How to use the GPA calculator
- For each course, choose the letter grade you earned (or expect) and enter its credit hours. Leave unused rows set to "not used."
- To update a cumulative GPA, enter your GPA so far and the number of credits it covers. Your transcript or student portal lists both.
- Read your term GPA, total credits and quality points. The course breakdown shows how much each class contributed.
Grade point scale
This calculator uses the standard unweighted 4.0 scale. An A+ counts the same as an A (4.0), because most U.S. schools cap grade points at 4.0; some colleges give an A+ 4.33, so check your school's policy. The percentage ranges are a common grading scale, but schools set their own.
| Letter grade | Grade points | Typical percentage |
|---|---|---|
| A+ | 4.0 | 97–100 |
| A | 4.0 | 93–96 |
| A− | 3.7 | 90–92 |
| B+ | 3.3 | 87–89 |
| B | 3.0 | 83–86 |
| B− | 2.7 | 80–82 |
| C+ | 2.3 | 77–79 |
| C | 2.0 | 73–76 |
| C− | 1.7 | 70–72 |
| D+ | 1.3 | 67–69 |
| D | 1.0 | 63–66 |
| D− | 0.7 | 60–62 |
| F | 0.0 | Below 60 |
How GPA is calculated
Each course earns quality points = grade points × credit hours. Your GPA is the total quality points divided by the total credit hours:
GPA = Σ(grade points × credits) ÷ Σ credits
Because credits act as weights, a four-credit class moves your GPA more than a one-credit lab.
Worked example
| Course | Grade | Credits | Quality points |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | A | 3 | 4.0 × 3 = 12.0 |
| Chemistry | B+ | 4 | 3.3 × 4 = 13.2 |
| History | A− | 3 | 3.7 × 3 = 11.1 |
| Statistics | B | 3 | 3.0 × 3 = 9.0 |
Total: 45.3 quality points over 13 credits, so GPA = 45.3 ÷ 13 = 3.48.
If this student already had a 3.0 GPA over 30 credits, the new cumulative GPA is (45.3 + 3.0 × 30) ÷ 43 = 135.3 ÷ 43 = 3.15. Note that you cannot simply average the two GPAs — (3.48 + 3.0) ÷ 2 = 3.24 ignores that the old GPA covers more than twice as many credits.
Weighted vs unweighted GPA
Many high schools report a weighted GPA that adds extra points for harder classes — often 0.5 for honors and 1.0 for AP or IB courses, so an A in an AP class counts as 5.0. Policies differ from school to school, and many colleges recalculate applicants' GPAs on their own scale. This calculator computes the unweighted GPA, which is what colleges and most universities use for their own students.
What usually isn't counted
- Pass/fail, withdrawn (W) and incomplete (I) courses generally carry no grade points and do not affect GPA.
- Repeated courses: many schools replace the earlier grade or average the attempts — your registrar's rules decide.
- Transfer credits often count toward graduation but not toward your GPA at the new school.
To see what you need on an upcoming exam, try the final grade calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate my GPA?
Multiply each course’s grade points by its credit hours, add those quality points together and divide by your total credits. A, B+ and B in three 3-credit courses give (12 + 9.9 + 9) ÷ 9 = 3.43.
Is an A+ worth more than 4.0?
On this calculator, no: A+ and A are both 4.0, which matches most schools. Some colleges award 4.33 for an A+; if yours does, your GPA could be slightly higher than shown.
How do I calculate cumulative GPA?
Add your previous quality points (previous GPA × previous credits) to this term’s quality points and divide by all credits combined. Enter your previous GPA and credits in the optional fields to do it automatically.
How many credits is a typical course?
At most U.S. colleges a standard lecture course is 3 credit hours, lab sciences are often 4, and labs or activity courses may be 1. Your course catalog lists the exact value.
Can I raise my GPA quickly?
The more credits you have completed, the less one term can move your cumulative GPA. Early terms and high-credit courses have the largest effect, which is why the cumulative fields are useful for planning.
Last updated: October 8, 2026