Choosing the right grad school for you depends on a variety of individual circumstances including your qualifications and interests. However, there are many grad schools that are easier to get into than others. Some schools have a high acceptance rate, but it may not mean that the degree program is any easier than any other.
The easiest grad schools to get into typically have very high acceptance rates (higher than 90%). Online graduate programs tend to be easier to gain admission into than traditional brick-and-mortar schools but this isn’t always the case.
Graduate schools with online program offerings are easier to get into because online schools are often more flexible when it comes to admissions requirements and can provide students with a learning environment in which they can learn at their own pace.
On the other hand, some universities may offer a variety of accelerated programs or specialized offerings that make them easier to get into than other schools.
Some universities and higher education providers have such a great reputation that their acceptance rates are incredibly low. For example, the Stanford MBA program has an acceptance rate of only 6.5%.
Ensuring that your application is as strong as possible can make even the most competitive graduate programs easy to get into.
Whether or not you are looking for a Masters degree, PhD, or any other graduate degree here is all the information you need to get into a grad school easily.
Are there Grad Schools that you can get into easily?
Grad school is an important part of furthering your education and career.
Many schools have high acceptance rates, meaning that they accept more applicants than they reject. However, it’s important to still meet the admission requirements for each individual school.
The admission requirements for many college or university application includes having a certain GPA, taking specific courses, and submitting standardized test scores.
Here are some of the easiest universities to get into. The data they provide is often not differentiated between undergraduate and grad school but this data should give you an indication of the relative ease that you can get into some of these schools.
| University | Acceptance rate (%) | Average GPA of admitted students |
|---|---|---|
| University of Kentucky | 95.9 | 3.23 – 3.57 |
| Alabama state university | 97.0 | 2.64 – 2.90 |
| Utah state university | 91.0 | 3.13 – 3.52 |
| The Evergreen State College (Evergreen) | 97.9 | 2.98 – 3.33 |
| Covenant College | 98.2 | 3.28 – 3.57 |
| University of New Mexico-Main Campus (UNM) | 94.3 | 2.98 – 3.33 |
| Northeastern State University (NSU) | 99.6 | 2.89 – 3.25 |
| Westminster College | 96.3 | 3.06 – 3.33 |
| University of Wisconsin-Stout (UW-Stout) | 90.5 | 2.98 – 3.33 |
| Champlain College | 85.1 | 3.35 – 3.57 |
| University of Wyoming (UW) | 96.0 | 3.23 – 3.52 |
You can see from the above graph that there are plenty of options for universities and grad schools with a very high acceptance rate. That is, an acceptance rate greater than 90%. One of the easiest universities to get into is Northeastern State University (NSU) with an acceptance rate of over 99% across all of it’s courses. It also accepts low GPAs of around 2.9. This makes it one of the colleges with the easiest admission requirements.
I have also listed the average GPA of students who were accepted into the universities to give you an idea of the sort of GPA is required for universities with high acceptances.
Additionally, some grad schools require letters of recommendation and personal statements from their applicants. Although getting into some grad schools may be easier than others, it’s important to research what each school requires and make sure you meet all of those standards before applying.
If you want to know more about the acceptance rates of getting into a university check out my other article:
Easiest grad schools to get into with a Low GPA?
There are many graduate schools that accept low GPAs and have a high acceptance rate. We have listed a few of the universities with a high acceptance rate in the above table.
These graduate schools often focus on other aspects of a student’s profile such as professional experience, test scores, letters of recommendation, and personal statements rather than GPA or previous academic experience.
Some examples of these types of schools include:
· Walden University,
· Grand Canyon University,
· Capella University,
· Liberty University,
· American Public University System and more.
Each school has different criteria for admissions so it is important to research into each one carefully before applying.
TOP TIP: Make sure that you choose a graduate school that will allow you to enter the career that you want and has a good reputation. You can get an idea of this by reaching out to people currently in your field of choice and asking them about the reputation of the University that you are considering.
What GPA is too low for grad school? What are the real admission requirements?
When it comes to grad school, your GPA is an important factor in determining your eligibility.
We can see from the table above that a GPA of 3.0 or higher is considered good and most grad schools will accept applicants with that score.
It’s important to understand that having a low GPA (generally considered to be any score in the range of 2.0-3.0) can put you at a huge disadvantage when applying for grad school.
Many competitive programs expect a GPA of at least 3.5, and some even require a score of 4.0.
Anything below a 3.0 may be seen as too low for some grad schools, though there are exceptions depending on the program, institution and your personal situation.
It is also important to note that some programs may require a higher GPA than others, so make sure to check with your desired school before applying.
If you have a lower GPA but strong credentials in other areas such as research experience or professional accomplishments, this can help strengthen your application and potentially offset any lower grades.
Be sure to include any stories and experiences that make you stand out as a candidate.
You’ll be amazed at what a relevant story about your past and your desires for the future can do to sway the opinion of an admissions officer.
How to get into grad school with a low GPA?
The first step to getting into grad school with a low GPA is to look for schools that have a lower GPA requirement.
Some graduate programs are more flexible when it comes to their GPA requirements, so you may be able to find a school that will accept you if your GPA is lower than the standard.
Additionally, some schools offer conditional admissions which allow you to start classes before meeting certain requirements, such as specific grades or test scores. This option might be worth exploring if you are interested in attending grad school with a lower GPA.
Be Prepared to Take the GRE or GMAT
While having a low GPA can make it difficult to get into grad school, it’s not impossible.
If you have a 3.0 or less, you should be prepared to take extra exams such as the GRE or GMAT to demonstrate your academic ability.
These tests can be just as important as your GPA when it comes to grad school admissions.
Having a higher score than your GPA will help you demonstrate that you can make up for any discrepancies that may exist between your GPA and the expectations of the school you are applying to.
Highlight your extracurricular activities
It is also very beneficial to draw attention to any extracurricular activities you’ve participated in during your academic career that demonstrate your commitment and passion for your field of study – this could help compensate for any weaknesses in your application due to a low GPA.
How to explain your low GPA
If your GPA is on the lower side, it’s important to explain your circumstances when applying to grad school.
You’ll want to provide a detailed explanation in your application as to why your GPA is lower than the norm.
This could include any extenuating circumstances, such as:
- A family emergency or illness,
- Serious life events
- Emergency travel
- Mental health crises
- And others…
that affected your academic performance.
It is important that you also explain any other accomplishments or experiences that demonstrate your ability and commitment to succeeding in the program you are applying for.
By providing this explanation, you can show the admissions and selection committee that you can succeed despite having serious setbacks throughout your earlier educational experiences.
Easy grad school admission: what to look for?
When you are applying to grad school it is important to look at a variety of different aspects to make it easier for your acceptance.
Here are all of the things that are very important for getting into the grad school of your choice.
Acceptance rates
Understanding the institution’s acceptance rate is a great indication of whether it is an easy grad school to get into. Many schools have reasonably high acceptance rates and you can find the acceptance rates of many schools at their admissions webpage or at Acceptancerate.com.
Acceptancerates.com are a provider of data that can help you make a decision about whether or not a school is particularly easy or hard to get into. You can browse by state, and college, and read their blog for more information about getting into different graduate programs easily.
Graduation rates
The graduation rate of a particular school is also another great way to gauge the school’s difficulty level. The easiest master’s degree will have a much higher graduation rate than the more difficult alternatives.
It is important that you choose a university with a great graduation rate as it is an indication that the University is capable of producing graduates that can finish on time and do not struggle with their degree.
GPA of people admitted
Many universities also offer the average GPA of students that they admit to their degree programs.
Looking at the GPA of successful applicants will give you an idea of how easy it is to get into a particular degree or college.
Make sure that the average GPA of successful applicants is something that you are able to achieve. Otherwise, you may find it very difficult when competing against people with much higher GPAs than you.
Online courses
Online courses are a fantastic way for people to get into grad school easily.
Typically, online grad schools have got an easier application process and are much more flexible and suited to people who did not find traditional academia easy to settle into.
I have done a variety of online courses and I must say that I really enjoy the flexibility offered by taking your classes online.
Wrapping up – What graduate school is easiest to get into?
In this article, we have covered everything you need to know about the easiest graduate programs that you can complete after your undergraduate program.
Your undergraduate degree may not prepare you 100% for your graduate application but looking for grad schools with the easiest admission will help you ensure that you get accepted.
Being targeted in the schools that you apply to and looking for fully online options may be the best way to ensure that you have an easy time when applying for your graduate and master programs.
Look for schools with low GPA requirements and offer online and on-campus programs. The best programs include mixed learning options to suit your learning style.
Take a look at our list of the easiest grad schools to get accepted and perhaps you will receive an offer from a university that you didn’t think you’d be accepted into. Many schools offer alternative entrance pathways as well which is something to look for if you cannot apply directly to their graduate program.
This article has been through the easiest online graduate degree programs that you may wish to consider.
