Calculate your semester and cumulative GPA with ease. Add your courses, grades, and credit hours to track your academic performance and plan your path to success.
Enter your courses, grades, and credits, then click Calculate to see your GPA
GPA (Grade Point Average) is a standardized way of measuring academic achievement in U.S. colleges and universities. It converts letter grades into a numerical scale (typically 0.0 to 4.0) and calculates a weighted average based on credit hours. GPA provides a single number that represents your overall academic performance, making it easy to compare students and track progress over time.
Your GPA for a single semester or term. It includes only the courses taken during that specific period and reflects your performance for those few months.
Your overall GPA across all semesters from the beginning of your college career. This is the most important GPA for scholarships, graduate school, and employment.
Your GPA calculated using only courses within your major field of study. Some programs require a minimum major GPA for graduation or continuation.
Each letter grade corresponds to a numerical value on the 4.0 scale. Use the standard conversion table provided by your institution.
A = 4.0, A- = 3.7, B+ = 3.3, B = 3.0, B- = 2.7, C+ = 2.3, C = 2.0, etc.
For each course, multiply the grade point value by the number of credit hours. This gives you the quality points for that course.
Quality Points = Grade Points × Credit Hours
Example: A (4.0) in a 3-credit course = 4.0 × 3 = 12 quality points
Add up the quality points from all your courses to get the total quality points earned.
If you have 4 courses with quality points of 12, 9.9, 13.2, and 12, your total is 47.1
Add up the credit hours from all your courses to get the total credits attempted.
Courses with 3, 3, 4, and 4 credits = 14 total credits
Divide total quality points by total credits to calculate your GPA.
GPA = 47.1 ÷ 14 = 3.36
Sarah is a freshman taking 4 courses this semester. Let's calculate her GPA:
| Course | Grade | Credits | Grade Points | Quality Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics 101 | A | 3 | 4.0 | 12.0 |
| English Composition | B+ | 3 | 3.3 | 9.9 |
| General Physics | A- | 4 | 3.7 | 14.8 |
| Introduction to Psychology | B | 3 | 3.0 | 9.0 |
| TOTAL | - | 13 | - | 45.7 |
Calculation:
Result: Sarah's semester GPA is 3.52, which qualifies her for the Dean's List and Cum Laude honors at most universities.
Marcus is a sophomore. He wants to calculate his cumulative GPA after completing his 3rd semester.
| Course | Grade | Credits | Quality Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data Structures | A | 4 | 16.0 |
| Calculus II | B+ | 3 | 9.9 |
| World History | A- | 3 | 11.1 |
| Public Speaking | A | 3 | 12.0 |
| Total | - | 13 | 49.0 |
Step-by-Step Calculation:
Step 1: Calculate previous quality points
3.35 × 30 = 100.5 quality points
Step 2: Add current semester quality points
100.5 + 49.0 = 149.5 total quality points
Step 3: Add total credits
30 + 13 = 43 total credits
Step 4: Calculate new cumulative GPA
Result: Marcus improved his cumulative GPA from 3.35 to 3.48 - a significant improvement that strengthens his graduate school applications!
Emma has a 2.85 cumulative GPA with 60 credits completed. She needs a 3.0 GPA to keep her scholarship. Let's see what GPA she needs this semester to reach her goal.
Calculation:
Step 1: Calculate required total quality points for 3.0 GPA
3.0 × (60 + 15) = 3.0 × 75 = 225 quality points needed
Step 2: Calculate quality points needed this semester
225 - 171 = 54 quality points needed
Step 3: Calculate required semester GPA
54 ÷ 15 = 3.6 semester GPA required
Result: Emma needs a 3.6 GPA this semester (mostly A's and B's) to raise her cumulative GPA to 3.0 and keep her scholarship. This is challenging but achievable with focused effort!
| Letter Grade | Grade Points | Percentage Range | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| A+ / A | 4.0 | 93-100% | Excellent / Outstanding |
| A- | 3.7 | 90-92% | Excellent |
| B+ | 3.3 | 87-89% | Very Good |
| B | 3.0 | 83-86% | Good |
| B- | 2.7 | 80-82% | Good |
| C+ | 2.3 | 77-79% | Average |
| C | 2.0 | 73-76% | Average |
| C- | 1.7 | 70-72% | Below Average |
| D+ | 1.3 | 67-69% | Poor |
| D | 1.0 | 63-66% | Poor |
| D- | 0.7 | 60-62% | Poor |
| F | 0.0 | Below 60% | Failing |
| GPA Range | Academic Standing | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 3.90 - 4.00 | Summa Cum Laude | Highest Honors - Top 1-5% of class |
| 3.70 - 3.89 | Magna Cum Laude | High Honors - Top 5-10% of class |
| 3.50 - 3.69 | Cum Laude | Honors - Top 10-20% of class |
| 3.00 - 3.49 | Dean's List | Good Academic Standing - Merit recognition |
| 2.50 - 2.99 | Good Standing | Satisfactory academic progress |
| 2.00 - 2.49 | Satisfactory | Meeting minimum requirements |
| 1.50 - 1.99 | Academic Warning | Below satisfactory - improvement required |
| Below 1.50 | Academic Probation | Risk of suspension - immediate action needed |
Regular attendance is strongly correlated with higher grades. You'll catch important information, participate in discussions, and show professors you're engaged.
Don't wait until the last minute. Starting early gives you time to ask questions, get help, revise your work, and avoid stress-induced mistakes.
Professors and TAs hold office hours specifically to help you. Use this free resource to clarify concepts, review assignments, and build relationships.
Collaborative learning helps you understand material from different perspectives. Explain concepts to others and learn from their insights.
Use a planner or digital calendar to track assignments, exams, and study time. Break large tasks into smaller, manageable chunks.
Most colleges offer free tutoring services. Get help before you fall behind - early intervention prevents small problems from becoming major issues.
Balance difficult courses with easier ones. Don't overload yourself with all hard classes in one semester - pace yourself for sustainable success.
Get enough sleep, eat well, and exercise regularly. Physical and mental health directly impact your ability to learn and perform academically.
Mistake: Simply averaging all grades equally without considering credit hours.
Correct: A 4-credit A (16 quality points) contributes more to your GPA than a 1-credit A (4 quality points).
Mistake: Using incorrect grade point values (e.g., thinking A- = 3.5 instead of 3.7).
Correct: Always verify your institution's specific grading scale as they can vary.
Mistake: Including P/F courses in GPA calculations when they shouldn't be counted.
Correct: Pass/Fail courses typically don't affect GPA - they don't contribute quality points or count in total credits for GPA.
Mistake: Adding 0-credit courses or audit courses to GPA calculations.
Correct: Only courses with assigned credit hours that receive letter grades count toward GPA.
Mistake: Rounding quality points or intermediate calculations before final GPA.
Correct: Keep full precision (2-3 decimal places) throughout calculations and only round the final GPA.
Mistake: Reporting semester GPA when cumulative GPA is requested (or vice versa).
Correct: Understand the difference - semester GPA is one term only; cumulative is your entire college career.
A "good" GPA depends on your goals. Generally: 3.5-4.0 is excellent and competitive for top graduate programs and employers; 3.0-3.49 is good and meets most scholarship and program requirements; 2.5-2.99 is average; and below 2.0 is typically considered below satisfactory. However, remember that GPA is just one factor - internships, research, and extracurriculars also matter significantly.
GPA is a weighted average on a 4.0 scale that accounts for credit hours, while percentage is a simple average of numerical scores. GPA gives more weight to courses with more credits, providing a more accurate picture of overall performance. For example, getting 90% in a 1-credit course and 80% in a 4-credit course would average to 85%, but your GPA would be closer to the 80% course since it represents more work.
Yes, but it becomes harder as you complete more credits. Early in your college career (first 1-2 years), you can significantly improve your GPA with strong performance. However, if you have 90 credits with a 2.5 GPA, even getting a 4.0 in your remaining 30 credits would only raise your cumulative GPA to about 2.875. The key is to start improving immediately and be realistic about what's achievable. Focus on consistent improvement rather than drastic overnight changes.
Most U.S. colleges use the 4.0 scale, but there are variations. Some schools use different scales like 5.0 (for weighted GPAs that include honors/AP courses), 4.3 (where A+ = 4.3), or even 12.0 or 100-point scales. Some international institutions use completely different systems. Always check your specific institution's grading policy and use their official scale for calculations.
Retake policies vary by institution. Common approaches include: Replacement: The new grade completely replaces the old one in GPA calculations (though the original may still appear on your transcript); Averaging: Both grades are included in your GPA; Forgiveness: The higher grade is used but both appear on transcript. Some schools limit how many courses you can retake or only allow retakes for grades below C. Always check your school's specific retake policy.
A withdrawal (W grade) typically does not affect your GPA - it doesn't count as credits attempted or contribute quality points. However, excessive withdrawals can impact financial aid, academic progress, and how graduate schools or employers view your transcript. Some schools distinguish between early withdrawal (no notation) and late withdrawal (W appears on transcript). Check withdrawal deadlines and policies carefully before dropping a course.
Graduate school GPA requirements vary widely by program and competitiveness. General guidelines: 3.0 is typically the minimum for admission consideration; 3.5+ is competitive for most programs; 3.7+ is competitive for top-tier programs (Ivy League, Stanford, MIT, etc.). However, many factors matter beyond GPA including GRE/GMAT scores, research experience, letters of recommendation, personal statements, and relevant work experience. Some programs also weigh your major GPA more heavily than overall GPA.
Transfer credit policies vary by institution. Most commonly, transfer credits count toward degree requirements but not GPA - meaning you get the credits but grades from your previous school don't affect your GPA at the new institution. Your new school calculates GPA based only on courses taken there. However, for graduate school or scholarship applications, you may need to report all GPAs (both schools separately, or a combined GPA).
Include your GPA on your resume if: (1) It's 3.5 or higher (3.0+ for some fields); (2) You're a recent graduate or current student with limited work experience; (3) The job posting specifically requests it. You can omit it if it's below 3.0, you've been out of school for several years, or you have significant relevant work experience. You can also list just your major GPA if it's higher than your cumulative GPA.
Unweighted GPA uses the standard 4.0 scale where all courses are treated equally regardless of difficulty. Weighted GPA gives extra points for advanced courses (AP, IB, Honors) - typically on a 5.0 or higher scale. For example, an A in an AP course might be worth 5.0 instead of 4.0. Weighted GPAs are more common in high school; most colleges use unweighted 4.0 scales. This allows college admissions to evaluate all applicants using the same standard.
Your GPA is an important metric for measuring academic achievement, but it's just one part of your college experience. Use this calculator regularly to track your progress, set realistic goals, and make informed decisions about your coursework. Remember that consistent effort, good study habits, and seeking help when needed are the real keys to academic success.
Whether you're calculating your semester GPA, planning your cumulative GPA improvement, or just exploring different scenarios, our College GPA Calculator provides accurate results with detailed breakdowns to help you understand exactly how your GPA is calculated. Stay motivated, work hard, and watch your academic achievements grow!