Below Average

Is a 1.7 GPA good?

Quick answer: A 1.7 GPA is a C- average — usually below the graduation threshold and almost all college admit minimums.

Letter grade

C-

Percentage

70-72%

Percentile

Bottom 10%

A 1.7 GPA equates to a C- letter grade. While technically passing, it sits below the 2.0 minimum that most high schools require for graduation and that nearly every four-year college requires for admission.

What a 1.7 GPA means for college admissions

College tier accessible: Community colleges, some open-enrollment four-years
Ivy League chance: Not possible
State flagship chance: Not possible
Merit scholarship impact: Most merit awards require 2.5+. Federal Pell Grant available regardless of GPA.

How a 1.7 GPA compares to peers

A 1.7 GPA puts you in the bottom 10% of US high schoolers based on NCES grade-distribution data. On the standard 4.0 unweighted scale, it equals a C- letter grade (70-72%).

How to raise a 1.7 GPA

Use grade replacement. If your school allows retake-with-replacement, that single policy is the fastest GPA lift available — the old grade is removed from the cumulative average.
Front-load A-likely classes next semester. Counterintuitively, scheduling a heavier credit load of courses you can confidently A in moves your GPA more than a lighter schedule.
Run the math first. Some GPA targets are mathematically impossible given remaining credits. The GPA Goal Calculator tells you the average grade you need across remaining classes to reach any target.
Stop the bleeding first. Earn no more D's or F's. One failed course can wipe out three semesters of progress.

Try it now

GPA Goal Calculator — see what you need next semester

Frequently asked questions

Can I get into college with a 1.7 GPA?

Open-enrollment community colleges admit students at this level, often with developmental course placement. Selective four-year colleges typically require 2.5 or higher.

What's the fastest way to raise a 1.7 GPA?

Three things matter: stop the decline, retake courses where your school allows grade replacement, and load up on courses you can confidently earn A's in.