Enter your GPA, the credits behind it and the GPA you want. You’ll see the average you need over the credits you have left, whether it’s still possible, and how many terms it takes if you can’t get there in one go.
Enter your numbers
The cumulative GPA on your transcript.
GPA hours or credits attempted on your transcript.
Your target, like the 3.0 a scholarship asks for.
Include classes you’re taking right now that aren’t graded yet.
Used to turn credits into terms. We use 15 if you leave it empty.
Everything is worked out in your browser. Nothing you type is sent anywhere.
The average you need
Your result shows up here once you fill in the four boxes above.
Why a bigger GPA is harder to move
Your GPA is an average of everything on your record, so every credit you already have is a credit your new grades have to outweigh. Here’s how many credits of straight A’s it takes to make two common jumps.
| Credits on your record now | 2.5 to 3.0 | 3.0 to 3.5 |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | 15 | 30 |
| 60 | 30 | 60 |
| 90 | 45 | 90 |
Going from 3.0 to 3.5 takes exactly as many credits of A’s as you already have, because each A is only half a point above the goal. Going from 2.5 to 3.0 takes half as many, because each A is a full point above it. The bigger your record, the slower it moves, so starting early helps.
A worked example
A student has a 2.80 GPA over 54 credits and wants a 3.00. Here is what the next stretch has to look like, depending on how many credits they have left.
| Credits left | Average needed |
|---|---|
| 24 | 3.45 (at least A- in every class) |
| 12 | 3.90 (at least A in every class) |
| 6 | Out of reach (needs 4.80) |
With 24 credits left, the working is (3.00 × 78 − 2.80 × 54) ÷ 24 = 3.4500. The page shows 3.45, which sits between a B+ and an A-. With 6 credits left, the same goal needs 4.80, which is more than the scale gives, so the useful question becomes how long it would take. That’s the second table.
| If you average | Credits needed | Terms at 15 credits |
|---|---|---|
| A (4.0) | 11 | 1 |
| A- (3.7) | 16 | 2 |
| B+ (3.3) | 36 | 3 |
How the calculation works
- Multiply your current GPA by the credits behind it. That is the quality points you already have.
- Work out the quality points you need in total to land on your target: target GPA times (credits so far plus credits left).
- Subtract the quality points you already have. What is left is what you still have to earn.
- Divide that by the credits you have left. The result is the average GPA you need over those credits.
When your target is out of reach
If the average you need is above the top of your scale, the page says so and shows the best you can reach, plus how many credits of top grades it would take. From there you have a few real options:
- Spread the work over more credits. The more credits you take, the lower the average you need from each one.
- Set a smaller goal first. A stop at 2.8 on the way to 3.0 is easier to plan for than jumping straight there.
- Check your school’s retake and grade replacement rules. They can change your record in a way this page can’t see.
- Talk to an academic advisor. They know which GPA your requirement actually uses.
What if you only need to stay above a line?
Say you have a 3.40 over 60 credits and a scholarship that needs 3.00. With 30 credits left, the lowest average that keeps you at or above 3.00 is 2.20. That’s about a C+ in every class, so a rough term won’t sink you, but a string of them could. Put a target below your current GPA into the calculator and it works this out for you.
Assumptions to keep in mind
- The average you need is credit-weighted, like your GPA. A 4 credit class counts for more than a 1 credit class, so a strong grade in the big classes does more for you.
- It assumes every credit you enter will be graded. Pass, withdrawn and incomplete classes usually don’t count toward GPA, so don’t include them in your credits left.
- It doesn’t know your school’s retake rules. If a retake replaces the old grade, the real picture can be better than this page shows.
- Your GPA on a transcript is rounded, so the answer can be off by a few hundredths. The average you need is rounded up, so you don’t end up just under.
- This is arithmetic. It tells you what the numbers require and can’t predict whether you’ll hit it.
Mistakes that throw a GPA plan off
Using total credits earned instead of the credits behind your GPA
Transfer credit, pass/fail classes and credit from exams can count toward your degree without counting toward your GPA. Use the credits your school uses for GPA, or the answer will be wrong.
Aiming at the wrong GPA
Some requirements use your cumulative GPA. Others use your major GPA, your last 60 credits or one semester. Check which one your scholarship, program or graduation rule uses before you plan around it.
Planning around your best term
If you need a 3.6 average and your best term ever was a 3.7, the plan needs everything to go right. Compare the number with what you’ve actually averaged over several terms.
Setting a target the scale can never give you
A target of 4.0 from a GPA below 4.0 can’t be reached, because the earlier grades stay on your record. The page says so when that happens.
Counting on a retake without checking the policy
Some schools replace the old grade, some average both, and some limit how many retakes you get. Find your school’s rule before you build a plan on it.
Questions students ask
Can I raise a 2.5 GPA to a 3.0?
Yes, if you have enough credits left, and how many depends on how much is already on your record. With 30 credits behind a 2.5, fifteen credits of straight A’s gets you to exactly 3.0. With 60 credits behind it, you’d need thirty. Put your own numbers in above.
How many credits does it take to raise my GPA?
Credits needed = credits so far × (target − current GPA) ÷ (your average from here − target). Going from 3.0 to 3.5 on straight A’s takes as many credits as you already have, because each A is only half a point above the target.
Why does it say my target is out of reach?
Because the average you’d need is above the top of your scale. That only means it’s out of reach in the credits you entered. Add more credits left, pick a smaller goal first, or check whether your school lets you retake classes. The cumulative GPA calculator shows what one term does to your GPA.
Do I count the classes I’m taking right now?
If they’re graded, put them in your GPA and credits so far. If they’re still in progress, count them in the credits you have left, since their grades haven’t landed yet.
What if my target is lower than my current GPA?
Then it’s a stay-above question, and the page answers it: the lowest average you can get over your remaining credits without dropping under your target. That’s useful for keeping a 3.0 for a scholarship.
