Harvard does not publish a hard GPA cutoff, but competitive applicants usually have near-perfect grades. A reasonable target is about a 3.9 to 4.0 unweighted GPA, or roughly a 4.2 weighted GPA, with very strong course rigor.

What that means

Harvard’s admitted students are typically at or near the top of their class, and advanced classes like AP, IB, or dual enrollment matter a lot. In other words, a high GPA helps, but course difficulty and the rest of the application matter too.

Practical target

  • Best range: 3.9+ unweighted.
  • Very competitive weighted GPA: about 4.15 to 4.25.
  • No official minimum: Harvard can admit students below that if the rest of the profile is exceptional.

Plain-English answer

If you want a simple benchmark, aim for mostly A’s in the hardest classes your school offers. Harvard is extremely selective, so GPA alone will not guarantee admission, but a strong academic record is one of the biggest pieces.

TL;DR: There’s no official minimum GPA, but around a 3.9+ unweighted or 4.2 weighted is the kind of profile usually seen among strong Harvard applicants.