GPA Calculator
Calculate your GPA from course grades and credit hours.
The Formula
GPA = Σ(Grade Points × Credit Hours) / Σ(Credit Hours)
English (3cr): B = 3×3 = 9
History (3cr): B+ = 3.3×3 = 9.9
Total = 34.9 / 10 credits
GPA = 3.49
How GPA Is Calculated
GPA (Grade Point Average) is a weighted average of your course grades, where each grade is converted to a point value and weighted by the number of credit hours the course carries. The formula: multiply each course's grade points by its credit hours, sum all of those products, then divide by the total credit hours. A student with an A (4.0) in a 4-credit course and a B (3.0) in a 3-credit course has a GPA of (4.0 x 4 + 3.0 x 3) / (4 + 3) = (16 + 9) / 7 = 3.57. Higher-credit courses have a proportionally larger impact on your GPA.
The Standard 4.0 Grade Scale
Most US colleges and universities use the 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, D- = 0.7, F = 0.0. Some schools also award A+ grades (sometimes 4.0, sometimes 4.3 depending on the institution — check your school's specific policy). A few schools use different scales; if your school uses a 5.0 or 100-point scale, the principles are the same but the point values differ.
Cumulative GPA vs. Semester GPA
Semester GPA reflects your performance in a single term and fluctuates from semester to semester. Cumulative GPA is your overall average across all semesters and all credit hours completed — it is the number that appears on your transcript and is used by employers and graduate schools. A single bad semester has less impact on your cumulative GPA when you have more credit hours under your belt. Recovering from a low cumulative GPA takes time because past grades always carry weight in the calculation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good GPA?
A GPA above 3.0 (B average) is generally considered good. Above 3.5 is excellent. Many competitive graduate programs, medical schools, and law schools look for 3.5 or above. Employers in competitive fields often screen for 3.0+. Latin honors at graduation are typically awarded as follows: cum laude around 3.5, magna cum laude around 3.7, and summa cum laude around 3.9, though exact cutoffs vary by institution.
How much will one bad grade affect my GPA?
It depends on how many credit hours you have completed. Early in college, one F in a 3-credit course can drop a 4.0 GPA significantly — from 4.0 to 3.0 after just 12 credits. After completing 90 credits, the same F barely moves a 3.5 GPA. This is why grade recovery is most effective and most impactful when done early.
Can I raise my GPA significantly?
Yes, especially earlier in your academic career. The more credit hours you have remaining, the more room you have to raise your cumulative GPA. Retaking courses and earning better grades helps — many schools replace the original grade in GPA calculations for repeated courses, though policies vary. Focus on higher-credit courses for maximum impact since they carry more weight in the calculation.
What is the difference between weighted and unweighted GPA?
Unweighted GPA uses the standard 4.0 scale regardless of course difficulty. Weighted GPA gives extra points for honors, AP, or IB courses (typically +0.5 for honors and +1.0 for AP/IB), resulting in a possible maximum above 4.0. Weighted GPAs are common in high school. Most colleges report unweighted GPAs and recalculate high school GPAs on an unweighted scale when reviewing applications.
Do graduate schools care about undergraduate GPA?
Yes, significantly. Most graduate programs have GPA cutoffs for consideration, often 3.0 as a minimum and 3.5 for competitive programs. Professional schools like medical, law, and business schools weigh GPA heavily alongside standardized test scores. Research experience, recommendations, and personal statements can partially offset a lower GPA, but strong grades remain one of the most important factors in graduate admissions.