GPA Calculator
Add your courses with their letter grades and credit hours to get your GPA on the standard 4.0 scale. The calculator shows the quality points for every course and the exact division, so you can verify what your school's system reports.
GPA formula
GPA (grade point average) is a credit-weighted average. Each letter grade converts to grade points on the 4.0 scale (A = 4.0, A− = 3.7, B+ = 3.3, B = 3.0 … F = 0). Multiply each course's grade points by its credits to get quality points, then divide the total quality points by the total credits:
A 4-credit course moves your GPA twice as much as a 2-credit one — that's the "weighted" part. Most US colleges use this unweighted 4.0 scale; some high schools add weight for AP/IB/honors classes (often +1.0, capping at 5.0), which this calculator does not add automatically.
Worked examples
Example 1: one semester, three courses
A in Biology (3 credits), B+ in Calculus (4 credits), C in History (2 credits). What's the GPA?
- Convert grades to points and multiply by credits.A: 4.0 × 3 = 12.0; B+: 3.3 × 4 = 13.2; C: 2.0 × 2 = 4.0
- Add quality points and credits.12.0 + 13.2 + 4.0 = 29.2 points; 3 + 4 + 2 = 9 credits
- Divide.29.2 ÷ 9 = 3.24
The semester GPA is 3.24.
Example 2: cumulative GPA across two semesters
Semester 1: GPA 3.24 over 9 credits. Semester 2: GPA 3.60 over 15 credits. Cumulative GPA?
- Recover each semester's quality points (GPA × credits).3.24 × 9 = 29.2; 3.60 × 15 = 54.0
- Add points and credits across semesters.29.2 + 54.0 = 83.2 points; 9 + 15 = 24 credits
- Divide.83.2 ÷ 24 = 3.47
The cumulative GPA is 3.47 — note it is NOT the simple average of 3.24 and 3.60 (3.42), because semester 2 has more credits.
Example 3: what does one F do to a 3.8?
You have a 3.8 GPA over 30 credits and fail a 3-credit course. New GPA?
- Current quality points.3.8 × 30 = 114
- An F adds 0 points but 3 credits.(114 + 0) ÷ (30 + 3) = 114 ÷ 33
- Divide.114 ÷ 33 = 3.45
One F drops the GPA from 3.80 to 3.45.
FAQ
What GPA is an A average?+
On the 4.0 scale, a straight-A average is 4.0 and an A− average is 3.7. Anything from 3.7 up is generally read as an "A range" GPA; 3.0–3.69 is the B range.
What's the difference between weighted and unweighted GPA?+
Unweighted GPA (this calculator) caps every course at 4.0. Weighted GPA gives harder courses extra points — many high schools count an A in an AP class as 5.0. Colleges usually recalculate applicants' GPAs their own way, so know both numbers.
Do pass/fail courses count toward GPA?+
At most schools a "Pass" earns credits but no grade points, so it doesn't change your GPA; a "Fail" often does count as 0.0 and hurts it. Check your registrar's policy — treatment varies.
Is a 3.5 GPA good?+
A 3.5 means roughly half A's and half B's. It clears the cutoff for most honors lists (often 3.5) and graduate programs commonly like to see 3.0+; selective programs tend to expect 3.7 and higher.
How many credits do I need to raise my GPA by 0.1?+
It depends on how many credits you already have — GPA gets harder to move as credits accumulate. Use example 3 in reverse: future credits × (target grade points − current GPA) must exceed total current credits × 0.1.
Related calculators
- College GPA CalculatorCalculate college GPA from letter grades and credit hours on the 4.0 scale — quality points shown step by step, with semester and repeat-policy guidance.
- High School GPA CalculatorCalculate high school GPA both ways at once: unweighted on the 4.0 scale and weighted with honors +0.5 and AP/IB +1.0 — with the math shown.
- Cumulative GPA CalculatorCombine your current GPA and completed credits with this semester's grades to get your new cumulative GPA — with the quality-point math shown.
- Final Exam CalculatorFind the score you need on the final exam to hit your target course grade, from your current grade and the final's weight — with the math shown.