Great Colleges for Students with "B" Averages

Graves Hall, Morehouse College
Wikimedia Commons

You don't need straight "A" grades to get into a great college or university. The schools below all admit some students with grades in the "B" range. Keep in mind that these are not schools for weak students: "B" averages tend to be on the low end of the students who get in, and nearly all of these schools admit almost no students with "C" averages. The schools are listed in alphabetical order.

Alfred University

Alfred University Steinheim
Photo Credit: Allen Grove
  • Location: Alfred, New York
  • What Makes it Special?: high ranking for value; small class size; exceptional programs in ceramic art and ceramic engineering; membership in Phi Beta Kappa for strengths in the liberal arts and sciences; feel of a small private college with the breadth of a comprehensive university
  • Admissions: A "B" average and 1000 on the SAT will put you on target for Alfred.
  • Learn More: Alfred University Profile

Arcadia University

Grey Towers Castle at Arcadia University
Five Furlongs / Flickr
  • Location: Glenside, Pennsylvania
  • What Makes it Special?: small classes; one of the best study abroad programs in the country; the historic landmark, Gray Towers Castle
  • Admissions: A "B" average and 1000 on the SAT will put you at the lower end of the admitted student range.
  • Learn More: Arcadia University Profile

Beloit College

Middle College, Beloit College's First Building
Robin Zebrowski / Flickr
  • Location: Beloit, Wisconsin
  • What Makes it Special?: small classes; excellent financial aid; two museums on campus; high percentage of alums earn a PhD; curriculum emphasizes experiential learning, fieldwork, interdisciplinary study, and independent study
  • Admissions: SAT and ACT scores are optional. Successful applicants tend to have a "B" or higher GPA.
  • Learn More: Beloit College Profile

Birmingham Southern College

Birmingham Southern College
goforchris / Flickr
  • Location: Birmingham, Alabama
  • What Makes it Special?: 13 to 1 student/faculty ratio; top-ranked liberal arts college in Alabama; four-week January term for experiential learning; good grant aid; chapter of Phi Beta Kappa
  • Admissions: A 21 on the ACT and a "B" average will be at the lower end of the range for admission.
  • Learn More: Birmingham-Southern College Profile

Butler University

Butler University Irwin Library
PALNI Libraries / Flickr
  • Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
  • What Makes it Special?: 11 to 1 student/faculty ratio; average class size of 20; good financial aid; attractive 290-acre campus; over 140 student organizations; Butler University Bulldogs compete in the NCAA Division I Horizon League
  • Admissions: A "B" average is a little bit of a stretch for Butler (although some do get in), but a "B+" average and 1050 on the SAT and 22 on the ACT will put you in the lower range for the school.
  • Learn More: Butler University Profile

Champlain College

Champlain College
Nightspark / Wikimedia Commons
  • Location: Burlington, Vermont
  • What Makes it Special?: Beautiful location on Lake Champlain; innovative curriculum that weaves together the liberal arts with pre-professional training; good financial aid
  • Admissions: Some students get in with a "B" average and a 1000 SAT.
  • Learn More: Champlain College Profile

College of Charleston

College of Charleston
mogollon_1 / Flickr
  • Location: Charleston, South Carolina
  • What Makes it Special?: historic town and rich history dating to 1770; 13 to 1 student/faculty ratio; public liberal arts college; great value
  • Admissions: You'll need a "B" average and 1000 on the SAT to be within the range of most admitted students.
  • Learn More: College of Charleston Profile

Cornell College

Cornell College Campus
courtesy of Cornell College
  • Location: Mount Vernon, Iowa
  • What Makes it Special?: creative one-class-at-a-time curriculum; attractive and historic campus; Phi Beta Kappa membership
  • Admissions: A "B" average and 20 on the ACT are at the lower end of the admitted student range.
  • Learn More: Cornell College Profile

Eckerd College

Omega Complex at Eckerd College
Photo Credit: Allen Grove
  • Location: St. Petersburg, Florida
  • What Makes it Special?: waterfront campus near one of Florida's nicest beaches; good financial aid; strong programs in marine science and environmental studies; featured in Loren Pope's highly-regarded Colleges That Change Lives; chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for its strong liberal arts and sciences
  • Admissions: A "B" average and 1000 combined SAT score will place you at the lower range of students who are admitted.
  • Learn More: Eckerd College Profile

The Evergreen State College

A Festival at The Evergreen State College
Greg Dunlap / Flickr
  • Location: Olympia, Washington
  • What Makes it Special?: A+ rating by the Sierra Club for sustainability efforts; affordable public liberal arts college; innovative interdisciplinary curriculum with written evaluations, not grades
  • Admissions: A "B-" high school GPA and a 950 on the SAT (or 19 on the ACT) will put you in range for admission.
  • Learn More: The Evergreen State College Profile

Flagler College

Flagler College - Ponce de Leon Hall
Photo by Allen Grove
  • Location: St. Augustine, Florida
  • What Makes it Special?: stunning campus architecture featuring the handiwork of Louis Tiffany, George Maynard, Virgilio Tojetti and Thomas Edison; major recent campus upgrades and expansions such as the new student center and total renovation of the art building; one of the top Florida colleges
  • Admissions: You'll want a 1000 or higher combined SAT score and a "B" average to be in range for admission. 
  • Learn More: Flagler College Profile

Goucher College

Goucher College Athenaeum
Photo Credit: Allen Grove
  • Location: Towson, Maryland
  • What Makes it Special?: featured in Loren Pope's well-regarded Colleges That Change Lives; 11 to 1 student / faculty ratio;  chapter of the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa for strong liberal arts and sciences; robust study abroad program with financial support for students; test-optional admissions; new $48 million Athenaeum with a state-of-the-art library, classrooms, an art gallery, the campus radio station, a forum for performances and discussions, a café, and many other spaces for enhancing student life
  • Admissions: SAT and ACT scores aren't required, but you'll want a "B" average at the minimum.
  • Learn More: Goucher College Profile

Guilford College

Guilford College
Parkram412 / Wikipedia
  • Location: Greensboro, North Carolina
  • What Makes it Special?: featured in Loren Pope's well-regarded Colleges That Change Lives; ties to Quaker Friends; rich history as one of the first coeducational institutions in the country and as a station on the Underground Railroad; strong green efforts; excellent educational value; interesting interdisciplinary majors such as forensic biology, forensic accounting and peace studies
  • Admissions: While most admitted students are in the "B+" to "A" range, some get in with "B" and "B-" averages. SAT and ACT scores are optional.
  • Learn More: Guilford College Profile

Ithaca College

Ithaca College
Allen Grove
  • Location: Ithaca, New York
  • What Makes it Special?: close to Ithaca's vibrant cultural scene; well-regarded music and communications programs; strong business and science programs; high four-year graduation rate; stunning views of Lake Cayuga and Cornell University
  • Admissions: SAT and ACT scores are optional. A "B" average is at the bottom end of the range for admission.
  • Learn More: Ithaca College Profile

Knox College

Knox College
iagoarchangel / Flickr
  • Location: Galesburg, Illinois
  • What Makes it Special?: 11 to 1 student/faculty ratio; rich history that begins with its 1837 founding by anti-enslavement reformers; chapter of Phi Beta Kappa
  • Admissions: Almost all students admitted to Knox have "A" or "B" averages. The SAT and ACT are optional.
  • Learn More: Knox College Profile

Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts

Fall Foliage at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
*BPG* / Flickr
  • Location: North Adams, Massachusetts
  • What Makes it Special?: public liberal arts college -- excellent price for a small college with a 12 to 1 student/faculty ratio; attractive location in the Berkshire Mountains; emphasis on hands-on learning
  • Admissions: A "B-" average and 950 on the SAT will put you in range for admission to MCLA.
  • Learn More: Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Profile

Moravian College

Moravian College
Incandescere's Gallery / Flickr
  • Location: Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
  • What Makes it Special?: attractive campus in historic Bethlehem; full-tuition Comenius Medallion scholarships; strong music program
  • Admissions: Successful applicants tend to have a "B" or higher GPA and SAT score (RW+M) of 950 or better.
  • Learn More: Moravian College profile

Morehouse College

Morehouse College
Toricr8zy / Wikimedia Commons
  • Location: Atlanta, Georgia
  • What Makes it Special?: highly ranked historically Black college for men; 12 to 1 student/faculty ratio; attended by Martin Luther King Jr., Maynard Jackson, Spike Lee and many other world-changing African Americans; chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for its strong liberal arts and sciences
  • Admissions: With a "B-" high school GPA and SAT score of 900 or better you'll be within the range of admitted students for Morehouse.
  • Learn More: Morehouse College Profile

Ramapo College of New Jersey

Ramapo College Berrie Center for the Arts
Copyright Ramapo College
  • Location: Mahwah, New Jersey
  • What Makes it Special?: public liberal arts college; good value; young college with many modern facilities; popular programs in Business Administration, Communication Studies, Nursing and Psychology
  • Admissions: It's possible to get in with a "B" average although a "B+" will be better. The college tends to look for SAT scores above 1000.
  • Learn More: Ramapo College Profile

Randolph College

Randolph College
Allen Grove
  • Location: Lynchburg, Virginia
  • What Makes it Special?: 10 to 1 student/faculty ratio; average class size of 12; chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for strong liberal arts and sciences; high marks for student engagement; attractive campus with red-brick buildings
  • Admissions: A 950 on the SAT and "B" average will put you at the lower end of the range for admitted students.
  • Learn More: Randolph College Profile

Ripon College

Ripon College
Photo courtesy of Ripon College
  • Location: Ripon, Wisconsin
  • What Makes it Special?: Phi Beta Kappa membership; high retention and graduation rates; generous financial aid; excellent value; Collaborative Learning Center provides valuable support for students who need a little extra help
  • Admissions: To get in, you'll probably need a "B" average and an ACT composite of 19 or better.
  • Learn More: Ripon College profile

St. Mary's College of Maryland

St. Mary's College of Maryland
Elvert Barnes / Flickr
  • Location: St. Mary's City, Maryland
  • What Makes it Special?: historic and beautiful riverfront location; personal liberal arts college atmosphere with low public tuition; 12 to 1 student/faculty ratio; Phi Beta Kappa membership for strong liberal arts curriculum
  • Admissions: A "B+" average will be better than a "B" but some "B" students do get in. SAT should be over 1000.
  • Learn More: St. Mary's College Profile

Spelman College

Spelman College
waynetaylor / Flickr
  • Location: Atlanta, Georgia
  • What Makes it Special?: Top ratings for fostering social mobility; highly ranked women's college; member of the Atlanta University Center, a consortium of historically Black colleges; 10 to 1 student/faculty ratio; strong liberal arts curriculum
  • Admissions: At the least, you'll have a 950 or higher SAT and a GPA of "B" or better.
  • Learn More: Spelman College profile

Stephens College

Stephens College
Photo courtesy of Stephens College
  • Location: Columbia, Missouri
  • What Makes it Special?: well regarded women's college; excellent value for a private liberal arts college; 10 to 1 student/faculty ratio with an average class size of 13; strong programs in the performing arts and pre-professional fields such as business and health; located in one of the country's best college towns
  • Admissions: To be in the typical range for admission, you'll want a 19 on the ACT and a "B" or higher average.
  • Learn More: Stephens College Profile

University of California-Merced

UC Merced
r_neches / Flickr

University of Hawaii at Manoa

University of Hawaii at Manoa
Daniel Ramirez / Flickr
  • Location: Manoa, Hawaii
  • What Makes it Special?: diverse student body; highly ranked programs in astronomy, oceanography, cancer research, and Pacific Island and Asian studies; NCAA Division I Western Athletic Conference; only college in Hawaii to have a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa
  • Admissions: A "B" average and 1000 on the SAT or 20 on the ACT will put you in range for admission.
  • Learn More: University of Hawaii at Manoa Profile

University of Mary Washington

The University of Mary Washington
Photo Credit: Allen Grove
  • Location: Fredericksburg, Virginia
  • What Makes it Special?: Average class size of 21 students; liberal arts college educational environment with low state tuition; high rate of retention and student satisfaction; attractive campus; impressive number of Peace Corps alumni
  • Admissions: Some students get in with a "B" average, although a "B+" will be better; SAT should be 1000 or higher
  • Learn More: University of Mary Washington Profile

University of Maryland-Baltimore County

UMBC in Autumn
ampg7 / Flickr
  • Location: Baltimore, Maryland
  • What Makes it Special?: located with easy access to Baltimore's Inner Harbor and Washington D.C.; #1 position in the U.S. News & World Report ranking of "up-and-coming national universities"; good blend of the advantages of small colleges and large universities; NCAA Division I athletics in the America East Conference; chapter of Phi Beta Kappa
  • Admissions: A "B" will be the minimum GPA for serious consideration for admission, and you'll de best with an SAT score above 1100.
  • Learn More: UMBC Profile

University of Montevallo

University of Montevallo
Matt Orton
  • Location: Montevallo, Alabama
  • What Makes it Special?: small liberal arts college feeling with inexpensive state tuition; beautiful historic campus; strong student-faculty interaction
  • Admissions: You'll want a "B" average and a 19 on the ACT to be on target for admission.
  • Learn More: University of Montevallo Profile

University of Pacific

University of the Pacific
Great Valley Center Image Bank / Flickr
  • Location: Stockton, California
  • What Makes it Special?: chapter of Phi Beta Kappa; located an easy drive to San Francisco, Sacramento, Yosemite, and Lake Tahoe; unusual breadth of academic options for a small college
  • Admissions: Some students get in with a "B" average, but a "B+" will put you more in the range for admission. You'll want a combined SAT score above 1000.
  • Learn More: University of the Pacific Profile

Valparaiso University

Valparaiso University Football
SD Dirk / Flickr
  • Location: Valparaiso, Indiana
  • What Makes it Special?: remarkable academic breadth for a school of around 3,000 undergraduates; Division I athletics; chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for strengths in the liberal arts and sciences
  • Admissions: A 20 on the ACT and "B" average will put you at the lower end of the range for admitted students.
  • Learn More: Valparaiso University Profile

Warren Wilson College

Warren Wilson College
Jerry Michalski / Flickr
  • Location: Asheville, North Carolina
  • What Makes it Special?: beautiful location in the Blue Ridge Mountains; excellent educational value; strong environmental efforts; interesting curriculum with requirements in community service and the campus work program
  • Admissions: You'll want at least a "B" average and 1000 SAT to have a decent shot at getting in.
  • Learn More: Warren Wilson College Profile

Washington College

Casey Academic Center at Washington College
Photo Courtesy of Washington College
  • Location: Chestertown, Maryland
  • What Makes it Special?: attractive campus on the Chesapeake Bay; founded under the patronage of George Washington; chapter of Phi Beta Kappa; 11 to 1 student/faculty ratio
  • Admissions: Washington College has test-optional admissions, so don't worry about the SAT or ACT. For grades, a "B" average is at the bottom end of the acceptance range.
  • Learn More: Washington College Profile

Wesleyan College

Wesleyan College
doll damned / Flickr
  • Location: Macon, Georgia
  • What Makes it Special?: excellent value; 8 to 1 student/faculty ratio; average class size of 20; first college in the world chartered to grant degrees to women; low cost and excellent financial aid; attractive campus with Georgian style buildings
  • Admissions: Open admissions, but students typically have a "B-" or higher GPA and SAT score above 950.
  • Learn More: Wesleyan College Profile
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Grove, Allen. "Great Colleges for Students with "B" Averages." ThoughtCo, Apr. 5, 2023, thoughtco.com/great-colleges-for-b-students-4122495. Grove, Allen. (2023, April 5). Great Colleges for Students with "B" Averages. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/great-colleges-for-b-students-4122495 Grove, Allen. "Great Colleges for Students with "B" Averages." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/great-colleges-for-b-students-4122495 (accessed March 28, 2024).