What is the typical GPA requirement for Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania?

1. What Wharton actually states: no formal minimum, averages matter

Wharton does not list a minimum undergraduate GPA requirement for MBA admission; the school instead publishes class profile statistics that admissions observers use to infer competitiveness (Clear Admit paraphrases Wharton’s lack of a required mark while noting class GMAT/GPA averages) ^[5]. Multiple admissions guides repeat that "no minimum" stance while offering the class-average GPA as the benchmark applicants should consider ^[1].

2. The empirical benchmark: averages around 3.6

Independent profiles and third‑party aggregators report the average undergraduate GPA for recent Wharton MBA classes at roughly 3.6–3.61, and some analyst sites peg admitted-student averages slightly higher (3.6–3.7) ^{[2] [1] [3]}. Admissions-advice sites and calculators therefore recommend applicants target a GPA in that neighborhood to align with the median profile of admits ^{[6] [7]}.

3. How admissions committees use GPA: context and whole‑file review

Sources emphasize that Wharton evaluates applicants holistically: GPA is one element alongside GMAT/GRE, work experience, leadership and essays (Clear Admit and Stratus summaries highlight the program’s focus on broad fit and accomplishments, not a single numeric threshold) ^{[5] [8]}. Several resources specifically advise applicants with GPAs below the class average to address academic context and explain irregularities in optional essays or supplements (GMATClub and BrightLink counsel explaining lower GPAs) ^{[4] [9]}.

4. What different sources recommend applicants aim for

Admissions consultants and school‑profile pages commonly recommend aiming above the reported average to be competitive: examples include suggestions of 3.6–3.65 as a practical target, while some prep firms even suggest higher thresholds for "best shot" scenarios (BrightLink suggests 3.65+; several sites state 3.6 as the average target) ^{[9] [1] [7]}. These recommendations reflect competitive positioning rather than an institutional requirement ^[1].

5. International applicants and GPA conversion caveats

Third‑party analysis notes Wharton’s reporting of average GPA often includes only students from schools using a 4.0 scale, and international GPA equivalencies vary; admissions readers weigh institution rigor and transcript context (GMATClub and profile pages discuss variation and conversion caveats) ^{[4] [7]}. Thus a lower numeric GPA from a rigorous program can still be credible if clearly contextualized ^[4].

6. Signals from related metrics: GMAT/GRE and holistic thresholds

Wharton’s mean GMAT and GRE figures (e.g., GMAT ~728–732, GRE section averages ~162) show the academic strength of admitted cohorts alongside GPA; this reinforces that GPA sits within a broader academic profile used by the committee (Stratus, Mim‑Essay and CampusReel report average test scores contemporaneous with GPA averages) ^{[8] [7] [2]}. Admissions observers treat these averages as complementary signals rather than deterministic cutoffs ^[5].

7. Practical advice for applicants

If your undergraduate GPA is at or above ~3.6, you are within the reported average for recent Wharton classes ^{[1] [2]}. If below that benchmark, sources recommend addressing the shortfall directly—explain upward grade trends, course rigor, or outside factors in application essays and highlight compensating strengths (strong test scores, leadership, distinctive professional impact) ^{[4] [9]}. Multiple guides stress that Wharton’s admissions committee considers the whole file and that a lower GPA is not an automatic disqualifier ^{[1] [4]}.

Limitations: available sources do not provide a Wharton‑published numeric minimum GPA because Wharton does not set one; all numeric “requirements” cited here come from class-profile averages and third‑party analyses rather than a stated admissions floor ^{[5] [1]}.