Calculators
GPA Calculator
Calculate your Grade Point Average (GPA) from letter grades or percentages. Supports weighted and unweighted GPA calculations for high school and college students with multiple grading scales.
Use GPA Calculator to get instant results without uploads or sign-ups. Everything runs securely in your browser for fast, reliable output.
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About this tool
Grade Point Average (GPA) is a standardized way to measure academic achievement in the U.S. education system. The most common scale is 4.0, where A=4.0, B=3.0, C=2.0, D=1.0, and F=0.0. Your GPA is calculated by multiplying each grade's point value by the course's credit hours, summing these quality points, and dividing by total credit hours attempted. For example, an A (4.0) in a 3-credit course contributes 12 quality points, while a B (3.0) in a 4-credit course contributes 12 quality points. Our calculator handles all these computations automatically with precision.
Many high schools use weighted GPA systems that give extra points for advanced courses like AP (Advanced Placement), IB (International Baccalaureate), and Honors classes. In a weighted 5.0 scale, an A in an AP course might be worth 5.0 points instead of 4.0, rewarding students for taking challenging coursework. Some schools add 0.5 points for Honors and 1.0 for AP/IB courses. This means a student with a 4.3 weighted GPA took rigorous courses, while someone with a 4.0 unweighted GPA might have taken easier classes. Our calculator supports both weighted and unweighted calculations, showing you both perspectives.
GPA is crucial for college admissions, scholarships, honor societies, and graduate school applications. Most selective colleges expect GPAs above 3.5 (unweighted), with top schools averaging 3.8-4.0. For scholarships, a 3.0 GPA is often the minimum threshold, with more competitive awards requiring 3.5+. Graduate programs typically require 3.0+ for admission. Understanding your GPA helps you set academic goals, identify areas for improvement, and plan your course load strategically. A single semester of strong grades can significantly improve your cumulative GPA, especially in early college years.
Different institutions may calculate GPA slightly differently - some count plus/minus grades (A- = 3.7, B+ = 3.3), while others don't. Some colleges recalculate your high school GPA using only core academic courses (math, science, English, social studies, foreign language), excluding electives and PE. Our calculator uses the standard conversion where A=4.0, B=3.0, C=2.0, D=1.0, F=0.0. All calculations are instant and private - no grade data is stored or shared. Use this tool to plan your grades, calculate scholarship eligibility, or understand how future courses will impact your cumulative GPA.
Usage examples
College Freshman Semester GPA
English (A, 3 credits), Math (B+, 4 credits), Biology (A-, 4 credits), History (B, 3 credits)
Quality Points: English (4.0×3=12), Math (3.3×4=13.2), Biology (3.7×4=14.8), History (3.0×3=9). Total: 49 quality points ÷ 14 credits = 3.50 GPA. This is a solid GPA for first semester, above the 3.0 threshold for most scholarships and honors consideration.
High School Weighted vs Unweighted
AP Calculus (A), AP English (B+), Honors Chemistry (A-), Regular History (A), all 1 credit
Unweighted: (4.0 + 3.3 + 3.7 + 4.0) ÷ 4 = 3.75 GPA. Weighted (5.0 scale): AP Calc (5.0), AP English (4.3), Honors Chem (4.2), Regular History (4.0). Total: (5.0 + 4.3 + 4.2 + 4.0) ÷ 4 = 4.375 GPA. The weighted GPA reflects the rigor of AP/Honors courses, which colleges value highly.
Cumulative GPA After Multiple Semesters
Previous: 3.2 GPA with 45 credits. This semester: 3.8 GPA with 15 credits
Previous quality points: 3.2 × 45 = 144. This semester: 3.8 × 15 = 57. Combined: (144 + 57) ÷ (45 + 15) = 201 ÷ 60 = 3.35 cumulative GPA. A strong semester improved overall GPA from 3.2 to 3.35, demonstrating upward trend that graduate schools and employers value.
GPA Improvement Strategy
Current cumulative: 2.8 GPA with 60 credits. Goal: Reach 3.0 for scholarship eligibility
Need cumulative 3.0 with 75 total credits (adding 15 more). Required quality points: 3.0 × 75 = 225. Current points: 2.8 × 60 = 168. Points needed: 225 - 168 = 57. GPA needed next semester: 57 ÷ 15 = 3.8. Student needs 3.8 GPA next semester to reach 3.0 overall - challenging but achievable with focus.
Graduate School Application GPA
Last 60 credits (junior/senior years): All A's and B's, no C's
30 credits of A (4.0×30=120) and 30 credits of B (3.0×30=90). Total: 210 ÷ 60 = 3.5 GPA for last two years. Many graduate programs focus heavily on last 60 credits, showing current academic ability. A 3.5 for upper-division courses demonstrates readiness for graduate-level work, even if overall GPA is lower due to rough freshman year.
How to use
- Select your grading scale (4.0 standard or 5.0 weighted)
- Choose calculation type: semester GPA or cumulative GPA
- Enter your courses one by one with letter grades
- Add credit hours or course units for each class
- Select course level (Regular, Honors, or AP/IB) for weighted GPA
- Add more courses using the "+" button
- Click "Calculate GPA" to see your results
- View your GPA on both 4.0 and percentage scales
- See total credit hours attempted and quality points earned
- For cumulative GPA, include your previous GPA and total credits
Benefits
- Calculates both weighted and unweighted GPA accurately
- Supports 4.0 and 5.0 grading scales for different schools
- Handles plus/minus letter grades (A-, B+, etc.) correctly
- Accounts for credit hours/units for each course
- Calculates cumulative GPA across multiple semesters
- Shows quality points and total credits for transparency
- Includes AP, Honors, and regular course weighting options
- Helps plan future grades needed to reach GPA goals
- No registration or personal information required
- Instant calculations with detailed breakdowns
- Free forever with unlimited calculations
- Works on all devices with complete privacy
FAQs
What's the difference between weighted and unweighted GPA?
Unweighted GPA uses a 4.0 scale where A=4.0 regardless of course difficulty. Weighted GPA (typically 5.0 scale) gives extra points for advanced courses - an A in AP/IB might be 5.0, in Honors 4.5, and in regular 4.0. This rewards students for taking challenging classes. For example, two students with straight A's might have 4.0 unweighted, but the student in all AP classes has 5.0 weighted while the one in regular classes has 4.0 weighted. Colleges look at both - unweighted shows absolute performance, weighted shows course rigor. Most selective colleges recalculate GPA their own way using core academic courses only.
How does the 100 point GPA scale work?
The 100 point scale directly reflects percentage grades (0-100%). This system is common in many schools where 90-100% = A, 80-89% = B, 70-79% = C, etc. Our calculator converts 100 point scores to 4.0 scale: divide by 25 (e.g., 85% = 3.4 GPA). Some schools use different formulas, so check your institution's specific conversion policy. The 100 point scale provides more granularity than letter grades - a 95% and 90% both equal an A, but show different levels of achievement when converted to GPA.
What is a good GPA for college admissions?
It depends on the college tier. Community colleges: 2.0-2.5 minimum. State universities: 3.0-3.5 competitive. Selective private colleges: 3.5-3.8 expected. Top 20 universities (Ivy League, Stanford, MIT): 3.8-4.0 unweighted typical. However, GPA isn't everything - colleges consider course rigor (did you take AP/Honors?), upward trends (improving grades show resilience), test scores, extracurriculars, and essays. A 3.7 with challenging courses and strong test scores can outperform a 4.0 with easy classes. Many schools also recalculate your GPA excluding non-academic courses and using their own scale.
How do I calculate cumulative GPA?
Cumulative GPA includes all semesters combined. Method: (1) Multiply each course grade by its credits to get quality points for each semester. (2) Add up ALL quality points from ALL semesters. (3) Add up ALL credit hours attempted from ALL semesters. (4) Divide total quality points by total credits. Example: Semester 1 (3.5 GPA, 15 credits = 52.5 points) + Semester 2 (3.8 GPA, 15 credits = 57 points) = 109.5 points ÷ 30 credits = 3.65 cumulative GPA. Each semester's quality points and credits must be included, not just the GPA averages.
What GPA do I need for a scholarship?
Scholarship GPA requirements vary widely. Merit-based scholarships: 3.0 minimum is common, 3.5+ for competitive awards, 3.7+ for full-ride scholarships. Many scholarships require maintaining a certain GPA (typically 3.0-3.2) to renew each year. Academic scholarships at state schools often require 3.5+ high school GPA. Private scholarships vary - some are 2.5+, others 3.8+. Honor societies: National Honor Society requires 3.5+ (high school), Phi Beta Kappa requires top 10% (college). Presidential scholars programs typically want 3.8-4.0. Always check specific requirements as they vary by institution and scholarship type.
How much can one semester improve my GPA?
It depends on total credits earned. Early in college, one semester has huge impact. With 15 credits completed at 2.8 GPA, getting 4.0 in next 15-credit semester raises cumulative to 3.4 (0.6 jump). After 60 credits at 2.8, that same 4.0 semester only raises it to 3.0 (0.2 jump). Math: Current cumulative = (old quality points + new quality points) ÷ (old credits + new credits). The more credits you have, the harder it is to significantly change GPA. This is why freshman year is crucial - early strong performance makes later GPA more resilient to occasional bad grades, while early struggles create a hole that's hard to climb out of.
Do pass/fail courses affect GPA?
No, pass/fail or credit/no-credit courses typically don't affect GPA - they don't count as quality points or attempted credits for GPA calculation. However, they do count toward total credits earned for graduation. This is why students sometimes take difficult electives pass/fail to explore interests without GPA risk. Limitations: (1) Many schools limit how many P/F courses you can take. (2) Major requirements usually must be taken for a letter grade. (3) Graduate schools may view excessive P/F grades negatively. (4) If you fail (F or NC), it appears on transcript and may affect financial aid or scholarship renewal even though it doesn't lower GPA. Check your institution's specific policy.
What's the difference between term GPA and cumulative GPA?
Term (semester/quarter) GPA includes only courses from that specific term. Cumulative GPA includes all terms combined from your entire academic career at that institution. Example: Fall semester GPA is 3.8, Spring is 3.2, cumulative is 3.5 (average of both). Term GPA shows current performance, cumulative shows overall achievement. Some contexts care more about one: Dean's List uses term GPA (typically 3.5+ for that semester), while graduation honors use cumulative (3.8+ overall for summa cum laude). Grad schools often calculate both: overall cumulative and "last 60 credits" GPA to see recent performance vs. entire record.
How do retaken courses affect GPA?
Policies vary by institution. Grade replacement (most common): New grade replaces old in GPA calculation, but both appear on transcript. Some schools average the two grades. Others use grade forgiveness (new grade only counts if higher). Most schools limit how many courses can be retaken (typically 2-4 total, and usually only if original grade was D or F). Federal financial aid counts both attempts toward attempted credits for completion ratio. Private colleges may recalculate GPA including all attempts when you apply. Retaking courses to improve GPA works best early in your academic career when you have fewer credits and one course has larger impact. Check your specific school's retake policy.
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