Calculate your GPA for this semester only — not your cumulative average. Enter your current courses, grades, and credit hours.
Your semester GPA reflects only the courses you took in a single term. Your cumulative GPA is a weighted average of every course across every semester. They're calculated the same way — but semester GPA only uses this semester's data.
The two numbers tell different stories. A student who struggled freshman year but has since found their footing may have a 2.8 cumulative GPA but a 3.6 semester GPA. Knowing both helps you understand where you stand today, not just where you've been.
Formula: Semester GPA = Σ (Grade Points × Credit Hours) ÷ Total Credit Hours this semester
Grade points follow the standard 4.0 scale: 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+ = 1.3, D = 1.0, F = 0.0.
Example: Say you're taking four courses this semester:
| Course | Grade | Credits | Quality Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biology 201 | A (4.0) | 3 | 12.0 |
| English 102 | B+ (3.3) | 3 | 9.9 |
| Calc I | B (3.0) | 4 | 12.0 |
| History 110 | A− (3.7) | 3 | 11.1 |
| Total | 13 | 45.0 |
Semester GPA = 45.0 ÷ 13 = 3.46
This is where most students are surprised. The more credits you've completed, the less a single semester moves your cumulative GPA — because each new semester is a smaller share of your total credit history.
| Credits Completed | Current Cumulative GPA | After a 3.8 Semester (15 cr) |
|---|---|---|
| 15 (Freshman) | 3.0 | 3.40 |
| 30 (Sophomore) | 3.0 | 3.18 |
| 60 (Junior) | 3.0 | 3.11 |
| 90 (Senior) | 3.0 | 3.07 |
Use our GPA Raise Calculator to see exactly how this semester will affect your cumulative GPA.
Scholarship eligibility: Many merit scholarships require a minimum GPA each term — not just cumulatively. A 3.0 cumulative GPA doesn't protect you if your scholarship requires a 3.0 semester GPA and you earn a 2.7 this term. Always check whether your scholarship has a per-semester requirement.
Academic probation: Most colleges place students on academic probation when their semester GPA falls below a set threshold (commonly 2.0), regardless of their cumulative GPA. Knowing your semester GPA before grades are officially posted gives you time to plan.
Dean's List: Dean's List eligibility is almost always based on semester GPA, not cumulative GPA. The threshold varies by school but is typically 3.5 or 3.7 for a full-time course load.
Graduate school applications: Some graduate programs look at your GPA in your final two years of undergraduate study specifically — which means your recent semester GPAs can matter more than your overall cumulative average.
Most US colleges run on a semester system (two terms per year), but some use a quarter system (three or four terms per year). The calculation is identical regardless of system — quality points divided by credit hours for that term. The only difference is that quarter credits and semester credits aren't directly comparable: one semester credit is roughly equivalent to 1.5 quarter credits.
GPA Calculator — calculate your cumulative GPA across all semesters.
GPA Raise Calculator — see how this semester will move your cumulative GPA.
Grade Calculator — figure out what you need on remaining assignments.
What GPA Do You Need to Keep Your Scholarship? — semester thresholds explained.