At almost every US college, GPA is a credit-weighted average. Each letter grade is converted to grade points – A = 4.0, A− = 3.7, B+ = 3.3 and so on down to F = 0 – and multiplied by the course’s credit hours to give quality points. Dividing the total quality points by the total credits gives the grade point average, so a 4-credit lab science moves your GPA twice as much as a 2-credit seminar.
Type one course per line, for example “Calculus, B+, 4”. The course name is optional; the grade can be a letter, a percentage such as 88% (converted with the common A = 93% scale) or grade points you already know. Choose the 4.33 option if your school awards 4.3 for an A+.
To see your cumulative GPA, switch on the cumulative option and enter the GPA and credits printed on your last transcript. The calculator then weights the old GPA by its credits and the new semester by its credits – the same method registrars use. Pass/fail and withdrawn courses carry no grade points; leave them out.
How to use the College GPA Calculator
- Courses – one per line: name, grade, credits — Grade as a letter (A−), a percentage (88%) or grade points (3.7). Credits are optional (default 1).
- Grade scale
- Also calculate my cumulative GPA
- Previous cumulative GPA
- Credits behind that GPA
Everything is calculated in your browser, so results appear instantly and nothing you type is sent to a server.
How it works
Each line is parsed into a grade and its credits, the grade is converted to points on the chosen scale, quality points (points × credits) are summed and divided by the credits. For the cumulative GPA the previous quality points (GPA × credits) are added before dividing by all credits.
Worked example
Biology A (4 cr), Calculus B+ (4 cr), English A− (3 cr), US History B (3 cr) and Art C+ (2 cr): quality points = 16 + 13.2 + 11.1 + 9 + 4.6 = 53.9 over 16 credits, so the semester GPA is 53.9 ÷ 16 = 3.369. With a previous GPA of 3.3 over 30 credits, the cumulative GPA is (53.9 + 99) ÷ 46 = 3.324.
Grade scale used
| Letter | Percentage | Grade points (4.0 scale) |
|---|---|---|
| A+ | 97–100 | 4.0 (4.3 on a 4.33 scale) |
| A | 93–96 | 4.0 |
| A− | 90–92 | 3.7 |
| B+ | 87–89 | 3.3 |
| B | 83–86 | 3.0 |
| B− | 80–82 | 2.7 |
| C+ | 77–79 | 2.3 |
| C | 73–76 | 2.0 |
| C− | 70–72 | 1.7 |
| D+ | 67–69 | 1.3 |
| D | 65–66 | 1.0 |
| E/F | below 65 | 0.0 |
Formula
Semester GPA = Σ(grade points × credits) ÷ Σ credits · Cumulative GPA = (semester GPA × semester credits + previous GPA × previous credits) ÷ total credits
Worked example
Inputs — Courses – one per line: name, grade, credits: Biology, A, 4
Calculus, B+, 4
English Composition, A-, 3
US History, B, 3
Art Studio, C+, 2; Grade scale: 4.0 scale (A+ = 4.0); Also calculate my cumulative GPA: No.
Results — Semester GPA = 3.369; Cumulative GPA = 3.369; Credits this semester = 16; Quality points this semester = 53.9; Courses = 5; Letter equivalent = B+ average (unweighted).
Key terms
- Credit hours
- The weight of a course, usually its weekly class hours.
- Quality points
- Grade points × credit hours for one course.
- Cumulative GPA
- The GPA over all semesters, weighted by credits.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate my college GPA?
Multiply each course's grade points by its credits, add the results and divide by the total credits.
What is a good college GPA?
3.0 is a common minimum for internships and graduate programs; 3.5+ is strong, and Latin honors usually start around 3.5–3.7.
What is the average college GPA?
Around 3.1–3.2 at four-year US colleges.
Does a 4-credit course count more than a 3-credit course?
Yes – it carries 4/3 as much weight in the average.
How do I raise my cumulative GPA?
Earn high grades in high-credit courses; the more credits you already have, the slower the cumulative GPA moves.
Do pass/fail courses affect GPA?
Usually not – they earn credits towards graduation but no grade points.
Is an A+ worth more than an A?
Only at schools on a 4.33 scale; most colleges cap the A+ at 4.0.