How to use the Gpa calculator
- 1Pick the grading scale: 4.0 (A+ counts as 4.0) or 4.3 (A+ counts as 4.3).
- 2For each course, enter the credit hours and choose the letter grade. Add rows for extra courses and remove any you don't need.
- 3Your GPA, total credits and total quality points update as you go.
- 4Change a grade to see how a single course would move your average.
How it works
Each letter grade maps to 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+ 1.3, D 1.0, D− 0.7 and F 0. On the 4.3 scale, A+ is worth 4.3; on the 4.0 scale it is capped at 4.0.
Multiplying grade points by credits gives the quality points for that course. Adding them up and dividing by total credits produces the GPA. A failed course still adds its credits to the denominator while contributing zero points, which is why an F pulls the average down so sharply.
Schools don't all use the same rules. Some ignore plus and minus grades, some give extra points for honors or AP courses (a weighted GPA), and pass/fail courses usually carry no grade points at all. Check your institution's handbook and leave out any courses that don't count toward GPA.
Formula
GPA = Σ(credits × grade points) ÷ Σ credits- credits
- credit hours for a course
- grade points
- the value of the letter grade on the chosen scale
Worked examples
Four-course semester on the 4.0 scale
- 1Biology, 3 credits, A: 3 × 4.0 = 12.0
- 2Chemistry, 4 credits, B+: 4 × 3.3 = 13.2
- 3English, 3 credits, A−: 3 × 3.7 = 11.1
- 4Statistics, 2 credits, C: 2 × 2.0 = 4.0
- 5Quality points: 40.3; credits: 12; 40.3 ÷ 12 = 3.358
Semester GPA ≈ 3.36.
Same semester, but Biology is an A+
- 14.0 scale: A+ = 4.0, so nothing changes and the GPA stays 3.36
- 24.3 scale: 3 × 4.3 = 12.9, quality points become 41.2, and 41.2 ÷ 12 = 3.433
3.36 on the 4.0 scale, about 3.43 on the 4.3 scale.
Is a 3.5 GPA good?
On a 4.0 scale, 3.5 sits between a B+ and an A− average, and 3.0 and 3.5 are common cut-offs for honors lists, scholarships and graduate programs. Whether it is competitive depends on the specific program and how demanding your courses are, so compare it with the requirements you are actually targeting.
Which courses move my GPA the most?
Higher-credit courses, because they carry more weight. Raising a four-credit course from B to A adds 4.0 quality points; doing the same in a one-credit course adds only 1.0. Early in a degree each semester has a large effect, while later your cumulative GPA becomes harder to shift. To combine semesters, use the CGPA calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the 4.0 and 4.3 scales?
Here the only difference is the A+. On a 4.0 scale it is worth the same as an A; on a 4.3 scale it earns 4.3, so a transcript with A+ grades can exceed 4.0.
Do pass/fail courses count toward GPA?
Usually not. A pass normally earns credits but no grade points, so leave it out. Whether a fail counts depends on your school.
What is a weighted GPA?
Some high schools add extra points for honors, AP or IB courses, for example 5.0 for an A instead of 4.0. This calculator gives an unweighted GPA, because weighting rules differ between schools.
How do I calculate GPA if my courses have no credit hours?
Give every course the same credit value, such as 1. The GPA then becomes the simple average of your grade points.
Does a retaken course replace the old grade?
That depends on your school's repeat policy. If the new grade replaces the old one, enter only the new grade; if both count, enter the course twice.