Free GPA Calculator

How GPA Is Calculated

GPA is a weighted average of your grades across all courses. Each letter grade gets a number (A=4.0, B=3.0, C=2.0, D=1.0, F=0). Multiply each grade point by the course's credit hours, add them up, then divide by total credit hours. A 3-credit A and a 4-credit B gives you (12 + 12) / 7 = 3.43 GPA.

The Formula

GPA = Sum of (Grade Points x Credit Hours) / Total Credit Hours

Plus/minus grading shifts the scale: A+ stays at 4.0 (most schools cap it there), A- = 3.7, B+ = 3.3, B- = 2.7, and so on in 0.3 increments.

When to Use This

Checking your semester GPA before grades are finalized. Planning what grades you need in remaining courses to hit a target GPA. Estimating whether you qualify for dean's list (usually 3.5+), academic probation (usually below 2.0), or a specific program's GPA requirement.

Cumulative vs. Semester GPA

Semester GPA covers one term. Cumulative GPA covers your entire academic career. A bad semester hurts your cumulative GPA, but the damage gets diluted as you complete more credit hours. A freshman who gets a 2.0 in a 15-credit semester then earns 3.5 for seven straight semesters ends up with a 3.31 cumulative.

Weighted vs. Unweighted (High School)

High schools sometimes use weighted GPAs where honors courses are on a 5.0 scale and AP courses on a 5.0 or 6.0 scale. This calculator uses the standard unweighted 4.0 scale. If your school uses weighted grades, check if they have their own weighting table.

Common Mistakes

Treating all courses as equal weight. A 4-credit course has twice the impact on your GPA as a 2-credit course. Bombing a high-credit course hurts more than bombing a low-credit one.

Not counting retaken courses correctly. Most schools replace the old grade in GPA calculation, but some average both attempts. Check your school's policy.

Confusing percentage grades with GPA. A 92% might be an A or an A- depending on the grading scale. Convert to letter grades first, then to grade points.