GPA Calculator
Calculate your semester and cumulative GPA on the 4.0 scale from course grades and credit hours, with letter-grade point values built in.
How GPA works on the 4.0 scale
GPA = (points₁ × credits₁ + points₂ × credits₂ + …) ÷ (credits₁ + credits₂ + …)
Every letter grade converts to grade points, and heavier courses (more credit hours) pull the
average harder. This is the standard US-style 4.0 scale:
| Grade | Points | Grade | Points |
|---|
| A+ / A | 4.0 | C+ | 2.3 |
| A- | 3.7 | C | 2.0 |
| B+ | 3.3 | C- | 1.7 |
| B | 3.0 | D+ | 1.3 |
| B- | 2.7 | D | 1.0 |
| | F | 0.0 |
Worked example
Three courses: an A worth 3 credits, a B+ worth 4 credits and an
A- worth 3 credits. Grade points = 4.0×3 + 3.3×4 + 3.7×3 = 12 + 13.2 + 11.1 =
36.3, over 10 credits — a semester GPA of 3.63.
If you came in with a 3.50 cumulative GPA over 45 credits, the new cumulative is
(3.50×45 + 36.3) ÷ 55 = 3.52.
Weighted vs unweighted GPA
This calculator computes an unweighted GPA, capped at 4.0. Many high schools also
report a weighted GPA that adds bonus points for harder courses — typically +1.0
for AP/IB and +0.5 for honors classes — so weighted GPAs can exceed 4.0. Colleges usually recalculate
applicants’ GPAs their own way, so know both numbers but don’t obsess over the weighting scheme.
Frequently asked questions
How is GPA calculated?
Each letter grade is worth a number of grade points on the 4.0 scale (A = 4.0, B = 3.0, and so on). Multiply each course’s points by its credit hours, add everything up, and divide by the total credits: GPA = Σ(points × credits) ÷ Σ(credits).
What is the difference between semester and cumulative GPA?
Semester GPA covers only the courses in the current term. Cumulative GPA averages every credit you have ever taken. Open the "Add prior cumulative GPA" section, enter your existing GPA and completed credits, and the calculator combines them with this semester.
Do A+ and A count the same?
At most institutions, yes — both are worth 4.0 grade points. Some schools award 4.3 for an A+; check your registrar’s policy, since this calculator uses the common 4.0 cap.
How do pass/fail courses affect GPA?
Courses graded pass/fail usually earn credits but no grade points, so they do not change your GPA at most schools. Leave them out of the table (or leave the grade as "—").
What GPA do I need for honors?
Common cutoffs are 3.5 for cum laude, 3.7 for magna cum laude and 3.9 for summa cum laude, but every institution sets its own thresholds — treat these as rough guides.