Can companies check your GPA? | Background Checks | Private Eyes (2024)

February 14, 2020InBackground Checks, Blog

Can companies check your GPA?

Can companies check your GPA?

Are you tempted to lie on your resume? If you round up your GPA by a few tenths or fudge a few dates, can anyone even find out? Here’s what you need to know about how your GPA affects finding a job.

Is Your GPA Important for a Job?

Will a potential employer invest the time and money to dig into your college GPA? It depends on the industry. Fortune 500 companies who need hundreds of new hires often use GPAs to quickly filter through thousands of applications. Smaller companies who need applicants with specific skills or work experience are more likely to ignore your GPA and focus on what you can bring to the company.

Background Checks

Federal privacy laws prevent universities from releasing your information, including your grades, to anyone – even your parents – without your permission. A standard background check will not show your grade point average, but that doesn’t mean employers can’t find out the information in other ways. You might be required to submit a transcript or sign a legal release allowing the company to contact your university. Depending on the private company that your potential employer uses for the background check, a surprising amount of information about youreducationmay be available. It’s possible to find out where you went to college and how long you attended classes, so don’t make up a degree you never received or you could end up getting caught.

Consequences of Lying About Your GPA

Imagine writing a great resume, acing your job interview and getting a call saying you’ve been hired – just as soon as you submit your college transcripts. If you lied about your GPA on your resume, expect your job offer to be immediately revoked. Developing a bad reputation can haunt you for decades, especially if you want to work in a tight-knit industry.

Don’t lie about your GPA on your resume. It’s better to simply leave off your GPA than get caught in a lie.

Can companies check your GPA? | Background Checks | Private Eyes (2024)

FAQs

Can companies check your GPA? | Background Checks | Private Eyes? ›

A standard background check will not show your grade point average, but that doesn't mean employers can't find out the information in other ways. You might be required to submit a transcript or sign a legal release allowing the company to contact your university.

Can companies verify your GPA? ›

Whether companies check your GPA depends on the employer and the job. Most employers won't check your GPA unless they're hiring for an entry-level job where they're looking for extra qualifiers.

Can companies verify your transcript? ›

Other applications can require you to submit or order a sealed transcript. Another way a hiring manager may authenticate your education is by contacting the schools or universities that you attended. Sometimes companies will hire third-party verification services to screen their potential job candidates.

Do employers actually verify education? ›

According to a 2022 survey conducted by Intelligent.com, 53 percent of senior management staff members always verify a job candidate's education credentials, while 24 percent do sometimes, and 23 percent say they do not.

Do employers want to see your GPA? ›

Not every company wants to know your GPA

Consequently, not all companies are that focused on undergraduate GPAs in the interview process. "Some employers will ask about it, and others will not. So it is really up to the candidate to decide what they want to highlight," Salemi says.

What is a 2.9 GPA? ›

A 2.9 GPA is a grade point average that falls between a B- and a C+ on the 4.0 grading scale commonly used in the United States. It represents a slightly below-average academic performance, indicating that the student has maintained mostly C+ grades, with some grades falling below or above that range.

What is a 96.5 GPA? ›

GPA Scale
Letter GradeGrade PointsNumerical Grade
A+4.097–100
A4.094–96
A-3.790–93
B+3.387–89
9 more rows

How closely do employers look at transcripts? ›

Some employers will look only at the grade point average (GPA), while others will check for grades in specific classes that closely align with the work you will be doing for them. Be consistent with your documents – don't leave out important details such as courses you dropped or completed early.

When should you stop putting your GPA on your resume? ›

“You do not need to include your GPA or graduation date once you've been in the workforce for over 3-5 years,” Warzel says. The other factor is how high your GPA is. Typically, include a GPA only if it's above 3.5. Here's a flow chart to help determine whether to include your GPA on your resume.

How are transcripts verified? ›

Verified true copies are marked with a stamp, signature, or other notation from the employer or IHE to verify that what is submitted is a true and unaltered copy of an official transcript.

How do employers know if you graduated? ›

There are three generally accepted methods: Contact the schools or higher learning institutions directly. Ask the candidates to provide a copy of their diploma or transcripts. Work with a third-party background check service.

How to verify if someone graduated from college? ›

Here's how to verify academic credentials: Contact the school. Most college registrars will confirm dates of attendance and graduation, as well as degrees awarded and majors, upon request. If the applicant gives permission, they may provide a certified academic transcript.

Can employers see your college major? ›

Through an education background check, employers can validate the following: An applicant's degree, diploma, or credentials. Their graduation or completion date. Their major.

Do jobs fact check GPA? ›

Do employers do a background check to verify your GPA? An employment background check doesn't typically involve your academic transcripts, but a hiring manager may ask you to provide that information. This happens in some exceptionally competitive entry-level positions.

Does GPA show up on background check? ›

Federal privacy laws prevent universities from releasing your information, including your grades, to anyone – even your parents – without your permission. A standard background check will not show your grade point average, but that doesn't mean employers can't find out the information in other ways.

Is a 3.3 GPA good? ›

A 3.3 GPA is a strong GPA, falling within the range of the top 25-30% of students. But it may not guarantee admission to highly selective colleges. Admissions committees consider many factors when making their decisions, including GPA, test scores, extracurricular activities, recommendations, and essays.

Is GPA public information? ›

No. FERPA does not generally permit a school to disclose a student's GPA without the parent's or eligible student's consent.

Do companies have GPA requirements? ›

Many employers use GPA as a way to measure a candidate's academic performance and potential for success. Additionally, some employers may require a minimum GPA for certain positions. However, it is important to note that grades and GPA are not the only factors employers consider when evaluating job applicants.

How to find out someone's GPA? ›

To calculate your GPA, divide the total number of grade points earned by the total number of letter graded units undertaken. For each unit of credit the following grade points are earned: A+ = 4. A = 4.

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