* Type of institution: The average GPA at an Ivy League school will be considerably higher than the average GPA at a less selective college or community college.
* Major: Some majors tend to have higher GPAs than others due to differences in course difficulty and grading standards.
* Data source: Different surveys and studies may use different methodologies and sample sizes, leading to varying results.
While you'll find various numbers cited online, a commonly cited *range* for the overall average GPA across all institutions is around 3.0 to 3.2. However, keep in mind this is just a rough estimate, and the actual average could be slightly higher or lower depending on the factors mentioned above. It's also important to understand that GPA inflation (the tendency for GPAs to rise over time) is a factor that complicates accurate comparisons across different years.