Masters programs that don t require letters of recommendation usa

I'm from California and graduated from a UC in applied mathematics. I'm currently in the middle of an internship until December, and I may not be able to get more than 1 letter of recommendation until winter because my grades in my classes weren't amazing. However, I'm currently applying to graduate schools since I would prefer to get into a spring 2018 program, although a fall 2018 program is fine too. I'm looking to apply to master's programs for something along the lines of applied mathematics, analytics, computer science, and data science. Anyone know what decent graduate programs in these fields at schools in the U.S. don't have mandatory letters of recommendation (or only require 1)? I'm trying my best to get another one or two, but I would like to have a backup plan in case I can't get those extra ones. I've already applied to USC, so schools along that caliber would be nice.

Edit: Jesus Christ why am I getting downvoted? I'm just asking a simple question, I don't need your snarky comments. I can get letters of rec after my internship is over (or at least near the end), I just want to know what I can do right now. If you don't have something helpful to say don't say anything at all.

Before shortlisting universities for your 2022 applications, check out this list of 100 US graduate schools with low GPA requirements. Applying to these colleges is sure to increase your chances of getting admission!

Table of Contents

1. What is a low GPA?
2. How to get into grad school with a low GPA?
   1. 1. Explain yourself
   2. 2. Highlight a few subjects
   3. 3. Score high in GRE or GMAT
   4. 4. Focus more on other parts of your application
   5. 5. Enroll in courses
   6. 6. Take up additional coursework
3. List of graduate schools with low GPA requirements
   1.  
   2.  
   4.  
4. Which university should I apply to?
5. FAQs

Students are often made to believe that having a good GPA is the primary requirement for getting admission into a university. But that is not true. It’s not just your score that matters, it’s your overall profile. For example, a student with a 3.0 GPA and co-curricular activities on his resume has a higher chance of getting into a university than a student with a 3.2 GPA score.

With that in mind, a lot of universities are lowering their GPA requirements and inviting different students with extremely diverse profiles. We have collated 100 such colleges in our list of graduate schools with low GPA requirements. But before we check them out-

What is a low GPA?

As you already know, the standard GPA scale used by most universities around the world is the 4.0 GPA scale.

So if your score is in the form of percentages or grades, the first thing you need to do is convert it into the 4.0 GPA scale.

Now, if your GPA comes to anything above 3.0, that’s considered to be a good GPA. A 3.0 GPA won’t get you into the topmost colleges, but it will give you a lot of options.

On the other hand, if your score is less than 3.0, your options will be reduced.

To help you find such colleges, we have collated a list of graduate schools with low GPA requirements. But before we take a look at the list, let’s understand how to get into a university with a low GPA.

How to get into grad school with a low GPA?

As we’ve already mentioned, universities are becoming more and more open-minded. They are accepting applicants with low GPA scores, given that they have a good overall profile.

But what constitutes a good overall profile?

There’s no point worrying. Be upfront about your GPA score!

What can you do to make your application get accepted, despite your low GPA scores?

Well, here are our suggestions-

1. Explain yourself

Most people will tell you to avoid mentioning your scores at all, be it on your SOP, during your interview, or otherwise. Do not listen to them.

The admissions committee at any university will notice your academic scores. It’s better to explain yourself in your SOP or write a separate Explanation Letter talking about why your GPA is low.

2. Highlight a few subjects

Even though your overall score may be less, chances are that you have high scores in particular areas or subjects. Highlight that in your SOP or the Explanation Letter and talk about how you’re ready to pursue your favorite course at their university.

3. Score high in GRE or GMAT

To showcase that you can really do something when you put your mind to it, you can focus on improving your scores on GRE or GMAT.

4. Focus more on other parts of your application

Send stellar references to the university, highlight your projects, internships, work experience, and publications. This would make the admission committee see that you never lost focus on your career.

5. Enroll in courses

Even though you may not have scored so well in school, a report showing that you enrolled in specific courses and earned recognition while doing so would be very helpful in enhancing your profile.

6. Take up additional coursework

Some of the colleges that accept students with a low GPA ask students to maintain a GPA score or take a certain amount of extra credits. If you’re open and willing to try out this option, go for it!

Once you’ve worked on 2 to 3 of these factors, you can start applying to colleges with low GPA requirements. Here they are-

Universities in North America are usually very clear about their GPA requirements.

But now, several of these colleges are offering admissions to students with low GPA scores.

Instead, they have decided to focus on other important aspects of a student’s profile, like projects, publications, and internships. While the others might ask you to complete additional coursework while studying at the university after admission.

This is not the case for universities in other countries, like the UK, Australia, New Zealand, etc.

Here, the universities do appreciate students with a good GPA. But they do not have any set requirements for a student’s academic scores.

You can apply to any of them with the scores you have while making sure that your overall profile looks impressive.

As for the US, here’s a list of graduate schools with low GPA requirements-

CSU East Bay accepts a score of 2.5 GPA

Universities	CGPA
University of Arkansas at Little Rock	3.21
University of Colorado at Colorado Springs	3.37
Western Governors University	minimum requirement not listed
University of Louisiana at Monroe	3.43
The University of Maine at Presque Isle	3
University of Maryland Eastern Shore	2.93
The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth –	3.25
Albany State University	2
Liberty University	2.0 – this is valid for most programs at the university, except for some like Master of Arts in Public Policy, which needs a 3.0 GPA
Dallas Nursing Institute	2
Family of Faith Christian University	2
Fort Hays State University	2
Gwynedd Mercy University	2
Lewis Clark State College	2
Medaille College	2
Purdue University Global	2.5 – may accept students with low GPAs based on other aspects of their profiles
North Carolina State University – 2.0	2
Texas A&M International University – 2.0	2
University of Houston, Clear Lake – 2.0	2
University of Maine – 2.0	2
West Texas A&M University – 2.0	2
Troy University Troy, Alabama	Minimum GPA for acceptance to the graduate program is 2.5 on a 4 point scale. This is one of the Universities that accept low GPA for graduate programs.
ECPI	2.5
Endicott College	2.5
Grace Christian University	2.5
University of Southern Indiana	2.5
California State University San Bernardino, California	Minimum GPA for acceptance to the graduate program is 2.5 on a 4 point scale
Southern New Hampshire University	2.5
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania	3
Lamar University	3
The College of Westchester	3
Massachusetts State University	Â
Capella University	2.7 – may accept students with low GPAs based on other aspects of their profiles
Cal Poly Pomona	2.5
California State University East Bay	2.5

There are so many more universities! Read on.

CSU Fresno	2.75
California State University Fullerton	2.5
CSU Long Beach	2.7
California State University Northridge	2.5
Grand Canyon University	2.8 – this is valid for most programs at the university, except for some like Ph.D. in General Psychology, which needs a 3.4 GPA
DePaul University	2.5
Eastern Michigan University	2.7
Gannon University	2.5
Humboldt State University	2.5
Jackson state university	2.5
Full Sail University Winter Park, Florida	2.0 – This is one of the Universities that accept low GPA for graduate programs
University of Minnesota Twin Cities	3
Fresno City College	2.4
Vorhees College	2
Livingstone College	2.3
McHenry County College	2.3
Arkansas Tech University Russellville, Arkansas	Minimum GPA for acceptance to the graduate program is 2.5 on a 4 point scale
South Suburban College	2.3
Southern University at New Orleans	2.3
Talladega College	2.4
Richland Community College	2.2
Louisburg College	2.3
Metropolitan College of New York	2.1
National University San Diego, California	Minimum GPA for acceptance to the graduate program is 2.5 on a 4 point scale
Virginia University of Lynchburg – 2.0	2
Benjamin Franklin of Technology – 2.3	2.3
Southeast Technical Institute – 2.4	2.4
University of the West – 2.4	2.4
Nebraska Wesleyan University Lincoln, Nebraska	Minimum GPA for acceptance to the graduate program is 2.5 on a 4 point scale
The University of North Carolina at Pembroke	3.55
University of Pittsburgh at Bradford	3.31
The University of South Carolina Beaufort	3.39

You’re almost done with the list!

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga	3.51
State University of New York Brockport, New York	Minimum GPA for acceptance to the graduate program is 3 on a 4 point scale
The University of Texas at Tyler	3.38
University of Washington Tacoma	3.29
The University of Wisconsin Parkside	3.09
Arkansas State University	2.75
Arkansas Tech University	2.75
Bradley University	2.75
Colorado State University, Global Campus	3.0 for Masters
Northcentral University	Minimum requirement not listed
Strayer University	2.5 – This is valid for most programs at the university
Connecticut State University	3
University of Hawaii	Minimum requirement not listed
The CUNY system in NYC	Minimum requirement not listed
The Oregon University	Â
University of Rhode Island	Â
California State University Channel Islands, California	Minimum GPA for acceptance to the graduate program is 2.5 on a 4 point scale
Indiana University Northwest	3.03
University of Michigan at Flint	3.4
The University of Minnesota Crookston	3.21
University of Missouri Kansas City	3.38
The University of Nebraska at Kearney	3.48
Louisiana State University Shreveport	3.29
Southeast Missouri State University Cape Girardeau, Missouri	3
Tiffin University Tiffin, Ohio	3
Plymouth State University Plymouth, New Hampshire	3
Metropolitan College of New York New York City, New York	3
City University of Seattle Seattle, Washington	Minimum GPA for acceptance to the graduate program is 3 on a 4 point scale
Northwood University Midland, Michigan	3
University of Mississippi Oxford, Mississippi	3
Western Washington University Bellingham, Washington	Minimum GPA for acceptance to the graduate program is 3 on a 4 point scale
Arizona State University Phoenix, Arizona	Minimum GPA for acceptance to the graduate program is 3 on a 4 point scale
University of Minnesota Twin Cities	3

Which university should I apply to?

• My only suggestion to you is to shortlist your colleges wisely. The list of graduate schools with low GPA requirements will keep increasing day by day. So if there’s a university or a course that you are interested in and you can’t find it on this list, don’t fret!
• Go to the university website and check their page. Or look at the program page itself.
• If the application requirements on these pages mention that they accept a low GPA, you might not need to worry after all!
• Don’t just pick from this list of graduate schools with low GPA requirements because you are unsure of your scores. Choose them because you like the course, find the curriculum fascinating, and love the faculty. 
• And if that means you have to find other ways of getting into graduate school, then do that.

If you have any more advice about how to get into a college with a low GPA or know the names of other colleges that accept students with low GPA, drop a comment. Or reach out to us! We’d be very happy to help.

Until next time, ciao!

Read more: List of grad schools waiving GRE for 2021 

FAQs

1. What’s the lowest GPA Harvard accepted?

Answer- Harvard requires a 4.18 to get in. However, they may accept some with a 4.0 as well.

2. Can a good GRE score make up for a low GPA?

Answer- If you get a good GRE score, it can offset your low GPA.

3. How do you explain F on a transcript?

Answer- Your transcripts must show that you retook the exam and received a better grade.

4. How to make up for a low GPA?

Answer- Here are some steps that you can follow-

Step 1: Stop making excuses: Instead, give them a context for your low GPA. Being honest about your low GPA is the best thing an applicant can do. Blaming the teachers and your school will surely put you at a disadvantage scenario. 

Step 2: Preparation: Once the GPA is done and dusted, it’s time to give your best on SAT/ACT. Most colleges in the United States use scores from these tests as basic admission criteria. Sure many colleges won’t overlook your low GPA, but now you have a higher chance to compete for the seat.   

Step 3: Write Stellar Essays: One can offset a low GPA with a strong essay. This is the best way to showcase your personality and writing capabilities to prove that you would be the right candidate. 

Step 4: A strong LOR/SOP: Most colleges would ask for 2-3 teacher recommendations. Your teachers can write about your qualities that a GPA score cannot reflect. LOR can strengthen your point and improve your overall application. An SOP can showcase your skills, passion, potential, and interest in the program that you want to pursue.  

What if I have no letters of recommendation for grad school?

Which university does not require letters of recommendation?

Do you need letters of recommendation for Masters program?

Is Lor required for Masters USA?