GPA Calculator
Calculate your semester GPA, combine it with prior semesters for a true cumulative GPA, or find the exact GPA you need in future courses to reach your target. Enter each grade and its credit hours, the rest is automatic.
Formula
Worked example
A (4.0) x 3 cr, B+ (3.3) x 4 cr, A- (3.7) x 3 cr, B (3.0) x 1 cr: quality points 12.0 + 13.2 + 11.1 + 3.0 = 39.3 over 11 credits = 3.57 GPA. Adding prior 45 credits at a 3.2 GPA (144 quality points): (144 + 39.3) / (45 + 11) = 183.3 / 56 = 3.27 cumulative GPA.
How the GPA calculation works
Each letter grade maps to a fixed value on the 4.0 scale: A is 4.0, A- is 3.7, B+ is 3.3, B is 3.0, and so on down to F at 0.0. For every course, the calculator multiplies that grade-point value by the credit hours to get quality points. It then adds the quality points from all courses and divides by the total credit hours. This credit weighting means a high grade in a 4-credit course moves your GPA more than the same grade in a 1-credit seminar. Use the course breakdown table to see exactly what each course contributes.
Cumulative GPA: combining prior semesters
Your transcript GPA spans every graded semester, not just the most recent one. To compute a true cumulative GPA, multiply your previous GPA by the credits already earned to get prior quality points, add the quality points from this semester, then divide by the combined total credits. Switch to "Cumulative GPA" mode and enter your prior GPA and credits and the calculator handles all of that automatically. This is the number graduate programs, scholarship committees, and employers actually see.
Raise my GPA: planning future grades
The "Raise my GPA" mode works backward from your target. It asks how many credits you still plan to take, then solves for the GPA you need to earn in those future courses. The math: total quality points needed = target GPA x (current credits + future credits), minus the quality points you already have, divided by the future credits. If the required GPA exceeds the maximum possible on your scale, the target is out of reach in that many credits alone. Grade replacement policies, where your school substitutes a repeated-course grade, can sometimes raise your GPA faster.
Grade scales: 4.0 vs 4.3, weighted vs unweighted
Most US colleges and AACRAO (the national registrar association) use the 4.0-capped scale where A+ and A are both 4.0. Some high schools use a 4.3 scale where A+ earns 4.3 points. Neither scale includes the AP/IB honors weighting that some high schools add on top: a 4.0 unweighted GPA from a rigorous high school is not the same thing as a 4.0 weighted GPA. This calculator supports both the 4.0 and 4.3 scales but does not add AP/IB weighting. Confirm your institution scale before relying on the result for official purposes.
Academic standing thresholds
A 2.0 GPA (C average) is the most common minimum for satisfactory academic standing; falling below it typically triggers academic probation. A 3.0 (B average) is the standard minimum for most graduate school applications and many merit scholarships. Many schools publish a Dean's List requiring a 3.5 or 3.7 GPA for a given semester, and Latin honors (cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude) are typically awarded at 3.5, 3.7, and 3.9 or above at graduation. These thresholds vary by institution, so check your school's specific policy.
Letter grade to grade points: 4.0 and 4.3 scales
| Letter grade | Grade pts (4.0 scale) | Grade pts (4.3 scale) | Academic standing typical |
|---|---|---|---|
| A+ / A | 4.0 | 4.3 / 4.0 | Dean's List |
| A- | 3.7 | 3.7 | Dean's List |
| B+ | 3.3 | 3.3 | Good standing |
| B | 3.0 | 3.0 | Good standing |
| B- | 2.7 | 2.7 | Good standing |
| C+ | 2.3 | 2.3 | Satisfactory |
| C | 2.0 | 2.0 | Satisfactory |
| C- | 1.7 | 1.7 | Watch list |
| D+ | 1.3 | 1.3 | Probation risk |
| D | 1.0 | 1.0 | Probation risk |
| D- | 0.7 | 0.7 | Probation risk |
| F | 0.0 | 0.0 | Failing |
Most US colleges use the 4.0 scale (A+ capped at 4.0). Some high schools and a few colleges use 4.3 where A+ earns extra credit.
Frequently asked questions
How is a credit-weighted GPA calculated?
Convert each grade to its 4.0-scale value, multiply by the course credit hours to get quality points, add up the quality points across all courses, then divide by the total credit hours. For example, an A (4.0) in a 3-credit course earns 12 quality points; a B (3.0) in a 4-credit course earns 12 as well. Together that is 24 quality points over 7 credits, giving a 3.43 GPA.
How do I calculate my cumulative GPA across multiple semesters?
Multiply your prior cumulative GPA by the credits already completed to get prior quality points. Add the quality points from this semester. Divide by the combined total credits. The "Cumulative GPA" mode does this automatically: just enter your previous GPA and the credits already earned.
What GPA do I need in future courses to raise my cumulative GPA?
Use the "Raise my GPA" mode. Enter your current cumulative GPA, current credits, the target GPA, and how many more credits you plan to take. The calculator finds the minimum GPA you need to earn in those future courses. If the required GPA is above 4.0 (or 4.3), the target cannot be reached in the credits available.
What is the difference between a 4.0 and a 4.3 grade scale?
On the 4.0 scale, the highest grade (A+) is capped at 4.0, the same as a plain A. On the 4.3 scale, an A+ earns 4.3 points. Most US colleges and AACRAO use the 4.0 scale; some high schools use 4.3. The choice affects your calculated GPA only if you have A+ grades.
Why might my calculated GPA differ from my official transcript GPA?
Your school may use the 4.3 scale, add honors or AP weighting, or exclude pass/fail, transfer, and repeated courses from the GPA. This calculator uses the scale you select and counts every course you enter, so discrepancies arise when your institution method differs. Check your registrar policy for the exact rules.
What GPA do I need to make the Dean's List or graduate with honors?
Most schools require a 3.5 GPA for a given semester to appear on the Dean's List, though some set the bar at 3.7 or even 3.8. Latin honors at graduation are typically cum laude (3.5), magna cum laude (3.7), and summa cum laude (3.9 or above), but exact cutoffs vary significantly by institution. Check your school's catalog.