GPA Calculator
Calculate your weighted Grade Point Average by entering your courses, credit hours, and grades. Add or remove courses as needed.
Grade Scale Reference
| Grade | Points | Grade | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 4.0 | C+ | 2.3 |
| A- | 3.7 | C | 2.0 |
| B+ | 3.3 | C- | 1.7 |
| B | 3.0 | D+ | 1.3 |
| B- | 2.7 | D | 1.0 |
| F | 0.0 |
How to Use the GPA Calculator
Computing your GPA takes just a few simple steps:
- Enter course details — For each course, type the course name (optional), the number of credit hours, and select the grade received.
- Add more courses — Click "+ Add Course" to add additional rows. Click "- Remove Last" to delete the last row.
- Click "Calculate GPA" — Your weighted GPA, total credits, and total quality points are displayed instantly.
- Review the grade scale — Reference the grade scale table to understand how letter grades convert to grade points.
About GPA Calculation
GPA (Grade Point Average) is a standardized way of measuring academic achievement used by most colleges and universities. It is calculated on a 4.0 scale, where each letter grade corresponds to a numerical value: A = 4.0, B = 3.0, C = 2.0, D = 1.0, and F = 0.0. Many institutions also use plus and minus grades (e.g., A- = 3.7, B+ = 3.3).
The weighted GPA formula is: GPA = Sum of (Grade Points × Credit Hours) / Total Credit Hours. This means courses worth more credit hours have a greater impact on your GPA than courses with fewer credits.
Your GPA is an important factor in academic standing, scholarship eligibility, graduate school admissions, and employment opportunities. Maintaining a strong GPA throughout your academic career opens doors to honors programs, Dean's List recognition, and competitive post-graduation opportunities.
GPA Calculation Examples
Here are step-by-step GPA calculations for typical student course loads:
- Straight-A semester (4 courses, 3 credits each): 4 courses × A (4.0) × 3 credits = 48 quality points ÷ 12 total credits = 4.00 GPA.
- Mixed grades semester: English (3 cr, A = 4.0) = 12 pts. Math (4 cr, B+ = 3.3) = 13.2 pts. History (3 cr, A- = 3.7) = 11.1 pts. Science (4 cr, B = 3.0) = 12 pts. Total: 48.3 quality points ÷ 14 credits = 3.45 GPA.
- Impact of one low grade: Same as above but replace Science with a C (2.0): 12 + 13.2 + 11.1 + 8.0 = 44.3 ÷ 14 = 3.16 GPA. One C in a 4-credit course dropped the GPA by 0.29 points.
- Heavy course load with good grades: Chemistry (5 cr, B+ = 3.3) = 16.5. Calculus (4 cr, A = 4.0) = 16.0. Psychology (3 cr, A = 4.0) = 12.0. Literature (3 cr, B = 3.0) = 9.0. Lab (1 cr, A = 4.0) = 4.0. Total: 57.5 ÷ 16 = 3.59 GPA.
- Cumulative GPA across two semesters: Semester 1: 15 credits, 52.5 quality points (3.50). Semester 2: 16 credits, 54.4 quality points (3.40). Cumulative: (52.5 + 54.4) ÷ (15 + 16) = 106.9 ÷ 31 = 3.45 cumulative GPA.
Quick Reference: GPA to Letter Grade Equivalents
This table shows how GPA ranges correspond to letter grades, percentage scores, and academic standing at most institutions.
| Letter Grade | GPA | Percentage | Standing |
|---|---|---|---|
| A / A- | 3.7 – 4.0 | 90 – 100% | Excellent |
| B+ / B | 3.0 – 3.3 | 83 – 89% | Good |
| B- / C+ | 2.3 – 2.7 | 77 – 82% | Above Average |
| C / C- | 1.7 – 2.0 | 70 – 76% | Average |
| D+ / D | 1.0 – 1.3 | 60 – 69% | Below Average |
| F | 0.0 | Below 60% | Failing |
Frequently Asked Questions
GPA is calculated by multiplying each course's grade point value by its credit hours to get quality points, summing all quality points, and dividing by the total number of credit hours. For example, an A (4.0) in a 3-credit course gives 12 quality points. If you also earn a B (3.0) in a 4-credit course (12 points), your GPA would be (12 + 12) / (3 + 4) = 24 / 7 = 3.43.
The standard 4.0 GPA scale assigns: 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, and F = 0.0. Some institutions may have slight variations, so check your school's specific grading policy.
A GPA of 3.0 (B average) is generally considered good. A 3.5 is very good, and a 3.7 or above is excellent. For competitive graduate programs, a 3.5+ is often expected. However, what counts as "good" depends on your institution, major, and goals.
An unweighted GPA calculates a simple average of all grades regardless of credit hours. A weighted GPA (which this calculator computes) factors in credit hours, so a 4-credit course has more impact than a 1-credit course. Weighted GPA is the standard used by most colleges and universities.
The impact depends on the grade value, the credit hours for that course, and your total credit hours. A low grade in a high-credit course has a larger effect. For example, an F (0.0) in a 4-credit course can drop your semester GPA by 0.8 to 1.0 points if you are taking 16 credits total. The more total credits you have accumulated, the less impact a single bad grade will have on your cumulative GPA.
Requirements vary by institution, but common thresholds are: Dean's List typically requires a semester GPA of 3.5 or higher. Latin honors at graduation are usually: cum laude (3.5+), magna cum laude (3.7+), and summa cum laude (3.9+). Some schools use slightly different cutoffs, so check your specific institution's academic catalog.
It depends on how many credits you have completed. If you have 30 credits at a 2.5 GPA, earning all A's in 15 new credits would raise your cumulative GPA to about 3.0. However, after 90+ credits, it becomes very difficult to change your GPA significantly because each new semester represents a smaller fraction of your total coursework.
This varies by institution. Many colleges have a grade replacement policy where retaking a course replaces the old grade in your GPA calculation, while the original grade may still appear on your transcript. Some schools average both attempts. Check your school's specific retake policy, as there may be limits on how many courses you can retake.