Grade Point Calculator
A grade point calculator converts the letter grades and credit hours from your individual courses into a semester or term GPA. The standard 4.0 scale assigns a numerical value to each letter grade, A through F, including plus and minus increments. For each course you enter, the calculator multiplies the grade point value by the number of credit hours to produce quality points. Summing all quality points and dividing by total credit hours gives your weighted GPA. This matters because courses with more credit hours carry more weight: a 4-credit A contributes 16 quality points, while a 1-credit A contributes only 4. The tool supports up to any number of courses through dynamic row addition and removal, so you can model your full schedule in one place. The grade point values used here reflect the most common US undergraduate scale and align with Federal Student Aid definitions of Satisfactory Academic Progress. Graduate programs and individual institutions sometimes use different scales (for example, a 4.3 or 4.33 maximum for an A+). Always verify the scale with your registrar before relying on this GPA for official purposes such as scholarship applications or academic standing reviews.
Your GPA is -- on a 4.0 scale.
| Course name (optional) | Letter grade | Credit hours | Quality points | Remove |
|---|
How GPA is calculated
GPA is the sum of all quality points divided by total credit hours. Quality points for each course equal the grade point value times credit hours.
Quality points (per course) = Grade points x Credit hours
GPA = Sum of all quality points / Sum of all credit hours
Worked example
Three courses: English (A, 3 cr), Math (B+, 4 cr), History (C, 2 cr).
- English: 4.0 x 3 = 12 quality points
- Math: 3.3 x 4 = 13.2 quality points
- History: 2.0 x 2 = 4 quality points
- Total quality points = 12 + 13.2 + 4 = 29.2
- Total credit hours = 3 + 4 + 2 = 9
- GPA = 29.2 / 9 = 3.24
Grade point scale
| Letter | Grade points | Letter | Grade points |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 4.0 | C+ | 2.3 |
| A- | 3.7 | C | 2.0 |
| B+ | 3.3 | C- | 1.7 |
| B | 3.0 | D | 1.0 |
| B- | 2.7 | F | 0.0 |
Grade point calculator: frequently asked questions
How is GPA calculated from letter grades?
Each letter grade is assigned a grade point value: A = 4.0, A- = 3.7, B+ = 3.3, B = 3.0, B- = 2.7, C+ = 2.3, C = 2.0, C- = 1.7, D = 1.0, F = 0.0. Multiply each course's grade point value by its credit hours to get quality points. Sum all quality points, sum all credit hours, then divide total quality points by total credit hours. The result is your GPA.
What is the difference between quality points and GPA?
Quality points are the raw product of grade points times credit hours for a single course (for example, an A in a 3-credit course earns 12 quality points). GPA is the weighted average of all quality points divided by total credit hours. Quality points let credit-heavy courses influence GPA more than lighter courses, which reflects the actual workload.
Does credit hour count affect GPA more than letter grade?
Yes. A 4-credit course has twice the impact on GPA as a 2-credit course with the same letter grade. A high grade in a low-credit elective makes a smaller difference than a high grade in a core 4-credit lecture. This is why students focused on GPA improvement should prioritize performance in high-credit-hour courses.
What GPA do I need to maintain financial aid?
Federal Student Aid requires students to meet Satisfactory Academic Progress standards, which include a minimum GPA threshold set by the institution (commonly 2.0 on a 4.0 scale for undergraduates, 3.0 for graduate programs). Check your school's Satisfactory Academic Progress policy for the exact requirement, as it varies by institution and program.
Why do some schools not use plus and minus grades?
Grading systems vary by institution. Some schools award only whole letter grades (A, B, C, D, F), while others use a full plus/minus scale. Schools that omit plus/minus grades typically map each letter to a single point value (A = 4.0, B = 3.0, etc.). Check your school's registrar or academic catalog for the official grade point scale used in your program.
Official sources
- Federal Student Aid academic progress requirements: Satisfactory Academic Progress.
Reviewed by the CalculatorHub team, edited by James Graham, 14 June 2026. See our methodology. Confirm your institution's grade point scale before using for official purposes.