GPA Calculator

Data Source and Methodology

This calculator uses the standard weighted average formula, the most common system for calculating Grade Point Average (GPA) in United States colleges and universities. We provide options for the most common grading scales, including the standard 4.0 scale (with and without +/-) and the 4.33 scale.

All calculations are based strictly on the formulas and standard grade point values provided by this common academic framework.

The Formula Explained

A GPA is a weighted average. Each course's grade is weighted by the number of credits (or hours) it's worth. Courses with more credits have a larger impact on your GPA.

First, each letter grade is converted to a numeric value (a "Grade Point"). For example, on a standard 4.0 scale, A = 4.0, B = 3.0, etc.

Next, for each course, we calculate "Quality Points":

To find the semester GPA, we sum all Quality Points and divide by the sum of all Credits:

Where '$i$' represents each individual course.

To calculate your new cumulative GPA, we add your previous total quality points to your new semester's quality points and divide by the new total credits:

Glossary of Variables

Course Name (Optional)

A label for your course (e.g., "ECON 101"). This is for your reference and does not affect the calculation.

Credits (Required)

The number of credit hours the course is worth (e.g., 3, 4.5). This is the "weight" of the course. This field is required.

Grade (Required)

The letter grade you received (e.g., A, B+, C-). Grades like Pass (P) or Fail (F) are typically excluded from GPA calculations, and our tool does the same.

Semester GPA

Your Grade Point Average calculated using only the courses from the current semester list.

Cumulative GPA

Your overall Grade Point Average, combining your previous academic history (if entered) with your current semester's results.

How It Works: A Step-by-Step Example

Let's say you're a student taking three courses this semester on a standard 4.0 (+/-) scale. You do not have a previous GPA.

• Course 1: "Calculus I", 4 credits, Grade: B+
• Course 2: "English Comp", 3 credits, Grade: A-
• Course 3: "Intro to Psych", 3 credits, Grade: C

1. Convert Grades to Points:
   • B+ = 3.33 points
   • A- = 3.67 points
   • C = 2.00 points
2. Calculate Quality Points for each course (Points × Credits):
   • Calculus I: $3.33 \times 4 = 13.32$
   • English Comp: $3.67 \times 3 = 11.01$
   • Intro to Psych: $2.00 \times 3 = 6.00$
3. Sum the Totals:
   • Total Quality Points: $13.32 + 11.01 + 6.00 = 30.33$
   • Total Credits: $4 + 3 + 3 = 10$
4. Calculate Final GPA:
   • Semester GPA: $\frac{30.33}{10} = 3.033$

Your Semester GPA is 3.03.

Frequently Asked Questions