GPA Calculator
A grade point average (GPA) is the standard measure of academic performance at US colleges and universities. This GPA calculator lets you add as many courses as you need, select the letter grade you earned (including plus and minus grades), enter the credit hours, and instantly see your semester GPA on the 4.0 scale. Grade points follow the standard US convention: A equals 4.0, A- equals 3.7, B+ equals 3.3, B equals 3.0, B- equals 2.7, C+ equals 2.3, C equals 2.0, C- equals 1.7, D equals 1.0, and F equals 0.0. The calculator weights each grade by its credit hours, sums the quality points, and divides by total credits to produce your GPA. Use the Add Course button to include every class on your schedule. If you want to calculate your cumulative GPA across multiple semesters, use the separate cumulative GPA calculator linked in the sidebar. This calculator is intended as a planning tool; your official GPA is determined by your institution's registrar and may differ slightly based on institutional rounding rules or grade policies.
Your semester GPA is 3.12
How GPA is calculated
Each letter grade maps to a grade point value. Multiply that value by the course credit hours to get quality points. Sum all quality points, then divide by total credit hours.
GPA = Sum(grade points x credit hours) / Sum(credit hours)
Worked example
Three courses: English (A, 3 credits), Math (B+, 4 credits), History (C, 3 credits):
- English: 4.0 x 3 = 12.0 quality points
- Math: 3.3 x 4 = 13.2 quality points
- History: 2.0 x 3 = 6.0 quality points
- Total quality points: 31.2. Total credits: 10.
- GPA = 31.2 / 10 = 3.12
Standard 4.0 grade point scale
| Letter Grade | Grade Points | Percentage Range |
|---|---|---|
| A | 4.0 | 93 to 100 |
| A- | 3.7 | 90 to 92 |
| B+ | 3.3 | 87 to 89 |
| B | 3.0 | 83 to 86 |
| B- | 2.7 | 80 to 82 |
| C+ | 2.3 | 77 to 79 |
| C | 2.0 | 73 to 76 |
| C- | 1.7 | 70 to 72 |
| D | 1.0 | 60 to 69 |
| F | 0.0 | Below 60 |
Weighted or unweighted, and how schools really compute it
Two students with the same report card can have different GPAs, because schools compute the number in different ways. An unweighted GPA maps every course onto the same scale, typically 0 to 4.0, regardless of difficulty. A weighted GPA adds points for harder courses, honours or advanced classes, which is how a figure above 4.0 appears. Neither is 'correct'; they answer different questions, and a GPA is only comparable against others computed the same way.
Credit hours are the other hidden variable. A proper GPA is a credit-weighted average, so a five-credit course moves your GPA far more than a one-credit elective with the same grade. Averaging grade points without weighting by credits, a common shortcut, produces a number that can drift noticeably from what the registrar records.
When you are calculating toward a target, work in the currency the institution uses. Convert letter grades with the exact scale on your school's own policy, since the cutoffs and whether pluses and minuses count vary, and weight each course by its credits. That is also why raising a GPA gets harder as credits accumulate: each new grade is a smaller share of a larger total, so early terms carry more leverage than late ones.
GPA calculator: frequently asked questions
What is a 4.0 GPA scale?
The 4.0 GPA scale is the standard grading system used by most US colleges and universities. An A earns 4.0 grade points, a B earns 3.0, a C earns 2.0, a D earns 1.0, and an F earns 0.0. Plus and minus grades modify these values: A- is 3.7, B+ is 3.3, B- is 2.7, and so on. Your GPA is the weighted average of grade points earned across all credit hours attempted.
How is semester GPA calculated?
Semester GPA is calculated by multiplying each course's grade points by its credit hours to get quality points, summing all quality points, then dividing by the total credit hours. For example, an A (4.0) in a 3-credit course gives 12 quality points. If you earned 42 quality points across 15 credit hours, your GPA is 42 / 15 = 2.80.
Do all courses count toward GPA?
Not always. Pass/fail courses, remedial courses, transfer credits, and audit enrollments are often excluded from GPA calculations at many institutions. Advanced Placement (AP) and dual-enrollment credits may be treated differently. Check your institution's academic catalog or registrar's office for the exact rules that apply to your program.
What is the difference between semester GPA and cumulative GPA?
Semester GPA reflects only the courses taken in one term. Cumulative GPA is the weighted average of all grade points earned across every term you have attended. Cumulative GPA is the figure that typically appears on your transcript and is used by employers, graduate schools, and scholarship committees.
What GPA do I need to keep my scholarship?
Scholarship minimum GPA requirements vary widely. Many institutional scholarships require a cumulative GPA of 2.0 to 3.0. Merit scholarships often require 3.0 or higher. Federal financial aid (Pell Grant, subsidized loans) requires satisfactory academic progress, which typically includes maintaining at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA. Check directly with your financial aid office for the exact requirement.
Sources
- US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid: Satisfactory Academic Progress.
- National Center for Education Statistics: Undergraduate GPA Data.
Reviewed by the CalculatorHub team, edited by James Graham, 14 June 2026. See our methodology.