Good GPA for competitive engineering programs?

[Uma4783]

For engineering PhD programs what GPA is considered competitive for good programs (maybe top 25?) This is specific to chemical engineering but anyone with information on other types of engineering is appreciated. Is a 3.65 with research a good applicant or are they looking for 3.7+? 

[heistotron]

Both GPA and the quality of research experience fall under a continuum - there aren't strict cutoffs for GPA in most top programs. That being said while most students in top 20 programs will have GPAs above 3.5, it's still likely the case a 3.7 is more competitive and would help more than a 3.5 for example. But admission committees are unlikely to be concerned about a 3.7 versus a 3.65.

[2020bioE]

I had a 3.6 and got into one of the top 5 engineering programs in my field! I was outright told by a professor at MIT that my GPA was probably too low to even be considered, though.