How to Calculate My GPA

Your GPA is the average of your grade points across all classes, weighted by credit hours. Multiply each course's grade points by its credit hours, add them up, then divide by total credit hours.

The 4.0 Scale

Most US schools use a 4.0 unweighted scale. Letter grades convert like this:

• 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

Some schools skip the plus/minus split and give straight A = 4.0, B = 3.0, and so on. Check your registrar's grading policy before you plug anything in. The College Board confirms the unweighted 4.0 system is standard across most US high schools and colleges.

The Formula

GPA = (sum of grade points × credit hours) ÷ (sum of credit hours)

That's it. Three things you need:

1. Letter grade for each course
2. Credit hours (or units) for each course
3. The conversion scale your school uses

Worked Example

You took four classes this semester:

Add the last column: 12.0 + 13.2 + 12.0 + 11.1 = 48.3

Add the credits: 3 + 4 + 4 + 3 = 14

Divide: 48.3 ÷ 14 = 3.45 GPA

Cumulative vs. Semester GPA

Your semester GPA covers one term. Your cumulative GPA covers everything you've taken at that school. To get cumulative, don't average your semester GPAs. That gives you a wrong number when credit loads differ.

Instead, pool every course you've ever taken into one calculation. Sum all the (grade points × credits), divide by total credits across all semesters.

Weighted GPA

If you're in high school taking AP, IB, or honors classes, your school probably bumps those grades. The common bump:

• Honors: +0.5
• AP / IB: +1.0

So an A in AP Bio counts as 5.0 instead of 4.0. A B in honors English counts as 3.5 instead of 3.0. Weighted GPAs can run above 4.0, sometimes up to 5.0 or higher. Colleges usually recalculate using their own scale, so don't stress if your transcript shows a 4.8 and the application asks for unweighted.

Pass/Fail and Withdrawals

Pass/fail courses usually don't count toward GPA. A "P" gives you credit but no grade points. A "W" (withdrawal) doesn't count either. An "F" does. If you're considering pass/fail, know that some grad schools and scholarships still want letter grades for prerequisites.

Plus/Minus Edge Cases

Watch out for two quirks:

• An A+ is 4.0 at most schools, same as a plain A. A few schools give 4.3, which can push you above 4.0 even on an "unweighted" transcript.
• A D- sometimes counts for credit but not for prerequisites. A D in your major might force a retake.

Repeated Courses

If you retake a class, schools handle it differently. Some replace the old grade with the new one. Some average the two. Some keep both on the transcript but only the higher one counts toward GPA. Read your school's repeat policy before you bank on a retake fixing your average.

Quick Sanity Check

Once you've calculated, the number should feel right. Mostly A's and B's with one C? You're around 3.3 to 3.5. Mostly B's? Around 3.0. Straight A's? 4.0. If your math gives you 2.1 and your transcript is full of B's, you made an arithmetic error. Recheck which column you multiplied.

Why It Matters

Your GPA shows up on grad school applications, scholarship forms, internship screens, and sometimes first-job applications. NACE's annual employer survey has shown for years that around two-thirds of employers screen by GPA, usually with a 3.0 cutoff. One bad semester won't sink you. A pattern of weak grades in your major will.

Run the numbers yourself and you'll know exactly where you stand before anyone asks.

Calculate your GPA →