About the GPA Calculator
A GPA calculator converts letter grades into a single grade point average, weighted by the credit hours of each course. Because credits vary, a GPA is a weighted average rather than a simple one — a four-credit course counts more than a two-credit course.
The formula
GPA = Σ(grade points · credits) / Σ(credits)Grade points on the standard US 4.0 scale: A is 4.0, A− 3.7, B+ 3.3, B 3.0, B− 2.7, C+ 2.3, C 2.0, D 1.0, F 0. Credits are the weight each course carries.
How to use this calculator
- 1Enter your Course 1 Credits. The field starts at
3, which you can overwrite. - 2Enter your Course 1 Grade (4.0=A, 3.7=A-, 3.3=B+, 3.0=B, 2.7=B-, 2.3=C+, 2.0=C, 1.0=D, 0=F). The field starts at
4, which you can overwrite. - 3Enter your Course 2 Credits. The field starts at
4, which you can overwrite. - 4Enter your Course 2 Grade Points. The field starts at
3.7, which you can overwrite. - 5Enter your Course 3 Credits. The field starts at
3, which you can overwrite. - 6Enter your Course 3 Grade Points. The field starts at
3.3, which you can overwrite. - 7Enter your Course 4 Credits (0 to skip). The field starts at
3, which you can overwrite. - 8Enter your Course 4 Grade Points. The field starts at
3, which you can overwrite. - 9Enter your Course 5 Credits (0 to skip). The field starts at
0, which you can overwrite. - 10Enter your Course 5 Grade Points. The field starts at
3, which you can overwrite. - 11Read the result straight away — it recalculates as you type, so there is no button to press. Use Share to copy a link that reopens the page with your exact numbers filled in.
Worked example
| Input | Value |
|---|---|
| Course 1 Credits | 3 |
| Course 1 Grade (4.0=A, 3.7=A-, 3.3=B+, 3.0=B, 2.7=B-, 2.3=C+, 2.0=C, 1.0=D, 0=F) | 4 |
| Course 2 Credits | 4 |
| Course 2 Grade Points | 3.7 |
| Course 3 Credits | 3 |
| Course 3 Grade Points | 3.3 |
| Course 4 Credits (0 to skip) | 3 |
| Course 4 Grade Points | 3 |
| Course 5 Credits (0 to skip) | 0 |
| Course 5 Grade Points | 3 |
Result
GPA: 3.52
Total Credits: 13 credits
Total Grade Points: 45.7
Letter Equivalent: A-
Academic Standing: Dean's List
Those are the values the page loads with, so you can reproduce this result yourself and then change one field at a time to see what drives the outcome.
Understanding your result
Weighting by credits is what makes the calculation non-obvious. An A in a one-credit seminar barely moves your GPA, while a C in a five-credit course does real damage. This is why students protecting a GPA pay closest attention to their heaviest courses, and why dropping a high-credit course mid-semester has an outsized effect.
A cumulative GPA becomes progressively harder to shift as credits accumulate. Early in a degree a single strong semester can move it substantially; with 100 credits already banked, one semester of 15 credits is only 13 percent of the total. This is the arithmetic behind the advice to protect your GPA in the first year.
Things worth knowing
- Grading scales differ between institutions. Some use plus and minus grades, others do not, and some cap at 4.0 while others allow 4.3 for an A+.
- Weighted high school GPAs add extra points for honours or AP courses, which is why they can exceed 4.0.
- Pass/fail courses usually carry credit without affecting GPA, which can be a strategic choice for difficult electives.
- Grade replacement policies for retaken courses vary widely — check whether the old grade is removed or averaged.
- Graduate programmes often recalculate GPA using only major-relevant courses, so those grades carry extra weight.
Frequently asked questions
How is GPA calculated?+
Multiply each course's grade points by its credit hours, add those products, and divide by total credits. An A in a 4-credit course contributes 16 grade points toward the total.
What is a good GPA?+
3.0 is generally considered solid, 3.5 and above strong, and 3.7 plus competitive for graduate admissions and selective employers. Standards vary considerably by field and institution.
How do I raise my GPA?+
Focus on high-credit courses, since they carry the most weight. Understand that the effect of any single semester shrinks as your total credits grow, so earlier action has more impact.
What is the difference between weighted and unweighted GPA?+
Unweighted caps at 4.0 regardless of course difficulty. Weighted adds extra points for honours, AP, or IB courses, allowing averages above 4.0 to reflect a harder course load.