT test scores
- Self-attested X & XII marksheet and certificates
- 2 references
- Copy of Passport
- Resume
- Portfolio (for design courses)
- Research Proposal
Note that all academic transcripts should officially be translated into English.
FAQs
Why should you study in the USA?
For a variety of reasons, international students from all over the world choose the USA. Numerous internationally recognized colleges with a wealth of growth prospects call it home. Additionally, you have the opportunity to practice with the greatest equipment available, which will enhance your learning experience.
How much does it cost to live in the United States?
With rent excluded, the average monthly cost of living in the United States is around USD 1,164. Depending on the area and kind of lodging, rent in the USA usually varies between USD 950 and USD 3,000 per month.
What universities accept a 2.0 GPA for masters in the USA?
Many American institutions will accept students with a GPA of 2.0, depending on the course. Talladega College, Stillman College, Oakwood University, and Maryland Eastern Shore are a few well-known universities.
Which universities in the USA accept low GPAs for master’s programs?
Universities in the United States that accept master’s degrees with low GPAs include Arkansas Baptist College, Albany State University, Alabama State University, and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.
Can I do a master’s in the USA with a low GPA?
Yes, with a poor GPA, you can still pursue a master’s degree in the United States. Particularly if you have other good points, such as relevant work experience, high test scores, or an engaging statement of purpose, some colleges will admit students with lower GPAs.
Can a 2.2 graduate do a master’s in the USA?
While it is feasible, it can be difficult to gain admission in the United States with a GPA of 2.2. Although some colleges might accept applicants with a 2.2 GPA, you’ll probably need to submit a compelling application along with extra credentials, such as a high GRE or GMAT score or relevant work experience.
Is a 2.5 GPA good for masters in USA?
A 2.5 GPA is on the lower end of the spectrum for most US universities, but some may still accept it if you can show additional qualities, such as a good recommendation letter or exceptional work experience.
Read Also: Universities in Australia that Accept HND, Second Class and Third Class for Masters
