How this GPA calculator works
Your grade point average (GPA) summarises your grades as a single number on a 0–4.0 scale. Each letter grade maps to a number of grade points — A = 4.0, B = 3.0, C = 2.0, D = 1.0, F = 0.0, with plus and minus variants in between. Because a five-credit course should count for more than a one-credit elective, the average is weighted by credit hours.
The formula is: GPA = sum(grade points × credits) ÷ sum(credits). For each course you multiply its grade points by its credit hours to get its quality points, add the quality points across all courses, and divide by the total credits. This calculator does that automatically and shows the result to two decimal places.
| Course | Grade | Points | Credits | Quality points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biology | A | 4.0 | 3 | 12.0 |
| Calculus | B+ | 3.3 | 4 | 13.2 |
| History | C | 2.0 | 2 | 4.0 |
| Total | — | — | 9 | 29.2 |
Reference note: this tool uses the standard US 4.0 scale (A+/A = 4.0, A- = 3.7, B+ = 3.3, B = 3.0, B- = 2.7, C+ = 2.3, C = 2.0, C- = 1.7, D+ = 1.3, D = 1.0, D- = 0.7, F = 0.0). Some institutions use different point values or rounding rules, so confirm against your school's official policy.
Frequently asked questions
- How is GPA calculated?
- GPA is a credit-weighted average of your grade points. Multiply each course's grade points (A = 4.0, B = 3.0, and so on) by its credit hours, add those products together, then divide by the total credit hours.
- What is a good GPA?
- On a 4.0 scale, a GPA of 3.0 is generally considered solid, 3.5 and above is strong, and 3.7 or higher is excellent and competitive for scholarships. Many schools treat 2.0 as the minimum to stay in good standing.
- What is the difference between weighted and unweighted GPA?
- An unweighted GPA caps every course at 4.0. A weighted GPA gives extra points to harder classes such as Honors or AP, so it can exceed 4.0. This calculator computes a credit-weighted average on the standard 4.0 scale — each grade is weighted by credit hours, not course difficulty.
- How many credits is a class worth?
- Credit hours usually reflect how many hours per week a class meets. A typical college course is 3 or 4 credits and a full-time semester is often 12 to 15. Enter the credit hours from your syllabus or transcript.
- Can I raise my GPA?
- Yes. Because GPA is an average weighted by credits, new grades pull it toward their value, and higher-credit courses move it more. The effect shrinks as your total completed credits grow.
- Is this GPA calculator accurate?
- It uses the standard US 4.0 scale and the same credit-weighted formula registrars use, so the math is accurate for that scale. Some schools use plus/minus variations or exclude pass/fail courses, so confirm against your school's policy.