GPA Calculator
- Credits this term
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- Quality points
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- Cumulative GPA
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Checked against: A (3 credits), B+ (4) and A- (3) = 36.3 quality points / 10 credits = 3.63 Last reviewed:
Sources and method
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GPA = total quality points ÷ total credit hours, where each course’s quality points are its grade points (A = 4.0, B = 3.0 and so on) times its credits. An A in a 3-credit course, a B+ in a 4-credit course and an A− in a 3-credit course give 36.3 ÷ 10 = 3.63.
Add each course with its letter grade and credit hours to get your semester GPA. To see your cumulative GPA, enter your previous GPA and the credits it covers. The calculator uses the common US 4.0 scale with plus and minus grades.
How GPA is calculated
- Convert each letter grade to grade points using the scale below.
- Multiply the grade points by the course’s credit hours to get its quality points.
- Add up the quality points and the credit hours.
- Divide quality points by credit hours.
Credits act as weights, so a 4-credit course moves your GPA a third more than a 3-credit one. It is a weighted average, the same idea as a weighted course grade.
The 4.0 scale
| Letter grade | Grade points | Typical percentage |
|---|---|---|
| A+ | 4.0 | 97–100% |
| A | 4.0 | 93–96% |
| A− | 3.7 | 90–92% |
| B+ | 3.3 | 87–89% |
| B | 3.0 | 83–86% |
| B− | 2.7 | 80–82% |
| C+ | 2.3 | 77–79% |
| C | 2.0 | 73–76% |
| C− | 1.7 | 70–72% |
| D+ | 1.3 | 67–69% |
| D | 1.0 | 63–66% |
| D− | 0.7 | 60–62% |
| F | 0.0 | below 60% |
A worked semester
- English, A (4.0), 3 credits → 12.0 quality points
- Calculus, B+ (3.3), 4 credits → 13.2
- History, A− (3.7), 3 credits → 11.1
- Chemistry lab, B (3.0), 1 credit → 3.0
Total: 39.3 quality points over 11 credits, a semester GPA of 3.57. A simple average of the four grade points would give 3.50, because it ignores that the lab is worth only one credit.
Cumulative GPA
To combine semesters, add quality points and credits, then divide. Never average two GPAs directly unless they cover exactly the same number of credits.
Cumulative GPA = (Previous GPA × Previous credits + This term’s quality points) ÷ (Previous credits + This term’s credits)
| Starting point | Term GPA 2.5 | Term GPA 3.0 | Term GPA 3.5 | Term GPA 4.0 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 over 30 credits | 2.50 | 2.67 | 2.83 | 3.00 |
| 2.5 over 60 credits | 2.50 | 2.60 | 2.70 | 2.80 |
| 2.5 over 90 credits | 2.50 | 2.57 | 2.64 | 2.71 |
| 3.0 over 30 credits | 2.83 | 3.00 | 3.17 | 3.33 |
| 3.0 over 60 credits | 2.90 | 3.00 | 3.10 | 3.20 |
| 3.0 over 90 credits | 2.93 | 3.00 | 3.07 | 3.14 |
| 3.5 over 30 credits | 3.17 | 3.33 | 3.50 | 3.67 |
| 3.5 over 60 credits | 3.30 | 3.40 | 3.50 | 3.60 |
| 3.5 over 90 credits | 3.36 | 3.43 | 3.50 | 3.57 |
The table shows why raising a GPA late in a degree is hard: after 90 credits, even a perfect 4.0 semester lifts a 3.0 GPA only to 3.14.
GPA outside the US
Other systems use different scales: many Indian universities give an SGPA and CGPA on a 10-point scale, and the UK uses degree classifications. Converting between systems is not a fixed formula. For Indian grades see the CGPA to percentage calculator; for applications abroad, credential evaluators make their own conversion from your transcript.
Common mistakes
- Averaging grade points without credits. Every course must be weighted by its credit hours.
- Averaging two GPAs. Combine quality points and credits instead.
- Including pass/fail courses. They usually carry no grade points.
- Using the wrong A+ value. Most colleges cap it at 4.0; some use 4.3.
- Counting repeated courses twice. Many schools replace the earlier grade; check your registrar’s policy.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate my GPA?
Multiply each course’s grade points by its credit hours, add those together, and divide by your total credit hours. An A (4.0) in a 3-credit course, a B+ (3.3) in a 4-credit course and an A− (3.7) in a 3-credit course give 12 + 13.2 + 11.1 = 36.3 quality points over 10 credits, a GPA of 3.63.
How do I calculate my cumulative GPA?
Combine quality points and credits, not GPAs. With a previous GPA of 3.2 over 30 credits (96 quality points) and a new semester of 36.3 points over 10 credits, the cumulative GPA is 132.3 ÷ 40 = 3.31.
Is an A+ worth more than 4.0?
At most US colleges an A+ is capped at 4.0, which is what this calculator uses. A minority of schools give an A+ 4.3. Check your school’s scale if you have A+ grades.
What is the difference between weighted and unweighted GPA?
An unweighted GPA uses the 4.0 scale for every class. A weighted GPA, common in US high schools, adds extra points for honors, AP or IB classes, often making an A worth 5.0. This calculator gives the unweighted figure.
Do pass/fail classes count towards GPA?
Usually not. Pass/fail, audit and withdrawn courses normally carry credits towards graduation but no grade points, so leave them out. A failed letter-graded course counts as 0.0 with its credits included.
How do I convert a percentage to a GPA?
Convert the percentage to a letter grade with your school’s scale, then use the grade points. On a common US scale, 93–100 is an A (4.0), 90–92 an A− (3.7) and 87–89 a B+ (3.3). Scales vary, so check yours.