GPA Calculator
'What's my GPA?' sounds simple until the pluses, minuses and credit hours get involved. This GPA calculator works it out on the standard 4.0 scale from your letter grades and credit hours: add a row per course (up to ten), enter your grades, and optionally fold in a previous cumulative GPA with its credit hours to see your new combined figure. Everything runs in your browser, nothing is uploaded or stored. The result shows your semester GPA, total credits and quality points, so you can see exactly where the number comes from.
Last updated: October 22, 2026
Your result
Standard 4.0 scale: A = 4.0, B = 3.0, C = 2.0, D = 1.0 and F = 0.0, with plus and minus steps in between.
The formula
Quality points for one course = grade points × credit hoursSemester GPA = total quality points ÷ total credit hoursCombined GPA = (old GPA × old credits + semester points) ÷ (old credits + semester credits)
A worked example
Three courses: an A (4.0) worth 3 credits, a B+ (3.3) worth 4 credits and an A− (3.7) worth 3 credits. Quality points are 12.0 + 13.2 + 11.1 = 36.3, and 36.3 ÷ 10 credits = a 3.63 semester GPA.
More about the GPA Calculator
The math, once and for all
Each grade is worth points: A = 4.0, A− = 3.7, B+ = 3.3, B = 3.0, and so on down to F = 0.0. Multiply each grade's points by its credit hours to get quality points, add them all up, and divide by total credit hours.
The worked example: an A (4.0) worth 3 credits, a B+ (3.3) worth 4, an A− (3.7) worth 3. Quality points: 12.0 + 13.2 + 11.1 = 36.3. Divide by 10 credits: a 3.63 semester GPA. Notice how the 4-credit B+ pulls harder than the 3-credit A−, credit weight is the whole game.
Why credit hours decide everything
Because GPA is credit weighted, high grades in heavy courses move the needle most. One A in a 4 credit course adds 16 quality points; one A in a 1 credit lab adds 4. Same letter, quadruple the impact.
This cuts both ways for rescue missions: raising a cumulative GPA takes high grades in courses with real credit weight. Enter your previous GPA and credits above to see precisely what this semester's grades need to be, hope is not a strategy, but arithmetic is.
Plus/minus grades and scale quirks
On the standard 4.0 scale used here, an A− is 3.7 not 4.0, a B+ is 3.3 not 3.0, the steps matter, and a semester of A− grades lands meaningfully below a 4.0. Some schools use slightly different scales or no plus/minus at all, so check your institution's handbook if you need the official transcript figure.
As for 'what counts as good': 3.0 is a solid B average and the minimum for many scholarships; 3.5+ is strong for honours and graduate programmes; 3.7+ typically makes the dean's list. Every school and employer sets its own bar.
Raising a low GPA: the honest math
GPA is a weighted average over ALL your credits, so early semesters anchor it hard. With 60 credits at 2.5, even a perfect 4.0 semester of 15 credits only lifts you to 2.8, the arithmetic of averages is unforgiving, and no single semester erases a rough start.
The lever that works: sustained high grades in full credit loads, semester after semester. Enter your current cumulative GPA and credits above, then experiment with future grades to see exactly what it takes, a plan beats a wish.
What GPA actually matters for
For internships and first jobs, many employers screen at 3.0 or 3.5, below the cutoff, the résumé may never be read. Graduate programmes are stricter, often wanting 3.5+ in the major. But after your first job, experience rapidly overtakes GPA in importance.
One more honest note: GPA measures how well you played the school game, not your capability. A 3.2 with real projects and internships beats a 3.9 with nothing else on the page for most employers worth working for.
GPA repair: retakes and grade replacement
Many schools let you retake a failed course and replace the grade, sometimes fully, sometimes averaged. A replaced F (0.0) with an A (4.0) in a 3 credit course swings your quality points by 12, which can move a cumulative GPA by tenths.
Check your school's specific policy before banking on it: some cap retakes, some average both attempts, some only replace the grade but keep both on the transcript. Enter the post retake grades above to model exactly what each scenario does to your number.
GPA and graduate school admissions
Graduate programs often publish minimum GPAs (commonly 3.0), but competitive programs admit well above the minimum, and many weigh your major GPA or last 60 credits GPA more heavily than the cumulative number.
An upward trend matters: a 2.8 freshman year followed by 3.7 junior/senior years tells a better story than a flat 3.3. If your transcript shows growth, highlight it in your statement, admissions readers notice trajectories.
For programs that require standardized tests, a strong GRE/GMAT can partially offset a weaker GPA. Use the calculator to set a target, then build the strongest overall application around it. GPA is one factor, not the verdict.
Weighted vs. unweighted GPA
Unweighted GPA caps at 4.0, an A is 4.0 whether the class was regular or AP. Weighted GPA adds bonus points for advanced courses (often +1.0), so AP As can be 5.0 and weighted GPAs exceed 4.0.
Colleges recalculate anyway: many strip the weighting and apply their own formula, or evaluate your transcript course by course. Your school's weighted 4.6 and another school's unweighted 3.9 are not directly comparable, admissions offices know this.
Enter grades above using your school's scale. If your school weights, add the bonus per your policy; if it does not, use the standard 4.0 scale. Consistency with your transcript matters more than the raw number.
How to use the GPA Calculator
- Add one row per course, choosing the letter grade and entering the credit hours for each.
- Press “Add another course” if you have more than the starting four rows (up to ten).
- Optionally enter your previous cumulative GPA and credit hours to combine them with this semester.
- Press Calculate to see your semester GPA, total credits, quality points and combined cumulative GPA.
Frequently asked questions
What are quality points?
Think of them as the currency GPA is paid in. One course's quality points are its grade points times its credit hours, a B (3.0) in a 4 credit course earns 12, in a 3 credit course it earns 9. Add up every course's quality points and divide by total credit hours: that is your GPA, the entire formula.
Do failed courses count toward GPA?
They do, an F earns 0.0 grade points, but its credit hours still sit in the divisor, so a failed course drags the average down hard. Retaking it helps, though every school has its own policy on whether the old grade gets replaced, so check your handbook before counting on it.
Can I project my GPA before the semester ends?
Yes, enter your expected grades as planned courses alongside your current GPA and completed credits, and the calculator shows your projected cumulative GPA. Useful for knowing whether that 3.5 target is still alive.
Will retaking a class replace my old grade in my GPA?
It depends on your school's policy. Some schools replace the old grade completely, some average both attempts, and some keep the old grade on your transcript while excluding it from the calculation. Check your school's handbook first, then enter your post retake grades in the calculator above to see exactly what each scenario does to your number.
How do I calculate my GPA?
Multiply each course's grade points (A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1, F=0) by its credit hours, sum those quality points, and divide by total credit hours. Two 3 credit courses with an A and a B give (12 + 9) ÷ 6 = 3.5 GPA. Weighted GPAs add bonus points (often +1) for AP or honors classes.
How is GPA calculated in high school?
GPA is the average of grade points earned across courses: A=4.0, B=3.0, C=2.0, D=1.0, F=0 in the standard unweighted scale, with pluses and minuses adding or subtracting 0.3 to 0.33 at many schools. Weighted GPAs add extra points (often +1.0) for honors, AP or IB courses, so they can exceed 4.0. Colleges typically recalculate GPA on their own scale, so the transcript's raw grades matter most.
What is the difference between weighted and unweighted GPA?
Unweighted GPA caps at 4.0 regardless of course difficulty, while weighted GPA adds bonus points, typically +0.5 for honors and +1.0 for AP/IB courses. Colleges often recalculate to their own scale, so report whichever your school provides on transcripts.
How do I calculate my cumulative GPA?
Add up all your grade points across every semester and divide by the total credit hours. Cumulative GPA covers your whole academic record, not just one term, unlike semester GPA.
What is the difference between semester and cumulative GPA?
Semester GPA covers only the courses you took in one term; cumulative GPA averages every graded course across all terms, weighted by credit hours. Enter your previous cumulative GPA and credit hours above and the calculator shows both the semester result and the updated cumulative figure.