A− GPA
An A− letter grade equals a 3.7 GPA on the standard 4.0 scale and a percentage of 90–92%. It is one step below a full A and one of the strongest grades a student can earn.
GPA Scale — Letter Grade Conversions
| Letter Grade | Percentage | 4.0 GPA Scale |
|---|---|---|
| A+ | 97-100% | 4.0 |
| A | 93-96% | 4.0 |
| A- | 90-92% | 3.7 ← You Are Here |
| B+ | 87-89% | 3.3 |
| B | 83-86% | 3.0 |
| B- | 80-82% | 2.7 |
| C+ | 77-79% | 2.3 |
| C | 73-76% | 2.0 |
| C- | 70-72% | 1.7 |
| D+ | 67-69% | 1.3 |
| D | 65-66% | 1.0 |
| F | Below 65% | 0.0 |
What Is an A− Grade?
An A− is the third-highest letter grade in the U.S. grading system. It represents a score of 90–92% and earns 3.7 grade points on the standard 4.0 scale — 0.3 points less than a full A or A+. This distinction matters: a student with all A− grades will have a 3.7 GPA rather than a 4.0, which is still an excellent academic record but not a perfect one. The A− is the boundary grade where strong performance begins to fall just short of the top category.
Is an A− GPA Good?
Yes — an A− is an excellent grade. A 3.7 GPA places you well above the national average of 3.0 and in the top tier of academic performance by any standard measure. For high school students, consistent A− grades produce a GPA competitive enough for selective college admissions. For college students, a 3.7 qualifies for Dean’s List recognition at most universities and positions you strongly for graduate school, honors programs, and competitive employers. The only meaningful limitation of an A− compared to a full A is the GPA point difference — 3.7 vs. 4.0 — which can matter in scholarship calculations and GPA-based eligibility screens.
A− Grade for High School Students
In high school, earning A− grades consistently produces a GPA in the 3.7 range — a result that opens doors at a very wide range of colleges. Many selective universities have average admitted GPAs between 3.7 and 4.0, so a student with A− grades is competitive at these schools, particularly when paired with a challenging course load and strong standardized test scores. One important note: on a weighted GPA scale, an A− in an AP or Honors course earns more than 3.7 points, which can meaningfully push your overall average higher. If you are taking advanced courses, your weighted GPA may look significantly better than your unweighted 3.7.
A− Grade for College Students
In college, an A− is a strong grade that reflects solid command of the material. The difference between an A− and an A in GPA terms is 0.3 points per course — which adds up over a full semester. A student who earns A− in five classes instead of A will have a semester GPA of 3.7 rather than 4.0. Over four years, that difference could separate a 3.7 cumulative GPA from a 4.0. Whether that gap matters depends on your goals — for most purposes, a 3.7 is excellent. For highly competitive programs with strict GPA cutoffs, every 0.1 point can matter.
Does an A− Count as a 4.0?
On the standard plus/minus 4.0 grading scale, no — an A− earns 3.7, not 4.0. However, not every school uses a plus/minus system. Some institutions assign a flat 4.0 to all A-range grades, including A−, which means an 90% and a 97% both count the same on that scale. Always check your school’s official grading policy before assuming how your A− is being counted. If your school uses plus/minus grading, an A− will appear as 3.7 on your transcript and GPA calculation.
Frequently Asked Questions — A− Grade
An A− corresponds to a percentage of 90–92%. A score of 90% is the lowest that earns an A−, and 92% is the highest before the grade moves up to a full A (93%). Both earn 3.7 grade points on the standard 4.0 GPA scale. For reference on how grading scales define the A− range across different academic contexts, this grading scale reference is helpful.
A 92% is an A− on the standard U.S. grading scale, which places A− at 90–92%. A 93% crosses into the A range and earns 4.0 grade points. This single percentage point difference — 92% vs. 93% — is worth 0.3 GPA points per course, which is one of the most common and impactful grade boundaries in the U.S. system.
Yes — on the standard plus/minus 4.0 scale, an A− earns exactly 3.7 grade points. A cumulative GPA of 3.7 means your overall average across all classes is an A−. Some schools do not use plus/minus grading and assign 4.0 to all A-range grades including A−, so always verify your institution’s specific grading policy.
A 90% is an A− on the standard U.S. grading scale, which places the A− range at 90–92%. It is the lowest score that earns an A-level grade. A 89% drops into the B+ range and earns only 3.3 grade points, making the 89% to 90% boundary one of the most significant single-point thresholds in the grading system.
Yes. An A earns 4.0 grade points and an A− earns 3.7 — a difference of 0.3 points per course. In a single course, this gap is small. But across a full semester of five courses, the difference between all A grades and all A− grades is 0.3 GPA points (4.0 vs. 3.7). Over four years of college, that gap can separate a 3.7 cumulative GPA from a 4.0, which matters for scholarships, graduate school applications, and GPA-based honors thresholds.