Calculate your GPA on the standard 4.0 scale. Enter each course’s letter grade (A+ down to F) and its credits for up to ten courses; blank rows are simply ignored.
GPA Calculator
How the GPA Calculator Works
The GPA Calculator works out a grade point average from a set of courses, each with its own grade and credit hours. In most US-style systems, grades are converted to points on a 4.0 scale, where an A is 4.0, a B is 3.0, a C is 2.0, a D is 1.0, and an F is 0.0, with plus and minus variants taking intermediate values. It is the standard way of summarising a student’s overall performance in a single number, used for university admissions, scholarships, academic standing, and progression to the next stage of study.
The method is a weighted average, not a simple average of the grades, because a course worth more credits should count more. Each course’s grade points are multiplied by its credit hours to give quality points, those quality points are added together, and the total is divided by the total credit hours. The formula is GPA = Σ(grade points × credits) ÷ Σcredits. So a single grade in a one-credit course moves the result far less than the same grade in a four-credit course, which is the fairest reflection of the work behind it.
This calculator implements that formula for any set of courses you enter, with grade points rounded to two decimal places for reporting. The same formula gives a semester GPA when the courses are from one term, and a cumulative GPA when they cover all your study so far. Grades below F do not exist on this scale, and plus and minus grades are included where the system supports them. If a course is graded pass or fail and carries no grade points, leave it out, because including it would lower the average without reflecting graded work.
How to Use This Calculator
- Fill in one row per course, using as many of the form’s 10 rows as you need, checking credits against your schedule or transcript.
- Select the grade earned for each course from the dropdown.
- Enter the credit hours for that course, as shown on your transcript.
- Leave any rows you do not need blank — blank rows are ignored.
- Press Calculate to work out your GPA.
- Read the GPA and the total quality points, and check that the total credits match your transcript.
Example
For a tested example, enter two courses. Course one is a B, which is 3.0 grade points, in a three-credit course, giving 3.0 × 3 = 9 quality points. Course two is an A, which is 4.0 grade points, also in a three-credit course, giving 4.0 × 3 = 12 quality points. The totals are 21 quality points over 6 credits. The GPA is 21 ÷ 6 = 3.50.
As a second example, enter an A minus, which is 3.7 grade points, in a four-credit course, giving 3.7 × 4 = 14.8 quality points, and a C, which is 2.0 grade points, in a two-credit course, giving 2.0 × 2 = 4.0 quality points. The totals are 18.8 quality points over 6 credits. The GPA is 18.8 ÷ 6 ≈ 3.13.
Understanding Your Result
The GPA is a summary, not a judgement. A GPA of 3.50 means your average grade point across the credits counted is halfway between a B and an A. The quality points total shows how much graded work sits behind that figure, and the total credits show the weight of it. Comparing a semester GPA with a cumulative GPA is often more useful than either figure alone, because a single strong or weak term stands out against your overall record.
Keep a few things in mind when you read the result:
- Different schools use slightly different grade point scales, so check whether your institution counts A plus as 4.0 or 4.3, and whether it uses plus and minus grades at all.
- Withdrawn, audited, and pass or fail courses usually do not count toward GPA, but rules vary, so confirm with your institution’s policy.
- Rounding is for display only, because the underlying calculation keeps the full precision until the final result.
- A GPA can rise or fall by only a small amount when many credits are already counted, because each new course is a smaller share of the total.
GPA Calculator FAQs
What is a good GPA?
It depends on the institution and the purpose, but on a 4.0 scale a GPA of 3.0 or above is often described as good, 3.5 or above as very good, and 3.7 or above as excellent. Check the threshold that matters for your scholarship or programme.
Does the calculator use a weighted GPA?
Yes, it uses credit hours as weights, so a four-credit course counts twice as much as a two-credit course. This is the standard method and matches how transcripts report GPA.
How are plus and minus grades handled?
Plus and minus grades take intermediate values on the 4.0 scale, such as 3.7 for A minus and 3.3 for B plus. If your institution does not use plus and minus grades, use the whole-letter values.
Can I include courses from different semesters?
Yes, entering all your courses gives a cumulative GPA. Entering only one semester’s courses gives a semester GPA. Both use the same formula and the same credit weighting.
Why does my GPA differ from my transcript?
Small differences often come from different treatment of plus and minus grades, repeated courses, or pass or fail courses. Check whether those were included or excluded on your transcript, and match the calculator entries to that rule.
Related calculators: Grade Calculator, Percentage Calculator, Standard Deviation Calculator.