Put in your classes, grades and credit hours and your GPA updates as you type. It works for one semester or for every class you’ve taken so far. Pick the scale your school uses, and the working under the result shows where the number came from.
Enter your classes
Everything is worked out in your browser. Nothing you type is sent anywhere.
Your result
Your result shows up here once you add a class with a grade and credit hours.
What counts as a good GPA?
There’s no single answer, because it depends on what you need the number for. These ranges are a rough guide, not a rule from any one school.
| GPA | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| 3.7 and up | Near the top of the scale. Most scholarships and honors programs with a GPA cut-off should be within reach, though each one sets its own. |
| 3.3 to 3.69 | Strong, and comfortably over the 3.0 line many scholarships and programs use. |
| 3.0 to 3.29 | Solid. Some programs and awards set the cut-off higher, so check the ones you care about. |
| 2.5 to 2.99 | Under the common 3.0 cut-off. One strong term can move it a long way. |
| 2.0 to 2.49 | Above the 2.0 many schools require to stay in good standing and to graduate, but not by much. |
| Below 2.0 | Below the 2.0 many schools require. Talk to your academic advisor early, because options differ a lot between schools. |
A worked example
Say your semester looks like this. Each grade turns into points, the points get multiplied by the class’s credit hours, and the total is divided by the total credits.
| Class | Grade | Points | Credits | Quality points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biology | B+ | 3.3 | 4 | 13.2 |
| Calculus | A- | 3.7 | 4 | 14.8 |
| English | B | 3.0 | 3 | 9 |
| Psychology | A | 4.0 | 3 | 12 |
| Total | 14 | 49 |
49 ÷ 14 = 3.500, so the GPA is 3.50.
A 4-credit class moves your GPA more than a 3-credit one. In this example, Biology and Calculus together carry 8 of the 14 credits, so they decide most of the result.
How the GPA calculation works
- Look up the grade points for each grade on your scale. On the standard plus and minus scale, A is 4.0, B is 3.0 and B+ is 3.3.
- Multiply each class’s grade points by its credit hours. That gives the quality points for the class.
- Add up the quality points for every class, and add up the credit hours.
- Divide total quality points by total credit hours. That is your GPA.
This page shows two decimals. Some schools show three, so the working under your result shows three as well. Rounding happens once, at the end.
Assumptions and where schools differ
- Classes marked Pass, Withdrawn or Incomplete are left out of the GPA. At many schools that is how they are treated, but check yours.
- A+ counts as 4.0 on the default scale. Some schools count it as 4.3, so there’s a scale for that. Some schools have no D-, and Stanford lists it as 0.7.
- Every class is counted once. If you retook a class, your school may replace the old grade or average both. Enter it the way your school counts it.
- Weighted grades, such as AP or honors bumps, are not included here. Use the weighted GPA calculator for those.
- Transfer credits count only if your school includes them in your GPA. Many schools don’t.
| Grade | Plus and minus (A+ = 4.0) | A+ = 4.3 | Whole letters |
|---|---|---|---|
| A+ | 4.0 | 4.3 | n/a |
| A | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| A- | 3.7 | 3.7 | n/a |
| B+ | 3.3 | 3.3 | n/a |
| B | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 |
| B- | 2.7 | 2.7 | n/a |
| C+ | 2.3 | 2.3 | n/a |
| C | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 |
| C- | 1.7 | 1.7 | n/a |
| D+ | 1.3 | 1.3 | n/a |
| D | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| D- | 0.7 | 0.7 | n/a |
| F | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Mistakes that throw your GPA off
Averaging the letters without the credits
A in a 1-credit class and a C in a 4-credit class average to 3.0 if you ignore credits. Weighted by credits, the GPA is 2.40.
Counting classes that are still in progress
Only enter classes with a final grade. A class you’re halfway through can change your GPA a lot once it’s graded, so use the what-if table instead of guessing.
Including pass/fail or withdrawn classes
A Pass or a W usually has no grade points, so adding it as a 0 drags your GPA down for no reason. Use the P, W and I options, which leave those classes out.
Using the wrong scale
If your school counts A+ as 4.3 or has no minus grades, your number will be off by a little on every class. Pick the closest scale and compare with your transcript.
Trusting this over your transcript
Your transcript is the official number. If the two don’t match, the usual causes are the scale, a repeated class or transfer credit.
Questions students ask
How do I calculate GPA when classes have different credit hours?
Multiply each grade’s points by that class’s credits, add those up, then divide by the total credits. A 4-credit class counts more than a 1-credit class, which is why averaging your letter grades without credits gives the wrong number.
Do pass/fail classes count toward my GPA?
At many schools a Pass is left out of the GPA, and a Fail may or may not count as an F. It depends on your school’s policy, so check it. This calculator leaves out P, W and I.
What’s the difference between semester GPA and cumulative GPA?
Semester GPA covers one term. Cumulative GPA covers every term you have completed. This page works for one term, or for all your classes entered together. To add a new term to a GPA you already have, use the cumulative GPA calculator.
Why doesn’t my GPA match my school’s?
Schools differ on what A+ is worth, whether D- exists, how repeated classes work, how transfer credit counts and how many decimals they show. Your transcript is the official number. Try another scale above and check your school’s grading policy.
Is a 3.0 GPA good?
It depends on what you need it for. A 3.0 is a common cut-off for scholarships and some programs, and many schools ask for at least a 2.0 to graduate. Look up the requirement for the thing you’re aiming for.
