GPA Calculator

Calculate your Grade Point Average (GPA), cumulative GPA, semester GPA, and academic performance instantly.

GPA Calculator

Calculate your grade point average for a semester from letter grades and credit hours. Enter each course's grade and credits, and the calculator returns a credit-weighted average on your institution's grade-point scale.

GPA formula

Grade point average is a weighted mean, where credits act as the weights:

GPA = sum(grade points x credits) / sum(credits)

Each letter grade maps to a number of grade points. On the common US 4.0 scale, 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. Many institutions add plus and minus steps, such as A- = 3.7, B+ = 3.3, and B- = 2.7. Grading scales vary worldwide — some universities cap an A+ at 4.0 while others award 4.3, and many countries use 5-point, 10-point, or percentage systems instead — so always confirm the official mapping in your institution's academic catalog before comparing numbers.

Courses taken pass/fail usually earn credits but no grade points, so most schools exclude them from the GPA denominator entirely.

Worked example

A student completes four courses in one semester:

  • Biology, 3 credits, grade A (4.0) contributes 4.0 x 3 = 12.0 grade points.
  • Calculus, 4 credits, grade B+ (3.3) contributes 3.3 x 4 = 13.2 grade points.
  • English, 3 credits, grade B (3.0) contributes 3.0 x 3 = 9.0 grade points.
  • Chemistry lab, 1 credit, grade A- (3.7) contributes 3.7 x 1 = 3.7 grade points.

Total grade points are 12.0 + 13.2 + 9.0 + 3.7 = 37.9 across 3 + 4 + 3 + 1 = 11 credits. The semester GPA is 37.9 / 11 = 3.45 (rounded to two decimal places). Notice that the 4-credit calculus course pulls the average down more than the 1-credit lab pulls it up: credits matter as much as grades.

When to use this calculator

  • Estimating your semester GPA before official grades post, so scholarship or eligibility thresholds are not a surprise.
  • Planning course loads: testing how an extra 3-credit elective at a projected grade would move your average.
  • Checking whether you remain above a program requirement, such as the 2.0 minimum for good academic standing or a 3.5 target for honors.
  • Preparing graduate school applications that ask for a self-reported GPA on a specific scale.

Tips for accurate results

  • Use your institution's official grade-point table; A- and B+ values differ between schools.
  • Enter credit hours exactly as they appear on your transcript, including half-credit courses.
  • Leave out pass/fail, audit, and withdrawn courses unless your school counts them.
  • If you retake a course, check your school's repeat policy — some replace the old grade, others average both attempts.
  • Round only the final result, not the per-course grade points.

Related calculators

To average grades across multiple semesters, use the CGPA calculator. The exam score calculator helps with individual test results, while the scientific calculator, ratio calculator, and GCF and LCM calculator cover general math coursework.

Frequently asked questions

How is GPA calculated?
GPA is a credit-weighted average: multiply each course's grade points by its credit hours, add those products, and divide by the total credits. On the common 4.0 scale, an A is 4.0, a B is 3.0, and a C is 2.0, often with plus and minus steps such as B+ = 3.3. A 4-credit course therefore moves your GPA more than a 1-credit lab with the same grade.
Do all schools use the same 4.0 scale?
No. Some institutions award 4.3 for an A+ while others cap it at 4.0, and the values for plus and minus grades vary. Many countries use entirely different systems, such as 10-point or percentage scales. Always use the grade-point table published in your institution's academic catalog.
Do pass/fail courses count toward GPA?
At most schools, a passed pass/fail course earns credit toward graduation but contributes no grade points, so it is excluded from the GPA calculation entirely. A failed pass/fail course, however, often counts as an F. Check your registrar's policy, since treatment varies by institution.
How do retaken courses affect GPA?
It depends on your school's repeat policy. Some replace the original grade with the new one, some average both attempts, and some count only the first attempt on the official transcript. Enter the courses according to whichever policy your institution applies.
What is the difference between semester GPA and cumulative GPA?
Semester GPA covers only the courses taken in one term, while cumulative GPA weights every graded course across all terms by its credits. A strong semester lifts the cumulative figure less as you accumulate more total credits, because each new term is a smaller share of the whole record.
All Calculator Suite

Loading precision tools...