GPA
GPA = Σ (gᵢ × cᵢ) ÷ Σ cᵢ
GPA calculator
Calculate your credit-weighted Grade Point Average: enter the grade points and credits of each course to get your GPA and total quality points.
CourseGrade pointsCredits
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How does this tool work?
GPA (Grade Point Average) is the results measure used by high schools and colleges in the United States and Canada, and by many international institutions. Each letter grade is turned into points, usually out of 4, then weighted by the course’s credits. This calculator works out that average for a semester or a year: enter the grade points and credits row by row, and it shows the GPA and the total quality points. It helps a high school student preparing applications as much as an exchange student trying to read a transcript.
For each course, the grade points are multiplied by its credits: that gives the course’s quality points. The sum of quality points is then divided by the total credits, so a 4-credit course counts twice as much as a 2-credit course. This is the method described by NCES (National Center for Education Statistics): GPA is total grade points earned divided by total credits attempted.
The tool does not convert letters: it expects your school’s points. The standard NCES table gives A = 4, B = 3, C = 2, D = 1 and F = 0, but each school sets the value of plus and minus grades (an A− is often 3.7, sometimes 3.67) and some award 4.3 for an A+. A row without credits or with points outside the scale is ignored; pass/fail courses are not part of the GPA.
Work out your GPA
Pick the scale
Keep 4 for the classic scale, or enter 4.3 or 5 if your school uses an extended or weighted scale.
Enter each course
On each row, type the grade points from your school’s table and the course’s credits or hours. Add rows as needed, up to 30.
Read the GPA and quality points
The GPA updates with every entry. Quality points then let you combine this term with earlier ones.
GPA formula
GPA is the average of each course’s grade points weighted by its credits.
Quality points of a course
Qᵢ = gᵢ × cᵢ
Total quality points form the numerator of the GPA formula.
- gᵢ
- grade points earned in course i (for example 4 for an A)
- cᵢ
- credits of course i
- Qᵢ
- quality points of course i
An unweighted GPA tops out at 4.0; a weighted GPA adds a bonus for advanced courses and can exceed 4. In that case, set the maximum scale to 5, for example.
Use cases
Preparing college applications
Many forms ask for a GPA: check the one on your transcript or estimate your current term before grades are posted.
Reading an exchange transcript
A visiting student who receives US letter grades and credits can reproduce the average shown by the host university.
Testing the impact of one grade
Change the points of one course to see how much a B instead of an A would lower the semester GPA.
Checking a scholarship or standing requirement
Some scholarships and programs require a minimum GPA: see where you stand.
Examples
Three-course semester
4 × 3 + 3 × 4 + 3.7 × 3 = 12 + 12 + 11.1 = 35.1 points, divided by 10 credits.
Input
A (4) for 3 credits, B (3) for 4 credits, A− (3.7) for 3 creditsResult
GPA 3.51 out of 4; 35.1 quality pointsHow credits change the result
(8 + 4) ÷ 5 = 2.4. A plain average of the two grades would give 3, but the 4-credit course weighs four times as much.
Input
C (2) for 4 credits, A (4) for 1 creditResult
GPA 2.40 out of 4Weighted GPA on a 5-point scale
(15 + 9) ÷ 6 = 4. The same transcript gives 3.5 on an unweighted scale where an A is worth 4.
Input
Scale 5; advanced course graded A (5) for 3 credits, regular course graded B (3) for 3 creditsResult
GPA 4.00 out of 5Tips and best practices
- Always use your school’s official points table: the gap between 3.67 and 3.7 for an A− is enough to change the second decimal.
- Write down the quality points and credits of each term: added together, they give your cumulative GPA directly.
- Never compare a weighted GPA with an unweighted one: always state the scale when you share it, for example “3.6 / 4.0”.
- If your grades come from a non-US system, do not apply a simple proportion: there is no official conversion, and the receiving institution often uses its own credential evaluation.
Sources and references
- National Center for Education Statistics, How is Grade Point Average Calculated? (opens in a new tab), U.S. Department of EducationPage in English
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate my GPA?
Multiply each course’s grade points by its credits, add the products, then divide by total credits. For example, an A (4) for 3 credits and a B (3) for 2 credits give (12 + 6) ÷ 5 = 3.6.
Are grade points the same everywhere?
No. The credit-weighted formula is standard, but the letter-to-point mapping and the value of plus and minus grades are set by each school. Enter the points from your school’s official scale.
What is the difference between weighted and unweighted GPA?
An unweighted GPA puts every course on the same 0 to 4 scale. A weighted GPA, common in US high schools, adds points for advanced-level courses, so it can go above 4. Bonus rules vary from school to school.
What are quality points?
A course’s grade points multiplied by its credits. A B (3) in a 4-credit course earns 12 quality points. Their sum divided by total credits is the GPA.
Do pass/fail courses count toward GPA?
Usually not: a course without a letter grade, graded pass/fail or audited, is left out. Do not enter it unless your school says otherwise.
Is a 3.0 GPA good?
On a 4.0 scale, 3.0 is a B average. How it is judged depends on the program: selective programs expect well above that, while others set 2.0 or 2.5 as the minimum to stay in good standing.
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