Is a 3.8 GPA at an ~okay~ (top 20% range) school for mathematics?

Is a 3.8 GPA at an ~okay~ (top 20% range) school for mathematics?

I'm a Computer Engineering and Math double major but want to apply to a good grad school, hoping to go into academia one day.

No, you basically need to go to HPMSCB for pure math to have a chance at a tenure track job at a decent place and a 3.8 will not cut it unless you have something else that signals ability like publications or being a Putnam fellow.

False. Some of my most successful instructors and professors had sub-3.5's during undergrad. I go to a prestigious research university.

3.8 is good, OP; you could obviously do better, but a 3.8 isn't going to limit you.

It was easier to get in to top grad schools and get tenure track jobs when your professors were undergrads.

It is harder than it used to be, but you don't need a 4.0 to get into a competitive graduate program. The absolute bar has moved, perhaps, from a 3.0 to AT MOST 3.7, and that's assuming you're the sort of person who attempts to rely solely on grades.

>hoping to go into academia one day.
People will not give a shit about your GPA in the academia.
Get a PhD, not having one is out of the queestion. Publish good papers in your very much pin-pointed and specific specialization. That is all they care for, a good gpa will not do it, a bad gpa will not matter.

In theoretical physics for a top place you need close to a 4.0, 950+ PGRE, a publication and references from well-regarded advisor(s) for a chance at a top program. I find it hard to believe that pure math is less competitive than theoretical physics.

But is a PhD from a not-so-great program stick me in a Community College for the rest of my life?

Just keep in mind that the tenure track professors at top 10, even top 30 schools represent the absolute best of the best, and they've generally published remarkable research besides all of the fantastic work they did while a student themselves.

Top 5 schools will hire from top 5
Top 10 from top 5
Top 20 from top 5
Top 30 from top 10
Top 50 from top 10
Top 100 from top 20
Top 200 from top 50
Etc

My point is if you're going to teach, you'll probably be doing it at a school much lower in rankings than you graduated from.

Yes.