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GPA Calculator

What Is GPA?

GPA (Grade Point Average) is a standardized measure of academic performance used across US colleges and universities. The most common scale runs from 0.0 to 4.0, though some schools extend to 4.3 by assigning A+ a higher value. Your GPA is calculated by multiplying each course's grade points by its credit hours to get quality points, summing all quality points, and dividing by total credit hours. For example, an A (4.0) in a 4-credit course produces 16 quality points, while a B (3.0) in a 3-credit course produces 9. Added together: 25 quality points divided by 7 credits equals a 3.57 GPA. GPA matters for Dean's List eligibility, scholarships, graduate school admissions, and many job applications.

How This Calculator Works

Enter a letter grade and credit hours for each course. The calculator multiplies grade points by credits to find quality points per course, then divides total quality points by total graded credits. Pass/No Pass (P/NP) courses earn credit but are excluded from the GPA calculation, exactly as most colleges handle them. To calculate cumulative GPA, toggle 'Include prior semesters' and enter your existing GPA and credit total. The calculator combines your prior quality points (Prior GPA × Prior Credits) with this semester's quality points to produce your updated cumulative GPA. This is the same formula used by college registrars.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is GPA calculated?

Multiply each course's grade points (A=4.0, B=3.0, etc.) by its credit hours to get quality points. Sum all quality points and divide by total graded credits. Formula: GPA = Σ(Grade Points × Credits) ÷ Σ(Credits).

Is A+ worth 4.0 or 4.3?

It depends on your school. Many US colleges assign A+ = 4.3, while others cap at 4.0. This calculator uses 4.3 (the most common scale). Check your institution's grading policy.

Do Pass/No Pass courses affect my GPA?

No. P and NP grades earn or deny credit but carry no grade points, so they are excluded from GPA calculations. This is standard at most US colleges.

How do I calculate cumulative GPA?

Toggle 'Include prior semesters' to Yes. Enter your previous GPA and total credits. The calculator combines prior quality points with this semester's to produce your cumulative GPA.

What is a good college GPA?

3.0 (B average) is generally considered good. 3.5+ is very good and often qualifies for Dean's List. 3.7+ is excellent for graduate school applications.

Can one bad semester ruin my GPA?

The more credits you've completed, the harder it is to move your GPA significantly. A bad semester hurts more early in college. Use the cumulative GPA feature to model the impact.