A GPA calculator converts your letter grades into grade points and averages them, weighted by credit hours, to give your grade point average on a 4.0 scale. The GPA calculator uses this formula: Weighted: sum(grade points x credits) / sum(credits). Unweighted: mean of grade points. Map A+=4.0 … F=0. An A, B+, A− and B in 3-, 3-, 4- and 3-credit courses give a GPA of 3.515.
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How to use the GPA calculator
- Enter your letter grades separated by commas, such as A, B+, A−.
- Enter the credits for each course in the same order.
- Choose credit-weighted or simple average.
- Read your GPA.
How the GPA calculator works
Grade point average (GPA) converts letter grades into numbers and averages them. The GPA calculator uses the common 4.0 scale, where an A is worth 4 points and an F is worth 0, and offers two ways to average:
- Credit-weighted: GPA = Σ(grade points × credits) ÷ Σ(credits). Courses with more credit hours count more. This is how most colleges calculate GPA.
- Unweighted by credits: GPA = the simple average of grade points, treating every course equally.
Enter your grades and credits as comma-separated lists in the same order.
GPA calculator worked example
Four courses: A (3 credits), B+ (3 credits), A− (4 credits) and B (3 credits). Quality points are 4.0 × 3 + 3.3 × 3 + 3.7 × 4 + 3.0 × 3 = 12 + 9.9 + 14.8 + 9 = 45.7. Divided by 13 credits, the credit-weighted GPA is 3.515. The simple average of the four grades is 3.50; the 4-credit A− pulls the weighted figure slightly higher.
The 4.0 grade scale
| Letter grade | Grade points |
|---|---|
| A+ | 4.0 |
| 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 |
Schools differ. Some give an A+ 4.3 points, some do not use plus and minus grades, and some use a 5.0 or 100-point scale. Check your school’s handbook or transcript key and adjust if needed.
Honors and AP “weighted” GPA
High schools often use another meaning of weighted GPA: honors, AP or IB courses earn extra points, commonly +0.5 or +1.0, so an A in an AP class counts as 5.0. The GPA calculator’s “weighted” option weights by credits, not by course level. To estimate an honors-weighted GPA, compute it by hand: add the bonus to each eligible course’s points before averaging. Colleges often recalculate applicants’ GPAs using their own rules, so report the GPA shown on your transcript.
Cumulative GPA
To combine semesters, use total quality points and total credits, not an average of semester GPAs. If you had a 3.20 GPA over 30 credits (96 quality points) and earn a 3.80 over 15 credits this term (57 points), your cumulative GPA is (96 + 57) ÷ 45 = 3.40. You can also enter all of your courses at once in the GPA calculator.
Raising your GPA
The more credits you already have, the harder it is to move a cumulative GPA. Going from 3.40 to 3.50 after 45 credits takes a 3.80 average over about 15 more credits. Focus on high-credit courses, use office hours and tutoring early, and check whether your school lets you retake a course to replace a low grade. Pass/fail courses usually do not affect GPA.
Why GPA matters
- Admissions to college and graduate programs
- Scholarships and financial aid eligibility, which may require a minimum GPA
- Academic honors such as the dean’s list
- Some employers’ screening of recent graduates
Common GPA mistakes
The most common error is averaging semester GPAs instead of adding quality points, which gives a light semester the same weight as a full one. Another is forgetting that a failed course still counts its credits with zero points, pulling the average down until it is retaken. Withdrawals usually do not count, but repeated courses are handled differently from school to school: some replace the old grade, others average both. Finally, transfer credits often appear on your transcript without grade points, so they may not affect your GPA at the new school. When in doubt, compare your result with the GPA your registrar reports.
Related converters and calculators
Related calculators:
- Grade calculator: final exam
- Average calculator: averages
- Percentage calculator: percentages
- Time calculator: study time
Sources
College Board: How to convert your GPA to a 4.0 scale; NCES: High School Transcript Study.
Formula and method
Weighted GPA = Σ(grade points × credits) ÷ Σ credits. Unweighted GPA = average of grade points. A = 4.0, A− = 3.7, B+ = 3.3, B = 3.0 … F = 0.
Common 4.0 letter scale in the live calculator. Institutional plus/minus scales may differ.
Questions about this calculator
How is GPA calculated?
Multiply grade points by credits, add them, and divide by total credits.
What is an A− worth?
3.7 on the 4.0 scale.
What does weighted mean here?
Weighted by credit hours, not honors or AP bonuses.
How do I find cumulative GPA?
Use total quality points ÷ total credits.
Do pass/fail classes count?
Usually not.
Check the assumptions and units before relying on a result. Financial, tax and health estimates do not replace advice for your individual circumstances.
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