GPA Calculator: Calculate Your Grade Point Average from Grades and Credits
Your GPA (Grade Point Average) is the weighted average of your grades across all your courses, measured on a 4.0 scale in the US. It is calculated from your letter grades or percentages and each course’s credit hours.
This calculator works for high school, college, and university. Enter your courses, grades, and credits, and the calculator shows your current semester GPA, your overall GPA (cumulative GPA) if you include your previous academic record, and your GPA for the current semester.
You can enter grades as percentages, letter grades, or GPA points. The calculator handles all three and supports multiple international grading systems (US, UK, ECTS, Australia).
How to Calculate GPA?
GPA is calculated using quality points. For each course, you multiply the grade’s GPA value by the credit hours. Then sum all the quality points and divide by the total credit hours.
Formula: GPA = Total Quality Points ÷ Total Credit Hours
Example:
- Math: B+ (3.3 GPA) × 3 credits = 9.9 quality points
- History: A (4.0 GPA) × 3 credits = 12.0 quality points
- Science: A- (3.7 GPA) × 4 credits = 14.8 quality points
Total quality points: 9.9 + 12.0 + 14.8 = 36.7 Total credits: 3 + 3 + 4 = 10 GPA: 36.7 ÷ 10 = 3.67
The more credits a course has, the more it affects your GPA. A 4-credit A matters more than a 2-credit A because it contributes more quality points.
This calculator does all the math automatically. You enter your grades and credits.
Semester vs. Cumulative Mode
The calculator has two modes:
Semester Only Use this to calculate your GPA for just the current term. Enter your courses for this semester, and the calculator shows your term GPA.
This is useful if you are checking how well you are doing this semester or if you are a first-year student without a prior GPA.
Semester + Cumulative Use this to update your overall GPA. Enter your current semester courses AND your previous cumulative GPA and completed credits. The calculator combines them to show your new cumulative GPA.
For example, if you have a 3.2 GPA with 45 completed credits, and you’re taking 15 new credits this semester, the calculator factors both into your updated cumulative GPA.
Most students use the “Semester + Cumulative” mode because they want to see how this term affects their overall GPA.
Three Ways to Enter Grades
You can enter your grades in three different formats. Pick whichever matches your transcript:
1. Percentage: If you know your numeric grade (like 88%, 92%), enter it as a percentage. The calculator converts it to a letter grade, then to GPA points.
2. Letter Grade: If you know your letter grade (A, B+, C-), select it from the dropdown. The calculator converts it to GPA points.
3. GPA Points If you already know the GPA value (like 3.7, 3.0), enter it directly. The calculator uses it as-is.
Most students use percentages or letter grades because those are what appear on transcripts. GPA points are useful if you are working from a previous calculation or if your school gives you the points directly.
The “Needed Term GPA” Feature
If you are in “Semester + Cumulative” mode, the calculator can show you the term GPA you need to reach a target cumulative GPA.
For example:
- Your current cumulative GPA: 3.2
- Completed credits: 45
- New credits this semester: 15
- Target cumulative GPA: 3.5
The calculator shows: “You need a 4.1 term GPA to reach your target.”
If the needed GPA is above your school’s maximum (like 4.0), it means the target isn’t reachable this semester. You’d need more semesters to raise your cumulative GPA that high.
This is a planning utility. Before the semester starts, you can set your target and see how well you need to perform. During the semester, you can check if you’re on track.
To use this feature, enter your target GPA in the “Target GPA” field.
Credit Hours Explained
Credit hours, sometimes called “credit units” or “semester hours,” measure how much a course counts toward your degree. They are usually based on the number of hours per week the class meets.
Typical credit values:
- 3 credits: standard class (3 hours per week)
- 4 credits: lab science, intensive course
- 1 credit: PE, seminar, workshop
- 0 credits: pass/fail course, audit
Credit hours matter for GPA because they weigh the quality points. A 4-credit course has more impact on your GPA than a 1-credit course, even if you get the same grade in both.
Your transcript lists the credits for each course. If you are not sure, ask your registrar or check your school’s course catalog.
Enter the exact credit value for each course. The calculator handles decimals, like 1.5 credits.
Grading Scales US vs. International
The calculator supports four grading systems:
US (A–F) The 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 high schools and colleges use this. It is the default in the calculator.
UK (First/2:1/2:2/Third) The British honours degree classification. First Class = 4.0, Upper Second (2:1) = 3.3, Lower Second (2:2) = 2.7, Third = 2.0, Fail = 0.0.
Used in UK universities.
ECTS (A–F/FX) The European Credit Transfer System. A = 4.0, B = 3.5, C = 3.0, D = 2.5, E = 2.0, FX/F = fail.
Used across Europe.
AUS (HD/D/CR/P/NN) Australian grading. High Distinction (HD) = 4.0, Distinction (D) = 3.5, Credit (CR) = 3.0, Pass (P) = 2.0, Not Achieved (NN) = 0.0.
Select the system that matches your school. The calculator automatically adjusts the letter-to-GPA conversion.
Rounding Your GPA
GPA rounding policies vary by institution. Some schools round to the nearest hundredth (3.67), others round up or down, and some don’t round at all.
The calculator offers four rounding options:
- Nearest: Standard rounding (.5 rounds up). 3.675 becomes 3.68.
- Always up (ceiling): Always rounds up. 3.671 becomes 3.68.
- Truncate (floor): Always rounds down. 3.679 becomes 3.67.
- None: Shows the exact value with full precision.
Check your school’s policy. Most use “Nearest” rounding. If you are not sure, leave it on the default.
Rounding matters for thresholds like honors eligibility, often 3.5 or 3.7. A 3.695 rounds to 3.70, which might qualify.
Customizing the GPA Scale
The standard GPA scale is 4.0 (where A = 4.0), but some schools use different scales:
- 5.0 scale: Weighted GPAs for honors/AP classes
- 7.0 scale: Some international schools
- 100 points scale: Rarely used but exists
The calculator lets you set any scale. Enter it in the “GPA scale” field.
For most students, the default 4.0 scale is correct. If your school uses a different scale, check your transcript or student handbook.
Changing the scale adjusts how letter grades map to GPA points. An A on a 5.0 scale is 5.0, not 4.0.
Editable Letter Grade Thresholds
The calculator uses standard percentage-to-letter conversions (A = 93+, B = 83+, etc.), but you can customize these if your school uses different cutoffs.
Click “Edit thresholds” to adjust the minimum percentage for each letter grade.
For example, some schools use 90+ for an A, others use 93+ or 95+. Some use 70+ for a C, others use 73+.
If you customize the thresholds, the calculator applies them when you enter percentages. Letter grade and GPA point inputs aren’t affected.
Most students do not need to adjust thresholds unless their school has unusual grading scales.
FAQ: GPA Calculator
What is the difference between term GPA and cumulative GPA?
Term GPA is your average for just the current semester. Cumulative GPA is your average across all completed semesters. If you have completed 3 semesters with GPAs of 3.4, 3.6, and 3.5, your cumulative GPA is the weighted average of all three, factoring in credit hours.
Is a 3.5 GPA good for graduate school?
Yes, most master’s programmes set their floor at 3.0, and 3.5 is competitive for selective programmes.
Can I use this for high school?
Yes. This calculator works for high school, college, and university. High school students typically use the 4.0 scale (unweighted) or 5.0 scale (weighted). College students typically use 4.0. Enter your courses and credits the same way regardless of level.
How do I calculate GPA if I have pass/fail courses?
Pass/fail courses usually do not factor into GPA because they do not have letter grades. Do not include them in the calculator. If your school assigns GPA points to pass/fail (rare), ask your registrar for the conversion.
Why does my school’s GPA calculation differ from this calculator?
Schools may round differently, weight courses differently, or exclude certain grades, like first year, for some college admissions. This calculator uses the standard quality points formula. For your official GPA, always check your transcript.
What GPA do I need for honors?
It varies by school. Common thresholds: 3.5 for cum laude, 3.7 for magna cum laude, 3.9 for summa cum laude. Some schools use 3.3, 3.5, 3.7. Check your school’s honors requirements.
Can I calculate my GPA for just one year?
Yes. Use “Semester Only” mode and enter all the courses from that year. The calculator treats it as one combined term. This is useful for checking your sophomore year GPA, for example.
Common GPA Ranges
Understanding where your GPA falls can help you set realistic academic goals:
- 4.0: Perfect. All A grades.
- 3.7–3.9: Excellent. Mostly A’s with a few A-‘s or B+’s.
- 3.5–3.69: Very good. Mix of A’s and B’s.
- 3.0–3.49: Good. Mostly B’s.
- 2.5–2.99: Fair. Mix of B’s and C’s.
- 2.0–2.49: Passing. Mostly Cs.
- Below 2.0: At risk. Academic probation at many schools.
These are general ranges. Your school’s grading policy and your major’s difficulty affect what is considered “good.” A 3.2 in engineering might be strong, while a 3.2 in an easier major might be average.
Your GPA is the weighted average of your grades across all courses, factored by credit hours. This calculator handles the math: enter your courses, grades, and credits, and it shows your term GPA and cumulative GPA.
Use “Semester Only” to calculate one term’s GPA. Use “Semester + Cumulative” to update your overall GPA with a new semester. The calculator supports any grading system and academic level.