GPA Calculator

Your GPA (Grade Point Average) is one of the most important numbers in your academic career. It summarizes your overall academic performance on a standardized scale, and is used for college admissions, scholarships, graduate school applications, honors eligibility, and even some job applications.

How GPA is calculated: GPA is a credit-weighted average. For each course, your letter grade is converted to grade points (A=4.0, B=3.0, C=2.0, D=1.0, F=0.0). The grade points are multiplied by the course's credit hours to get "quality points." Your GPA is the total quality points divided by total credit hours. For example, an A (4.0) in a 4-credit course and a B (3.0) in a 3-credit course gives you (4.0 x 4 + 3.0 x 3) / (4 + 3) = 25 / 7 = 3.57 GPA.

Weighted vs. unweighted GPA: An unweighted GPA uses the standard 4.0 scale for all classes. A weighted GPA gives bonus points for advanced coursework — typically +0.5 for Honors courses and +1.0 for AP (Advanced Placement) and IB (International Baccalaureate) courses. This means an A in an AP class is worth 5.0 grade points instead of 4.0 on the weighted scale, allowing GPAs above 4.0.

Semester vs. cumulative GPA: Semester GPA is calculated from just one semester's courses. Cumulative GPA includes all courses across all semesters. To calculate cumulative GPA, enter your existing GPA and total credits in the cumulative section, then add your current semester's courses. The calculator combines both for your new cumulative GPA.

**What is a good GPA?** On the 4.0 scale: 3.5-4.0 is excellent (Dean's List at most schools), 3.0-3.49 is good, 2.5-2.99 is average, 2.0-2.49 is below average, and below 2.0 may trigger academic probation. For graduate school admissions, most programs expect at least a 3.0, with competitive programs looking for 3.5 or higher.

GPA planning: If you need to raise your GPA, the planning tab tells you what GPA you need in future courses to reach your target. For instance, if you have a 2.8 GPA with 60 credits and want to graduate with a 3.0 after 120 total credits, you'd need a 3.2 GPA over your remaining 60 credits. The more credits you've already earned, the harder it is to move your cumulative GPA significantly.

Plus/minus grading: Most colleges use plus/minus grades with distinct grade points: A- = 3.7, B+ = 3.3, B- = 2.7, etc. This provides more granularity than whole-letter grades. An A+ is typically 4.0 (same as A) at most institutions, though some use 4.3 for A+.

Pass/fail and withdrawn courses: Courses taken as Pass/Fail (P/F) or from which you withdraw (W) typically do not factor into GPA calculations. Only letter-graded courses count. This calculator excludes any courses without standard letter grades.

How colleges recalculate GPA: Many colleges recalculate your GPA on their own scale during admissions. They may strip weighted bonuses, exclude non-core courses, or apply their own grade scale. The GPA you calculate here is your school's official GPA — the college-recalculated GPA may differ.