GPA Calculator

How to Use the GPA Calculator

The GPA Calculator computes your Grade Point Average on the standard 4.0 scale. Enter your courses with their grades and credit hours to see your semester GPA, cumulative GPA, and what grades you need in remaining courses to reach your target GPA.

Entering Your Courses

For each course, enter the course name (optional), the letter grade received (A through F), and the number of credit hours. Add as many courses as needed. The calculator supports A+, A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, D-, and F grades with standard point values.

Grade Point Values

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. Some schools use slightly different scales. The calculator lets you customize point values if your institution differs from the standard.

The GPA Formula

GPA = Sum of (Grade Points × Credit Hours) / Total Credit Hours. For example: Course A (4.0 × 3 credits = 12), Course B (3.0 × 4 credits = 12), Course C (3.7 × 3 credits = 11.1). Total quality points = 35.1, Total credits = 10. GPA = 35.1/10 = 3.51.

Cumulative GPA

To calculate your cumulative GPA across multiple semesters, enter your current cumulative GPA and total credits earned, then add new courses. The calculator combines previous and current work into an updated cumulative GPA. This helps you track your overall academic standing throughout college.

Target GPA Planning

The calculator can determine what grades you need in upcoming courses to achieve a target GPA. If your cumulative GPA is 3.2 with 60 credits and you want a 3.5 by the end of next semester (15 credits), you would need an average of 4.0 for all 15 credits, which means straight As.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is considered a good GPA?

A: A 3.0 (B average) is generally considered good. A 3.5+ is very good and competitive for graduate school. A 3.7+ is excellent. For honors designations: cum laude is typically 3.5+, magna cum laude is 3.7+, and summa cum laude is 3.9+. Exact thresholds vary by institution.

Q: How do weighted GPAs work for high school?

A: Weighted GPAs add extra points for AP, IB, and honors courses. Typically, AP/IB courses add 1.0 point (so an A = 5.0) and honors courses add 0.5 (A = 4.5). Weighted GPAs can exceed 4.0. Colleges generally recalculate GPAs using their own scale for fair comparison.

Q: Do plus and minus grades affect GPA significantly?

A: Yes. A B+ (3.3) versus a B (3.0) is a 0.3-point difference per course. Over 40 courses, consistent plus grades versus straight letters could mean a 0.1-0.3 cumulative GPA difference. An A- (3.7) instead of an A (4.0) in a 4-credit course changes your GPA by 0.3 quality points in that course.