GPA Calculator
Calculate your grade point average from course grades and credit hours. Use the calculator for a semester GPA or enter courses from multiple terms to estimate your cumulative GPA on a 4.0 or 4.3 scale.
What Is GPA?
GPA stands for Grade Point Average. It is a numerical representation of your academic performance based on the grades you receive in your courses.
Instead of looking only at percentages, a GPA converts your course grades into grade points and combines them into an average. On a common 4.0 scale, an A may represent 4.0 grade points, a B may represent 3.0, and a C may represent 2.0.
GPA is commonly used by high schools, colleges, universities, scholarship programs, graduate schools, and employers when they need a standardized way to review academic performance. The exact grading rules, however, can vary between institutions.
How to Calculate GPA
A standard GPA calculation uses two pieces of information for each course: the grade points associated with your letter grade and the number of credit hours assigned to the course.
The basic formula is:
Quality points are calculated by multiplying the grade points for a course by its credit hours.
After calculating the quality points for every course, add them together and divide by the total number of GPA credit hours.
GPA Calculation Example
Suppose you completed three courses, each worth 3 credit hours:
| Course | Grade | Grade Points | Credits | Quality Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calculus | A | 4.0 | 3 | 12.0 |
| English | B | 3.0 | 3 | 9.0 |
| Psychology | B+ | 3.3 | 3 | 9.9 |
Total quality points = 12.0 + 9.0 + 9.9 = 30.9.
Total credit hours = 3 + 3 + 3 = 9.
GPA = 30.9 ÷ 9 = 3.43
So the GPA for these three courses would be approximately 3.43 on the grade-point values used in this example.
How Credit Hours Affect Your GPA
Credit hours determine how much influence each course has on your GPA. This means you should not simply average your letter-grade points if your courses have different credit values.
For example, a 4-credit course has more influence on your GPA than a 1-credit course because the 4-credit course contributes four times as many quality points for the same grade-point value.
Imagine you receive a 4.0 in a 4-credit course and a 2.0 in a 1-credit course.
The first course contributes 16 quality points, while the second contributes only 2.
This is why GPA is a credit-weighted average, not simply the average of your course grades.
Semester GPA vs. Cumulative GPA
Two GPA figures are commonly used in academic records: your semester GPA and your cumulative GPA.
Semester GPA
Semester GPA measures your academic performance for one specific semester or academic term. It uses the courses and credit hours from that term.
Cumulative GPA
Cumulative GPA combines eligible courses across multiple semesters. Because courses may have different numbers of credit hours, the cumulative calculation must be weighted by credits.
If you want to calculate a cumulative GPA, enter the courses from all relevant semesters into the calculator above rather than simply averaging the GPA shown for each semester.
How to Calculate Cumulative GPA
You can calculate cumulative GPA by combining the quality points and GPA credit hours from all relevant terms.
For example, suppose you completed 30 GPA credit hours with a 3.20 GPA and then completed another 15 credit hours with a 3.60 GPA.
The first term contributes: 30 × 3.20 = 96 quality points.
The second term contributes: 15 × 3.60 = 54 quality points.
Your combined GPA would therefore be:
(96 + 54) ÷ (30 + 15) = 3.33
Notice that you cannot get the correct cumulative GPA simply by calculating (3.20 + 3.60) ÷ 2. The number of credits completed in each term matters.
4.0 GPA Scale
The 4.0 GPA scale is one of the most commonly used grading systems in North American education. Under a typical unweighted system, an A is worth 4.0 grade points, a B is worth 3.0, a C is worth 2.0, and a D is worth 1.0.
Plus and minus grades may receive values between those whole numbers. For example, an A− is commonly worth 3.7 and a B+ is commonly worth 3.3.
However, there is no single universal GPA conversion table used by every school. Always check your institution's official grading policy when an exact GPA is required.
4.3 GPA Scale and A+
Some schools use a 4.3 GPA scale rather than a 4.0 scale. One common difference is that an A+ can be worth 4.3 grade points.
The exact treatment of A+, A, A−, and other grades depends on the institution. Some schools award 4.0 for an A+ even if they use other features of a 4.3 system, while others give the A+ a value of 4.3.
That is why the calculator allows you to select the grading scale rather than assuming that every school uses exactly the same rules.
GPA Grade Point Conversion
The table below shows a common 4.0-scale conversion. It should be treated as a general reference rather than a universal percentage conversion.
| Letter Grade | Common Grade Points |
|---|---|
| A | 4.0 |
| A− | 3.7 |
| B+ | 3.3 |
| B | 3.0 |
| B− | 2.7 |
| C+ | 2.3 |
| C | 2.0 |
| C− | 1.7 |
| D | 1.0 |
| F | 0.0 |
Your school's official grading scale should always take priority if it differs from this general table.
Does a Percentage Convert Directly to GPA?
Not necessarily. There is no single percentage-to-GPA conversion that applies to every school.
A school may first convert your percentage into a letter grade and then assign grade points to that letter grade. Another institution may use a different grading scale or different percentage boundaries.
For example, an 89% could be treated differently by two institutions if their letter-grade boundaries are different.
If your school provides an official percentage-to-letter-grade scale, use that scale before entering the corresponding letter grade into a GPA calculator.
What Is a Good GPA?
There is no single GPA that is considered "good" in every situation. The answer depends on your school, program, academic level, and goal.
On a common 4.0 scale, a GPA around 3.0 represents roughly a B-level average, while a GPA around 3.5 or higher is often considered strong. Competitive programs, scholarships, graduate schools, and professional programs may have their own GPA expectations.
If you are applying for a specific program or scholarship, use its published GPA requirement rather than relying on a general definition of a "good" GPA.
Weighted vs. Unweighted GPA
A weighted GPA and an unweighted GPA are calculated differently.
Unweighted GPA
An unweighted GPA normally uses the standard grade-point scale without awarding extra points for more difficult courses. An A may therefore be worth 4.0 regardless of whether the course is regular or advanced.
Weighted GPA
A weighted GPA can give additional points to courses such as honors, Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or other advanced classes. Depending on the school's system, this can result in a GPA above 4.0.
Weighted GPA policies are especially common in high school. Colleges and universities may use different systems, so students should check the grading policy used by their institution.
How Many Credits Should I Include?
Include the courses that your institution counts toward the GPA you are trying to calculate.
For a semester GPA, this normally means the eligible courses from that semester. For a cumulative GPA, it generally means eligible courses across your academic record.
Some academic records include courses that do not contribute grade points, such as certain pass/fail courses, withdrawals, transfer credits, or audited courses. Do not automatically include every credit listed on a transcript as a GPA credit.
When in doubt, use the GPA hours or quality-point information shown on your official transcript or ask your institution's registrar or academic office.
Do Pass/Fail Courses Affect GPA?
In many academic systems, pass/fail courses do not contribute grade points to GPA because they do not receive the normal letter-grade values used in the GPA calculation.
However, policies differ. A pass may count toward degree progress or earned credits while not affecting GPA, but this is not universal.
The safest approach is to check your school's academic regulations or transcript instructions before including a pass/fail course in a GPA calculation.
What About Transfer Courses?
Transfer-credit policies vary considerably between institutions. Some schools accept transfer courses for credit but do not include their original grades in the institution's GPA. Others may have different rules for calculating transfer work.
If you are calculating an official cumulative GPA, use the GPA policy of the institution issuing your current transcript rather than assuming that every transferred grade should be included.
Common GPA Calculation Mistakes
Simply averaging course grades
If courses have different credit hours, each course should not necessarily have equal influence. GPA is weighted by credit hours.
Using the wrong grading scale
A school using a 4.3 system may treat an A+ differently from a school using a standard 4.0 scale. Make sure you know which system applies.
Including courses that do not affect GPA
Pass/fail, withdrawn, audited, and certain transfer courses may be handled separately from standard letter-graded courses.
Converting percentages without checking the school policy
Percentage boundaries are not universal. Always use your school's official conversion rules when available.
Calculating cumulative GPA by averaging semester GPAs
Semester GPAs should not simply be averaged unless the semesters have exactly the same number of GPA credit hours. Cumulative GPA should be weighted by total credits.
How to Raise Your GPA
If your GPA is lower than your target, the amount it can change depends on how many credits you have already completed and how many credits remain.
A student with only a few completed courses can usually change their GPA more quickly than a student who has already completed many credit hours.
Focus on the courses that carry substantial credit hours, understand your grading requirements early, and track your results throughout the semester rather than waiting until final grades are posted.
Remember that improving a GPA is generally a cumulative process. A strong result in one semester may improve your cumulative GPA, but the size of that improvement depends on your previous credit history.
How to Use This GPA Calculator
- Select the GPA scale used by your school.
- Enter the name of each course.
- Select the letter grade you received or expect to receive.
- Enter the number of credit hours for that course.
- Add additional courses if necessary.
- Select Calculate my GPA.
You can use the calculator for a single semester by entering only that term's courses, or for a cumulative estimate by entering eligible courses from multiple semesters.
Semester GPA vs. Final Course Grade
GPA is different from the percentage grade you receive in an individual course. Your course grade is determined according to the assignments, exams, projects, and other grading components used by your instructor.
Once a course receives a final letter grade, that letter grade can be converted into grade points and included in your GPA calculation.
This means your semester GPA is based on your completed course grades, while your course percentage is based on the grading system inside an individual class.
Keep Track of Your GPA Throughout the Semester
Your GPA is easier to understand when you track it regularly. After each major course grade, you can update your expected semester result and see how it may affect your overall academic average.
For the most accurate result, use the letter grades and credit hours shown by your institution rather than estimating a GPA from percentages alone.
If you are calculating an official GPA for an application, scholarship, graduation requirement, or academic decision, always compare your result with your school's official transcript or GPA calculation policy.
Common 4.0 GPA Grade Points
This is a common reference scale. Your institution may use different grade-point values or percentage boundaries.
| Letter grade | Common percentage range* | Grade points |
|---|---|---|
| A+ | 97–100% | 4.0 |
| A | 93–96% | 4.0 |
| A− | 90–92% | 3.7 |
| B+ | 87–89% | 3.3 |
| B | 83–86% | 3.0 |
| B− | 80–82% | 2.7 |
| C+ | 77–79% | 2.3 |
| C | 73–76% | 2.0 |
| C− | 70–72% | 1.7 |
| D | 60–69% | 1.0 |
| F | Below 60% | 0.0 |
*Percentage ranges are shown only as a general example. Schools may use different percentage-to-letter-grade boundaries.
GPA is weighted by credits
A 4-credit course has more influence on your GPA than a 1-credit course because its grade contributes more quality points.
Check your school's scale
GPA systems are not completely universal. Always use your institution's official grading policy when an exact GPA is required.
GPA Calculator FAQs
Answers to common questions about GPA, credit hours, grading scales, semester GPA, and cumulative GPA.
Enter each course's letter grade and credit hours. The calculator converts the letter grade into grade points, multiplies those points by the course credit hours, adds the quality points, and divides by the total GPA credit hours.
Semester GPA measures your academic performance for one term. Cumulative GPA combines eligible courses and credit hours across multiple semesters.
Credit hours determine how much each course contributes to your GPA. A course worth four credits has more influence than a course worth one credit because the grade points are multiplied by the number of credits.
A 4.0 scale normally caps the maximum grade-point value at 4.0. Some institutions use a 4.3 scale where an A+ may be worth 4.3 points. The exact treatment of A+ grades depends on the school's official grading policy.
Not universally. A percentage is usually converted to a letter grade using the school's grading policy, and that letter grade is then assigned grade points. Percentage-to-GPA rules vary between institutions.
A good GPA depends on your school, program, academic goals, and context. On a common 4.0 scale, a GPA around 3.0 represents a B-level average, while 3.5 or higher is often considered strong. Specific programs and scholarships may have different requirements.
Yes. Enter eligible courses from multiple semesters along with their letter grades and credit hours. The calculator will weight each course by its credit hours and calculate the combined GPA.
Often they do not contribute grade points to GPA, but policies vary. A pass/fail course may count toward earned credits without affecting the GPA. Check your institution's academic policy.
An unweighted GPA normally uses the standard grade-point scale without extra points for advanced courses. A weighted GPA may give additional points for honors, AP, IB, or other advanced courses depending on the school's grading system.
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