Grade Point Scale
Each letter grade you add is converted to a point value and weighted by the course's credit hours, then averaged — that credit weighting is why a hard-won A in a 4-credit lab moves your GPA more than an A in a 1-credit seminar. This calculator uses the standard US 4.0 scale: A+/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.
Working out a GPA across three courses
Suppose a semester has an A in a 3-credit course, a B in a 4-credit course, and an A− in a 3-credit course. Multiply each grade value by its credits: A is 4.0 × 3 = 12.0, B is 3.0 × 4 = 12.0, and A− is 3.7 × 3 = 11.1. That is 35.1 total grade points across 10 credit hours. Divide: 35.1 ÷ 10 = 3.51. Notice the heavier B course pulls the average below a simple letter-by-letter mean.
Why your official GPA may not match this one
A GPA is only as standard as the school that issues it, and schools are not standard. This tool uses the common US 4.0 scale, but institutions differ on the points behind a plus or minus — some count A+ as 4.0 and some as 4.3, and a few ignore +/− entirely. Honors-track and AP/IB courses are often weighted on a 5.0 scale at the high-school level, which this unweighted calculator does not reproduce. Repeated courses, pass/fail and audit grades, transfer credits, and withdrawals each have their own handling in a registrar's system, and rounding rules vary too. Treat the result as a planning estimate; your transcript and academic catalog are the authoritative GPA of record.
GPA questions students ask
How is GPA calculated?
GPA = total grade points ÷ total credit hours. Grade points for each course = grade value × credit hours. For example, an A (4.0) in a 3-credit course = 12 points, and a B (3.0) in a 3-credit course = 9 points. Combined GPA = (12 + 9) ÷ 6 = 3.5.
What is a 4.0 GPA?
A 4.0 GPA is a perfect score on the standard US scale, representing straight A grades in all courses. Most universities assign A = 4.0, B = 3.0, C = 2.0, D = 1.0, F = 0.0, with plus/minus adjustments of ±0.3.
What GPA do I need to graduate with honors?
Typical thresholds: Cum Laude ≥ 3.5, Magna Cum Laude ≥ 3.7, Summa Cum Laude ≥ 3.9. Requirements vary by institution — check your school's academic policies.
How do I calculate my cumulative GPA?
Enter your prior GPA and total prior credit hours in the "Cumulative GPA" section above. The calculator combines your previous grade points with the current semester automatically. The formula is: cumulative GPA = (prior GPA × prior credits + current grade points) ÷ (prior credits + current credits).