Cumulative GPA Calculator Formula

Understand the math behind the cumulative gpa calculator. Each variable explained with a worked example.

Use the Cumulative GPA Calculator

Formulas Used

Cumulative GPA

cumulative_gpa = (prev_points + new_points) / total_credits

GPA Change

gpa_change = (prev_points + new_points) / total_credits - prev_gpa

Total Credits Earned

total_credits_out = total_credits

Variables

VariableDescriptionDefault
prev_gpaPrevious Cumulative GPA3.2
prev_creditsPrevious Total Credits60
new_gpaCurrent Semester GPA3.5
new_creditsCurrent Semester Credits15
prev_pointsDerived value= prev_gpa * prev_creditscalculated
new_pointsDerived value= new_gpa * new_creditscalculated
total_creditsDerived value= prev_credits + new_creditscalculated

How It Works

How to Calculate Cumulative GPA

Cumulative GPA combines all semesters into a single weighted average.

Formula

Cumulative GPA = (Previous Quality Points + New Quality Points) / Total Credits

Where:

  • Previous Quality Points = Previous GPA x Previous Credits
  • New Quality Points = Semester GPA x Semester Credits

    • Worked Example

    A student has a 3.2 GPA over 60 credits and earns a 3.5 GPA in a 15-credit semester.

    prev_gpa = 3.2prev_credits = 60new_gpa = 3.5new_credits = 15
    1. 01Previous quality points: 3.2 x 60 = 192.0
    2. 02New quality points: 3.5 x 15 = 52.5
    3. 03Total quality points: 192.0 + 52.5 = 244.5
    4. 04Total credits: 60 + 15 = 75
    5. 05Cumulative GPA = 244.5 / 75 = 3.26

    Ready to run the numbers?

    Open Cumulative GPA Calculator