Getting into investment banking is highly competitive and requires meeting certain GPA thresholds. Most bulge bracket and elite boutique investment banks have GPA cutoffs of around 3.5 for undergraduate degrees. Smaller regional firms may accept GPAs closer to 3.0, but anything below that will be difficult. Work experience, networking, interviews and other factors matter too, but a solid GPA is a prerequisite.
Top Firms Want 3.5+ GPAs for Undergrad Degrees
The most prestigious investment banks like Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and JPMorgan Chase typically want to see at least a 3.5 GPA for college degrees. Bulge bracket firms receive huge numbers of applicants, so this is one easy way for them to filter candidates.
Boutiques Can Be More Flexible on GPA Requirements
Smaller, more specialized investment banks don’t get quite as many applicants as the large banks. So they may relax GPA requirements to around a 3.0 for college degrees in some cases. But they will still want to see an upward trend in grades.
GPA Cutoffs Also Depend on School and Major
Investment banks may adjust GPA expectations depending on the university and program. For example, a 3.3 at an Ivy League school could be equivalent to a 3.7 at a lower-ranked state university.
Work Experience and Other Factors Matter Too
While GPA is important, investment banks also consider work experience, networking, interview performance, and extracurricular activities when making hiring decisions.
A GPA of 3.5 or higher gives you the best chance of getting into investment banking, especially at top Wall Street firms. Anything below 3.0 will be very difficult unless you have outstanding work experience or connections.