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GPA Calculator: your real grade point average, instantly
Enter each course’s letter grade and credit hours to get your semester GPA. Add your prior cumulative GPA and credits to see your new overall average.
The math
How GPA is actually calculated
Grade point average condenses your letter grades and course loads into one number colleges, scholarship committees, and honor societies can compare side by side.
| Letter | Grade Points | Letter | Grade Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 4.0 | C | 2.0 |
| A- | 3.7 | C- | 1.7 |
| B+ | 3.3 | D+ | 1.3 |
| B | 3.0 | D | 1.0 |
| B- | 2.7 | F | 0.0 |
| C+ | 2.3 |
A 4-credit course counts four times as heavily in your GPA as a 1-credit course, which is why a strong grade in a heavy course does more for your average than the same grade in a light one.
Here’s a full worked example using three courses of different sizes:
| Course | Grade | Grade Points | Credits | Quality Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chemistry 101 | A- | 3.7 | 4 | 14.8 |
| English Composition | B+ | 3.3 | 3 | 9.9 |
| Intro to Psychology | A | 4.0 | 3 | 12.0 |
| Total | 10 | 36.7 | ||
36.7 quality points ÷ 10 total credits = a 3.67 GPA for the term. Notice the 4-credit Chemistry course contributes nearly 40% of the total quality points despite being only one of three classes — that’s the credit-weighting effect in action.
Semester vs. cumulative
Why your cumulative GPA moves slower than you expect
Your cumulative GPA is a running average across every credit hour you’ve ever taken. The more credits already on your record, the smaller the impact any single new semester will have — which is exactly why the calculator above lets you factor in your prior GPA and credit total.
| Scenario | Prior GPA / Credits | New Semester | New Cumulative GPA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early in college | 3.2 GPA / 15 credits | 4.0 GPA / 15 credits | 3.60 |
| Near graduation | 3.2 GPA / 105 credits | 4.0 GPA / 15 credits | 3.30 |
The identical perfect semester moves a fresh transcript by 0.4 points, but barely moves a nearly-finished one by 0.1 — same effort, very different impact, purely because of how many credits are already averaged in.
FAQ
GPA calculator questions
How do you calculate GPA by hand?
Convert each letter grade to grade points, multiply by credit hours, add the results, then divide by total credit hours.
What’s the difference between semester and cumulative GPA?
Semester GPA covers one term only. Cumulative GPA covers every term and appears on your transcript.
Do plus/minus grades change your GPA?
At most schools yes — a plus adds about 0.3, a minus subtracts about 0.3 from the base grade point.
Can I raise a low cumulative GPA quickly?
It moves slowly by design since it’s averaged over every credit you’ve taken. More credits at a higher grade per term has the biggest effect.
Does a repeated course replace the old grade in my GPA?
Policies vary widely by school. Some replace the old grade entirely (grade replacement), some average both attempts, and some keep both on the transcript but only count the better one toward GPA. Check your registrar’s specific policy.
What GPA do I need for good academic standing?
Most U.S. colleges set the minimum at a 2.0 cumulative GPA, though some programs and scholarships require higher — always confirm with your specific school or program.