You can not accurately compare the gpa of the Air Force Academy to other colleges.
1st: Do you compare it to the "University of Wyoming" (No offense Wyoming); or do you compare it to the gpa of Stanford or Harvard.
2nd: ALL STUDENTS at the Air Force Academy graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree. That means that even if their major is History, English, Behavioral Science, or Mechanical Engineering; ALL STUDENTS took Aero and other engineering, math, chem, physics, etc... type classes. Classes that the average History, English, Behavioral Science, etc... degree student never would have taken.
3rd: Most important. The average student at the University of BFE or Harvard/Yale; is NOT having to do military studies every day. They aren't required to do formations, parades, room inspections, general military, etc... They also aren't required to participate in athletic activities and MANY other "Time Consuming" activities. As such, the average civilian student has MUCH MORE TIME to do their school work and do better on their grades.
4th: Also; VERY IMPORTANT. The "Average" college student who does graduate (Average is 47% of college students graduate); do so in 5-6 years on average. The Air Force Academy; except under some very extraordinary circumstances such as death in the family or physical injury; require graduation in 4 years. Also; the average CREDITS required for the Air Force Academy graduate is approximately 144 credits. That's an average of 6 classes per semester. The average civilian college student; who doesn't change their major every semester; is 120 credits - 5 classes per semester.
So, trying to compare an academy GPA to a civilian school isn't really practical. The academy students have less time, more classes, harder classes, and much more stress than any other civilian school.
Finally; when it comes to college/universities and a student's graduating gpa; most employers and co-workers don't even care about your GPA. If you're applying to graduate school, they care about your under graduate GPA. But your employer and co-workers won't ask. An Academy graduate has the prestige and the benefits that come along with such a degree. And an academy diploma is sort of like being "PREGNANT". You are..... or you aren't. There is no sort of, kind of, possibly, etc.... If you have the academy diploma, you are the same whether you graduated with a 2.5, 3.0, or 3.90. later... mike....