College GPA Calculator: Track Your Major And Overall GPA
Your GPA matters for grad school applications, honors programs, internships, and your first job. Colleges track two GPAs: your overall GPA for all courses and your major GPA for courses in your major.
This calculator is built for college and university students. Organize your courses by semester, Fall 2024, Spring 2025, etc., mark which ones are in your major, and the calculator shows both your overall GPA and your major GPA separately.
Track your progress semester by semester. See how your GPA changes as you complete more coursework. Use this to plan your remaining semesters and stay on track for your goals.
Major GPA vs. Overall GPA
Colleges calculate two different GPAs for each student:
Overall GPA Cumulative GPA: The average of all your courses, major requirements, general education, and electives. This is what appears on your transcript and what most people mean by “GPA.”
Major GPA: The average of only the courses in your major. For a Computer Science major, this would be your CS courses only. General education courses like English 101 or Art History don’t count toward your major GPA.
Why both matter:
- Grad school: Many programs require a minimum major GPA (often 3.0 or 3.5) in addition to an overall GPA requirement.
- Honors: Departmental honors (like “graduating with honors in Biology”) use your major GPA.
- Internships: Some employers ask for your major GPA, especially for technical fields.
This calculator shows both. Mark your major courses as you enter them, and the major GPA updates automatically.
Organizing Courses by Semester
College courses are organized by terms (semesters or quarters). This calculator lets you enter courses by semester:
- Fall 2024
- Spring 2025
- Summer 2025
Name your terms as your school does. Some schools use Fall/Spring/Summer, others use quarters (Fall/Winter/Spring), and some use trimester systems.
The calculator shows:
- Term GPA: Your GPA for that specific semester
- Cumulative GPA: Your overall GPA, including all semesters so far
This helps you see patterns. Maybe you had a tough first year (2.8 GPA in the first semester), but improved your GPA in your sophomore y(3.4 GPA). The term-by-term view shows that growth.
You can add future semesters to plan. See how taking certain courses affects your projected GPA.
How GPA is Calculated in College
College GPA uses the same quality points formula as high school:
Formula: GPA = Total Quality Points ÷ Total Credit Hours
Example:
- Calculus I: B+ (3.3 GPA) × 4 credits = 13.2 quality points.
- English Composition: A (4.0 GPA) × 3 credits = 12.0 quality points
- Chemistry: B (3.0 GPA) × 4 credits = 12.0 quality points
Total quality points: 13.2 + 12.0 + 12.0 = 37.2 Total credits: 4 + 3 + 4 = 11 GPA: 37.2 ÷ 11 = 3.38
The more credits a course has, the more it affects your GPA. A 4-credit course matters more than a 1-credit seminar.
Major GPA uses the same formula but only includes courses marked as “major” courses. If Calculus I is a major requirement but English Composition is not, only the Calculus credits count toward your major GPA.
When Your Major GPA Matters Most
Your major GPA becomes important in these situations:
Graduate school applications: Most programs require a 3.0–3.5 major GPA. A 2.9 overall GPA with a 3.7 major GPA might still get you into grad school if the program cares more about your major performance.
Departmental honors: Graduating with honors in your major (like “cum laude in Economics”) often requires a 3.5+ major GPA.
Scholarship renewal: Some major-specific scholarships require maintaining a minimum major GPA.
Job applications (technical fields), Engineering, and CS companies sometimes ask for your major GPA because they care more about your technical coursework than your gen-ed classes.
Changing majors: Some competitive majors (like nursing or business) require a minimum GPA in prerequisite courses to declare the major.
GPA Requirements for Common Goals
Understanding GPA thresholds helps you set goals:
Grad school (master’s or PhD):
- Top programs: 3.7+ overall, 3.8+ major
- Competitive programs: 3.5+ overall, 3.7+ major
- Most programs: 3.0+ overall, 3.3+ major
Medical school:
- Competitive: 3.7+ overall, 3.8+ science GPA
- Minimum to apply: 3.0 overall (but chances are low)
Law school:
- Top-14 schools: 3.8+ GPA
- Good regional schools: 3.5+ GPA
Dean’s List / Honors:
- Dean’s List: Usually 3.5+ for the semester
- Latin honors (cum laude): Usually 3.5, 3.7, 3.9
- Departmental honors: Usually 3.5+ major GPA
Internships / Jobs:
- Competitive internships: 3.5+ GPA
- Most employers: 3.0+ GPA (some have no requirement)
These are guidelines. Schools and programs vary. Check specific requirements for your goals.
Credit Hours in College
Credit hours measure how much a course counts toward your degree. They are usually based on class meeting time.
Typical credit values:
- 3 credits: Standard lecture course (meets 3 hours/week)
- 4 credits: Lab science, intensive course
- 1 credit: Seminar, PE, workshop
- 0 credits: Pass/fail, audit
Full-time status: Usually 12-15 credits per semester. Most students take 15-18 credits per semester to graduate in 4 years (120 total credits required).
Credit hours weigh your GPA. A 4-credit B has more impact than a 1-credit B.
For major GPA: Only major course credits count. If you took 60 total credits but only 30 were major courses, your major GPA is based on those 30 credits.
Understanding Semester vs. Cumulative GPA
Semester GPA (Term GPA): Your GPA for just one semester. If you took 5 classes in Fall 2024, your semester GPA is the average of those 5 classes only.
This shows how you performed that specific term. A 3.8 semester GPA is strong. A 2.5 semester GPA might mean you struggled or took harder courses.
Cumulative GPA (Overall GPA): Your GPA across all semesters. This is what people usually mean by “your GPA.”
Your cumulative GPA updates each semester. If you had a 3.2 after the your first year and earned a 3.6 in the fall of your sophomore year, your cumulative GPA would rise, but not to 3.6; total credits count.
The calculator shows both for each semester.
Grading Systems US and International
The calculator supports four grading systems:
US (A–F) Standard American system. A = 4.0, B = 3.0, C = 2.0, D = 1.0, F = 0.0. Plus/minus grades adjust by ~0.3 (A- = 3.7, B+ = 3.3).
Most US colleges use this. It’s the default in the calculator.
UK (First/2:1/2:2/Third) British honours classifications. Used at UK universities.
ECTS (A–F) European Credit Transfer System. Used across Europe.
AUS (HD/D/CR/P) Australian grading (High Distinction, Distinction, Credit, Pass).
Select the system that matches your university. The calculator automatically adjusts the letter-to-GPA conversion. If you are an international student studying in the US, use US grading.
FAQ: College GPA Calculator
Should I track my major GPA starting in my first year?
Yes. Even though major GPA matters most for grad school and jobs later, tracking it early helps you see if you’re doing well in your major courses. If your major GPA is significantly lower than your overall GPA, that might signal the major isn’t a good fit.
Do gen-ed classes affect my major GPA?
No. Only courses that count toward your major affect your major GPA. Gen-ed requirements (like English 101, Psych 101 if you’re not a psych major) only affect your overall GPA.
What if I change majors?
Your major GPA resets based on the new major’s requirements. Courses that counted for your old major might not count for the new one. For example, if you switch from Biology to Computer Science, your Bio courses no longer count toward your major GPA.
Do pass/fail courses affect GPA?
Usually no. Pass/fail courses typically don’t factor into GPA calculations. They give you credit toward graduation but no quality points. Check your school’s policy.
Can I bring up a low GPA?
Yes, but it takes time. If you have a 2.5 after 60 credits, you can’t jump to 3.5 in one semester. But consistent 3.7+ semesters will gradually raise it. The earlier you improve, the easier it is. A bad first year is fixable; a bad junior year is harder to overcome.
How is this different from the general GPA calculator?
This calculator is built for college students. It organizes courses by semester Fall, Spring, etc. and tracks your major GPA separately. The general GPA calculator works for any level, but does not have major GPA tracking or semester organization.
When to Use This vs. Other GPA Calculators
Use this college GPA calculator when:
- You are a college or university student (undergrad or grad)
- You need to track your major GPA separately
- You want to organize courses by semester (Fall, Spring, etc.)
- You are planning for grad school, honors, or internships
Use the GPA calculator when:
- You want a general-purpose GPA calculation
- You don’t need semester organization or major GPA
Use the high school GPA calculator when:
- You’re in 9th-12th grade
- You need a weighted vs. an unweighted GPA (honors/AP)
The line: this tool is built for college (semester organization, major GPA tracking).
Your college GPA affects grad school admissions, honors, internships, and job opportunities. Track both your overall GPA (all courses) and your major GPA (major courses only).
Enter your courses by semester, mark which ones are in your major, and the calculator shows your term GPA, cumulative GPA, and major GPA. Use this to monitor your progress semester by semester and stay on track for your academic and career goals.