GPA Calculator

Enter your courses, grades, and credit hours to calculate your GPA. Add as many courses as you need.

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Your GPA (4.0 scale)

How GPA is calculated

GPA (Grade Point Average) is a weighted average of your course grades, where each grade is weighted by the number of credit hours that course carries. A 3-credit course counts three times as much as a 1-credit course.

Formula: GPA = Σ (Grade Points × Credit Hours) ÷ Total Credit Hours

For example: if you take a 3-credit course and earn an A (4.0), that contributes 12 quality points. A 4-credit course with a B (3.0) contributes 12 quality points. Together: 24 quality points ÷ 7 total credits = 3.43 GPA.

Grade point scale

Most US colleges use the standard 4.0 scale:

Letter GradeGrade PointsLetter GradeGrade Points
A4.0C+2.3
A−3.7C2.0
B+3.3C−1.7
B3.0D+1.3
B−2.7D1.0
F0.0

Some schools use A+ = 4.3, though many cap the scale at 4.0. Check your school's academic catalog to confirm which scale applies.

Semester GPA vs. cumulative GPA

Your cumulative GPA covers every course you've taken since starting college. Your semester GPA covers only the courses from a single term. This calculator computes whichever you enter — put in all your courses for cumulative GPA, or just this semester's courses for semester GPA.

The more credits you've completed, the less a single semester can move your cumulative GPA. A freshman with 15 credits can shift their GPA by 0.5 points or more in one semester. A senior with 90 credits might only shift it by 0.1 points even with all A's.

What GPA thresholds actually matter

2.0: The minimum to remain in good academic standing at most colleges. Falling below 2.0 triggers academic probation at many schools.

2.5: Common minimum for education programs, nursing programs, and many transfer applications. Also frequently required for athletic eligibility.

3.0: Required to maintain many merit scholarships and graduate school eligibility. The most common "good standing" benchmark for competitive programs.

3.5: Typical Dean's List threshold. Often required for honor societies like Phi Beta Kappa or departmental honors programs.

3.7+: Competitive for top graduate programs (MD, law, MBA at selective schools) and highly selective employers.

How credit hours affect your GPA

Not all courses move your GPA equally. A 4-credit course has twice the GPA impact of a 2-credit course. This means your highest-credit courses — often core requirements like Calculus, Chemistry, or English Composition — matter most to your GPA. A B in a 4-credit course does more damage than a B in a 1-credit elective, and an A in a 4-credit course provides more benefit than an A in a 1-credit lab.

When choosing between similar electives, all else being equal, taking more credits in subjects where you perform strongly gives you more GPA leverage per term.

What doesn't count toward GPA

Pass/Fail and Credit/No Credit courses typically do not affect your GPA — but they also don't help raise it. Repeated courses may be handled differently depending on your school's grade replacement policy. Transfer credits are usually accepted but often not included in your institutional GPA. Always check with your registrar if you're unsure how a specific course type will be counted.

Related tools and guides

Semester GPA Calculator — calculate this semester's GPA separately from your cumulative.
GPA Raise Calculator — how many A's do you need to hit your target GPA?
Weighted GPA Calculator — for AP, IB, and honors courses on the 5.0 scale.
How to Raise Your GPA in One Semester — strategies that actually move the number.
Does Retaking a Class Replace Your GPA? — how grade replacement works.

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