How to use the GPA calculator
- Choose the scale: most schools count an A+ as 4.0, and some count it as 4.3.
- For each course, type a name (optional), pick the grade and enter the credits (credit hours). More rows appear as you fill them in, up to 10.
- To get a cumulative GPA, enter your previous cumulative GPA and the credits already earned that it covers.
- Read the GPA, the quality points and the course-by-course table.
How GPA is calculated
Each letter grade is worth a set number of grade points, and courses with more credits count for more. Pass (P) and withdrawn (W) courses carry no grade points, so they're left out of both the points and the credits. A pass still earns credits toward your degree, and the calculator lists those separately.
Worked example
The calculator starts with five courses:
| Course | Grade | Credits | Quality points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Composition | A (4.0) | 3 | 12.0 |
| Calculus | B+ (3.3) | 4 | 13.2 |
| Biology | A− (3.7) | 4 | 14.8 |
| History | B (3.0) | 3 | 9.0 |
| Psychology | A (4.0) | 3 | 12.0 |
| Total | 17 | 61.0 |
- GPA: 61.0 ÷ 17 = 3.588, shown as 3.59.
- With a previous GPA of 3.20 over 30 credits, the earlier quality points are 3.20 × 30 = 96.0.
- Cumulative GPA: (96.0 + 61.0) ÷ (30 + 17) = 157.0 ÷ 47 = 3.34.
Notice how the 4-credit Calculus B+ pulls the average down more than a 3-credit B would, because it carries more weight.
Letter grades and grade points
| Grade | Points | Grade | Points | Grade | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A+ | 4.0 (or 4.3) | B− | 2.7 | D+ | 1.3 |
| A | 4.0 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 1.0 |
| A− | 3.7 | C | 2.0 | D− | 0.7 |
| B+ | 3.3 | C− | 1.7 | F | 0.0 |
| B | 3.0 |
This is the most common U.S. scale, but schools vary. Some don't use plus and minus grades at all, some don't give a D−, and many high schools add extra points for honors, AP or IB courses (a weighted GPA). If your school uses a weighted scale, your official GPA can be higher than this calculator shows. Your registrar's office or student handbook lists the exact values.
Raising your GPA
The more credits you have, the harder it is to move your cumulative GPA. With 30 credits at 3.20, one 17-credit term at 3.59 lifts it to 3.34. With 90 credits at 3.20, the same term only lifts it to about 3.26. Retaking a course can help more than you'd expect at some schools, because the new grade replaces the old one instead of being averaged with it. To see what you need on an upcoming exam to reach a target grade in one course, use the grade calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good GPA?
On a 4.0 scale, 3.0 (a B average) is often the minimum for scholarships, honor societies and graduate school applications, and 3.5 or higher is usually considered strong. Requirements vary a lot by school and program, so check the specific cutoff you're aiming for.
Do pass/fail courses affect my GPA?
Usually not. A pass earns credits but no grade points, so it's left out of the GPA calculation. A fail in a pass/fail course is treated differently from school to school; some count it as an F with 0 points, so check your school's policy.
How do I calculate my cumulative GPA?
Multiply your previous GPA by the credits it covers to get your earlier quality points. Add this term's quality points, then divide by the total credits. For 3.20 over 30 credits plus 61 points over 17 credits: (96 + 61) ÷ 47 = 3.34.
What's the difference between weighted and unweighted GPA?
An unweighted GPA uses the same 4.0 scale for every course, which is what this calculator shows. A weighted GPA gives harder courses, such as honors or AP classes, extra points, often 0.5 or 1.0, so it can go above 4.0. Colleges often recalculate high school GPAs in their own way.
Related calculators
- Grade Calculator — Your weighted course grade from category weights and scores, and the score you need on the final exam.
- Percentage Calculator — Percent of a number, what percent one number is of another, percentage change and difference.
- Average Calculator — The mean of a list of numbers with the working shown, plus a weighted average for grades and scores.
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