UIUC GPA scale and grading policy
Quick answer: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign uses the standard 4.0 scale with +/−. UIUC uses self-reported high school GPA. Course rigor matters for admissions decisions, particularly for engineering and business programs.
| Metric | UIUC Standard |
|---|---|
| Typical admit GPA | 3.6 - 4.0 (3.85 average) |
| Good standing minimum | 2.0 |
| Dean's List threshold | 3.5+ for Dean's List |
| Scale type | Standard 4.0 scale with +/−. |
How Illinois recalculates GPA for admission
UIUC uses self-reported high school GPA. Course rigor matters for admissions decisions, particularly for engineering and business programs. The number you submit on your transcript and the number UIUC uses in its admission decision may differ. Use the calculator above to model both — switch the preset to match Illinois's policy.
Grainger Engineering admit GPA (middle 50%)
3.85 - 4.0 unweighted
Source: UIUC Office of Undergraduate Admissions
Maintaining a good UIUC GPA
- Computer Science is the most selective major in the state. CS at UIUC admits at roughly 6-7%. If CS is your goal, apply to it as your primary major — getting in to LAS and trying to transfer internally is significantly harder than admitting from outside.
- James Scholar is the honors invite. Top-end admits with strong GPAs (typically 3.9+ unweighted) get invited to James Scholar with a separate application. The program adds research grants and priority registration.
- Grade replacement requires a petition. UIUC doesn't auto-replace grades on retake — both grades remain in cumulative GPA. Removing the original requires a formal petition with documented hardship.
Admit-range and policy data verified against Illinois's official admissions page.