GPA Calculator for College & High School

How to Use Our GPA Calculator

To calculate your GPA for a semester, follow these simple steps. Use the [+ Add Course] button to add as many rows as you need for your classes.

• Course (Optional): Enter the name of the course (e.g., “English 101” or “Algebra II”). This helps you keep your calculation organized.

• Grade: From the dropdown menu, select the letter grade you received or expect to receive in the course. Our calculator supports plus (+) and minus (-) grades.

• Credits / Hours: Enter the number of credit hours the course is worth. This number, usually between 1 and 5, can be found on your course syllabus or transcript. A typical college course is 3 credits, while labs or major-specific courses can be more.

How Your GPA is Calculated

Your GPA isn’t just an average of your grades; it’s a weighted average based on the number of credits each course is worth. This means high-credit classes have a bigger impact on your final GPA.

The GPA Formula

The formula used to calculate GPA is: GPA = Total Grade Points / Total Credit Hours

What are Grade Points?

Each letter grade has a corresponding numerical value on a 4.0 scale. This is its “grade point.” To find the total grade points for a course, you multiply its grade point value by its number of credits.

Standard Grade Point Conversion Table (Unweighted 4.0 Scale) | Letter Grade | Grade Points | | :— | :— | | 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 | | F | 0.0 |

Putting It All Together: A Sample Calculation

Let’s calculate the GPA for a student with the following semester grades:

• Total Grade Points: 32.7

• Total Credit Hours: 10

• Final GPA Calculation: $32.7÷10=3.27$

Your GPA Questions Answered

What’s the difference between a weighted and an unweighted GPA?

This is one of the most important concepts to understand, especially for high school students.

• Unweighted GPA: This is the most common type, calculated on a simple 4.0 scale where an ‘A’ is always a 4.0, regardless of the class’s difficulty. Our calculator computes your unweighted GPA.

• Weighted GPA: This system gives extra “weight” to more challenging courses like Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), or Honors classes. In a weighted system, an ‘A’ in an AP class might be worth 5.0 points instead of 4.0. This is done to reward students for taking on a more rigorous course load.

What is considered a “good” GPA?

“Good” is subjective and depends entirely on your goals. Here is a general guide for college admissions:

• 3.7 or higher: Generally considered excellent. This range is competitive for admission to highly selective universities and for prestigious merit-based scholarships.

• 3.3 to 3.6: Generally considered great. This will make you a strong candidate at most state universities and selective private colleges.

• 3.0 to 3.2: Generally considered solid or average. A 3.0 is often the minimum threshold for many scholarship applications and for admission into a wide range of colleges. For students in Texas, top universities like UT Austin and Texas A&M have average GPAs for admitted students well above this range.

How do plus (+) and minus (-) grades affect my GPA?

They can have a significant impact. A school that only uses straight letter grades (A, B, C) is less nuanced than one that uses pluses and minuses. For example, three ‘B’s would give you a 3.0 GPA. However, a B+, a B, and a B- (3.3, 3.0, and 2.7) also average out to a 3.0, but a B+ can pull your GPA up significantly compared to a standard B.

How can I raise my GPA?

Raising your GPA takes time and strategic effort, but it’s absolutely possible.

1. Prioritize High-Credit Courses: An ‘A’ in a 4-credit science class will raise your GPA more than an ‘A’ in a 1-credit physical education class.

2. Seek Academic Help: Use tutoring services, attend professor’s office hours, and form study groups.

3. Retake Courses (If Possible): Some schools have a “grade forgiveness” or replacement policy, where the new grade for a retaken course replaces the old one in the GPA calculation. Check your school’s academic catalog.

4. Focus on Consistency: Avoid getting any C’s or D’s, as they require multiple A’s to balance out.

How do Pass/Fail classes affect my GPA?

Typically, a “Pass” (P) grade grants you the credits for the course, but it is not factored into your GPA calculation. A “Fail” (F) grade, however, is almost always treated as a standard ‘F’ and is factored in as 0.0 grade points, which can significantly lower your GPA.

How important is GPA for college admissions?

Your GPA is one of the most critical factors in college admissions. It provides a long-term look at your academic performance and work ethic. However, admissions officers view it in context with:

• Course Rigor: Did you take challenging classes? A 3.7 GPA with many AP/Honors courses is often viewed more favorably than a 4.0 GPA with standard-level classes.

• Standardized Test Scores: Your SAT or ACT scores.

• Essays and Extracurriculars: These show who you are as a person. For students in Texas, class rank—which is directly driven by GPA—is especially important due to the “Top 10% Rule,” which grants automatic admission to most state universities.

Does a withdrawn class (“W”) affect my GPA?

Usually, no. A “W” on your transcript simply indicates that you withdrew from a course after the add/drop period. It does not contribute grade points and is not included in the GPA calculation. However, a pattern of multiple ‘W’s can be seen as a red flag, so it’s a tool to be used sparingly.

What GPA do I need for Magna Cum Laude or other Latin honors?

These honors, awarded at graduation, recognize outstanding academic achievement. The specific GPA requirements vary widely by university, but a common breakdown is:

• Cum Laude (with praise): ~3.5–3.69

• Magna Cum Laude (with great praise): ~3.7–3.89

• Summa Cum Laude (with highest praise): ~3.9+ Always check your university’s official academic catalog for their exact standards.

How do I calculate my cumulative GPA?

Your cumulative GPA is the overall GPA for all coursework you’ve ever taken at your institution. To calculate it, you need two numbers from your transcript: total grade points and total credit hours from all semesters combined. Then, use the same formula: Total Grade Points / Total Credit Hours.

Plan Your Academic Success

Now that you know your current GPA, you can plan for the future.

• Trying to figure out what grade you need on an upcoming exam to achieve your desired course grade? Use our powerful Final Grade Calculator.

• If your high school uses a weighted scale for AP/IB courses, use our Weighted GPA Calculator to see how your advanced classes impact your standing.

• Applying to colleges? See how your GPA and test scores measure up with our College Acceptance Chance Calculator.