What is a GPA?

A grade point average (GPA) sums up your grades as one number. Each letter grade is worth a number of grade points, from 4.0 for an A down to 0 for an F, and each course counts as much as its credits, so a 4-credit course weighs more than a 1-credit lab. Colleges and high schools use the GPA for honors, scholarships, academic standing, and graduate school admissions. The semester GPA covers one term, and the cumulative GPA covers every course so far.

Tool description

This tool works out your GPA from your courses on the standard 4.0 scale. Add each course with its letter grade and credits to get the GPA, credits, and grade points of those courses. Enter your current GPA and the credits you've completed to see what your cumulative GPA will be after the semester.

Features

  • Calculates the GPA from letter grades A+ to F, weighted by credits
  • Works out the cumulative GPA from your current GPA and completed credits
  • Shows the grade points of each grade in the grade list
  • Gives the total credits and grade points behind the GPA
  • Takes any number of courses, with optional course names
  • Runs in your browser

How it works

Each grade is worth these grade points: A+ and 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, and F 0. The tool multiplies each course's grade points by its credits and divides the sum by the total credits. For example, an A in a 4-credit course and a B in a 3-credit course give (4.0 × 4 + 3.0 × 3) / 7 = 25 / 7 ≈ 3.57.

For the cumulative GPA, your current GPA times the credits completed gives the grade points you already have. The tool adds the new grade points and credits and divides again. Courses without a grade are left out, and the GPA is rounded to two decimals.

Tips

  • This is an unweighted GPA. If your high school adds points for honors, AP, or IB classes, your weighted GPA will be higher.
  • Some schools count an A+ as 4.3. Here it counts as 4.0, as at most US colleges.
  • Leave out pass/fail courses and withdrawals, since they don't count toward the GPA.
  • To plan ahead, enter the grades you expect this semester and see how they would move your cumulative GPA.