9 Grad Schools That Accept 2.5 GPA (And Why You Should Apply!)

Identifying grad schools that accept 2.5 GPA from prospective students may not be as hard as it sounds. After all, not every college or university has a strict cutoff when it comes to minimum GPA. And, some institutions may be willing to give you a chance even if your GPA is not the highest on the block.

We’ve provided a list below of sponsored colleges and universities with graduate programs that may accept students with a 2.5 GPA or lower.

written by Shannon Fandler

List of Graduate Schools that Accept 2.5 GPA

Sponsored Listings

Minimum GPA Requirements
1. Southern New Hampshire University 2.75 for full acceptance, 2.0 for provisional acceptance
2. Purdue Global University 2.5 - Lower GPA's may be conditionally accepted
3. Colorado Technical University 2.0
4. Strayer University  2.5
5. Our Lady of the Lake University 2.5
6. Full Sail University 2.7
7. Benedictine University 2.0
8. Northcentral University None Listed
9. Walden University 2.5

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9 Grad Schools That Accept 2.5 GPA (or Don’t List a Requirement)

Keep in mind that these general GPA requirements may be subject to change, and may even vary from program to program at the same grad school. Also, each sponsored school and program will have other admissions requirements besides GPA, so be sure to find out.

Note: All listed GPAs are on a 4.0 scale.

1

Southern New Hampshire University

Southern New Hampshire University is a private, nonprofit institution founded in 1932. They serve about 3,000 on-campus students and over 80,000 online students.

SNHU offers on-campus, hybrid, and online graduate programs in areas like education, finance, information technology, and more. They also have an MBA program with many potential concentrations on offer.

GPA Requirements vary by program.

Low GPA Graduate Programs:

Admissions Requirements:

  • Graduate students must apply with a GPA of 2.75 for full acceptance
  • GPA of 2.0 for provisional acceptance.
  • Students accepted provisionally must earn a cumulative GPA of 3.0 in each of their first two terms in order to remain in the graduate program.

2

Purdue Global University

Purdue Global University is a part of the Purdue University System. In 2017, Purdue acquired Kaplan University and formed Purdue University Global - which focuses on high quality adult education online - including a variety of online master's programs.

Purdue Global University features campus programs, as well as online degree programs in a variety of fields including Psychology, Nursing, Criminal Justice, and much more.

Low GPA Graduate Programs:

Admissions Requirements:

  • 2.5GPA requirement for admission to Master's Programs
  • Students with lower GPA's may conditionally be accepted
  • Other admissions requirements include transcripts and English fluency
  • Applicants may be required to complete an interview as well

3

Colorado Technical University

Colorado Technical University was founded in 1965 and continues to offer career-focused education to students throughout Colorado and the world. Besides campuses in Colorado Springs and Aurora, CTU has numerous online programs. They are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

CTU features online and campus-based master’s programs in business, computer science, nursing, and other career-oriented areas. They also offer doctoral degree programs.

Low GPA Graduate Programs:

Admissions Requirements:

  • Minimum GPA of 2.0
  • Other admissions requirements may apply

4

Strayer University

Strayer University is an accredited institution with a proud history of 125 years in quality education. Plus, you can save up to 25%. Save thousands on your masters’s with the Strayer Graduation Fund.

Programs include accounting, education, heath service admin, HR, cyber security, information systems, management, MVA and public administration. 

Low GPA Graduate Programs:

Admissions Requirements:

  • Cumulative GPA of at least 2.5

5

Our Lady of the Lake University

Our Lady of the Lake University was founded in 1895 and now serves over 3,100 students. They are based in San Antonio and also offer programs in Houston, the Rio Grande Valley, and online.

OLLU is home to masters programs in areas ranging from accounting to social work. They also offer doctoral degree programs in Counseling Psychology (PsyD) and Leadership Studies (PhD).

Low GPA Graduate Programs:

Admissions Requirements:

  • 2.50 Minimum GPA
  • 3.0 for the last 60 credits of undergraduate work
  • MEd and MA Special Education programs require a minimum GPA of 2.75

6

Full Sail University

Full Sail University offers degree programs dedicated to entertainment, media, arts, and technology. In addition to their Winter Park, Florida campus, which is well-equipped with production studios and labs, Full Sail offers some programs completely online.

Full Sail is home to a variety of master’s degree programs. Offerings span many creative areas, like film production, game design, journalism, media design, and more.

Low GPA Graduate Programs:

Admissions Requirements:

  • Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 in their Bachelor’s program
  • Applicants with lower GPAs need to submit a Letter of Intent, resume, and college transcripts to the program director for potential consideration.

7

Benedictine University

Founded in 1887, Benedictine University aspires to be a thought leader in Catholic higher education. As an inclusive academic community, the school is dedicated to teaching and learning to provide a transformative educational experience.

Specific admissions requirements vary, depending on the program you’re applying to.

Low GPA Graduate Programs:

Admissions Requirements:

  • Completed application and transcripts
  • One-page goal statement
  • A letter of reference
  • Resume (for business programs)

8

Northcentral University

Northcentral University is an accredited online university which offers graduate programs. Northcentral prides itself as considering its website to be its campus - a way for students to achieve their educational aspirations online.

Low GPA Graduate Programs:

Admissions requirements:

  • No minimum GPA requirement is listed for graduate programs
  • Transcripts
  • Resume
  • Other program specific requirements may apply

9

Walden University

Walden University is an accredited university that offers more than 85 degree programs with more than 435 specializations and concentrations, including a wide array of master's and PhD programs. Founded 45 years ago, Walden offers online learning to students in all 50 US states and more than 150 countries around the world. 

Low GPA Graduate Programs:

Admissions requirements:

  • 2.5 GPA in Bachelor's studies for admission into one of its many Master's programs
  • Completed application
  • Application fee
  • Official Bachelor's transcripts

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Can I Get into Graduate School with a 2.5 GPA? How to Get into Grad School with a 2.5 GPA (Potentially!)

So, you didn’t do as well in your undergraduate program as you wished. Maybe life circumstances got in the way of reaching your full potential in college. And, maybe you’ve matured a lot since your undergrad years, and you’re looking for a second chance.

There are a few strategies that might help you find and apply to graduate schools that accept 2.5 GPA and universities that accept 2.5 GPA. These include:

  • Finding schools that consider the whole story. As an applicant, you’re more than just your GPA. Perhaps you have an impressive work history, inspiring goals, or a commitment to personal and professional growth. Of course, some grad schools may weed out applicants based on GPA, without looking at the rest of the package.

    So, pay extra attention to the admissions requirements for schools you’re considering. Ideally, the schools you apply to will give weight to other, stronger aspects of your application. Some grad schools may pay attention to whether your GPA in your major is higher than your cumulative GPA, for instance. And some schools may even permit you to submit an explanation as to why your GPA does not reflect your full potential.

  • Communicating with the admissions department. If life circumstances contributed to your low undergraduate GPA, you may wish to explain this to the admissions committee at your prospective school. The goal here is not to make excuses, but to make a case for why your 2.5 GPA is not indicative of your true ability.
  • Wowing admissions with the rest of your application. If your GPA is on the low side but meets your prospective school’s minimum requirements, you’re still not over the finish line. It may be especially important to give your full attention to other best aspects of your application, such as test scores (GRE, GMAT, etc.), admissions essays, your statement of purpose, etc. And, strong letters of recommendation can’t hurt!
  • Pursuing post-graduate work. Taking additional top coursework after you’ve earned your bachelor’s degree may be a way to boost your credentials. If you opt to try this route, you’ll probably want to pursue coursework in the same area you wish to study in grad school.
  • Considering online graduate schools that accept 2.5 GPA. If you’re limiting your choices to schools in your geographic area, you may have fewer potential resources. Opening up your search to include online programs means you can consider colleges and universities in other parts of the country. That might make finding the perfect match just a bit easier.

So, can you get into grad school with a 2.5 GPA? The answer will be different for everyone, but doing some research on prospective programs is a good start.

Explore Potential Grad Schools That Accept 2.5 GPA

Take the plunge, and start researching to find a 2.5 GPA grad school that’s perfect for you! Hint: If you see a school that sounds ideal, request info to learn more. You can also find undergrad colleges that accept low GPA here.

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