GPA Calculator

GPA = Sum of (Grade Points × Credit Hours) / Total Credit Hours. Letter grades convert to points: 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. Example: Student takes 4 courses: Calculus (4 credits, A = 4.0 points), Chemistry (4 credits, B+ = 3.3 points), English (3 credits, A- = 3.7 points), History (3 credits, B = 3.0 points). Quality points: (4 × 4.0) + (4 × 3.3) + (3 × 3.7) + (3 × 3.0) = 16 + 13.2 + 11.1 + 9 = 49.3. Total credits: 4 + 4 + 3 + 3 = 14. GPA = 49.3 / 14 = 3.52. Each course's contribution is proportional to its credit hours—4-credit courses have more impact than 1-credit courses. Cumulative GPA includes all courses across all semesters.

Unweighted GPA uses standard 4.0 scale for all courses regardless of difficulty. Weighted GPA gives extra points for advanced courses (honors, AP, IB). Common weighted systems: Honors courses: A = 4.5 (instead of 4.0), B = 3.5, etc. AP/IB courses: A = 5.0, B = 4.0, etc. Example: Student takes regular English (A = 4.0 unweighted) and AP Calculus (A = 5.0 weighted, 4.0 unweighted). Unweighted GPA treats both as 4.0. Weighted GPA gives AP course 5.0, boosting overall GPA. Why weighted: Rewards students for taking challenging courses, provides incentive for academic rigor, helps colleges distinguish between students (3.8 weighted with AP courses vs 3.8 unweighted with easy courses). Important notes: Not all schools use weighted GPA, different schools weight differently (some use 4.5 for honors, others 5.0), colleges often recalculate GPA using their own system, and weighted GPA can exceed 4.0 (student with all AP A grades = 5.0 weighted). Check your institution's specific weighting system.

Impact depends on credit hours and current GPA. Higher credit course = more impact. Lower current GPA = less relative impact. Example 1 (high GPA, high credits): 3.8 GPA, 60 credits completed. Takes 4-credit course, gets D (1.0). New GPA: (3.8 × 60) + (1.0 × 4) / 64 = (228 + 4) / 64 = 3.625 (drops 0.175 points). Example 2 (lower GPA, fewer credits): 2.5 GPA, 20 credits. Takes 3-credit course, gets F (0.0). New GPA: (2.5 × 20) + (0.0 × 3) / 23 = 50 / 23 = 2.17 (drops 0.33 points, larger relative impact). Example 3 (low credit course): 3.5 GPA, 50 credits. Takes 1-credit lab, gets F. New GPA: (3.5 × 50) + (0.0 × 1) / 51 = 175 / 51 = 3.43 (drops 0.07 points, minimal impact). Key factors: Credit hours (4-credit course has 4× impact of 1-credit course), current GPA (bad grade hurts high GPA more in absolute terms, but lower GPA more in relative terms), total credits (fewer credits = each course has more impact). Recovery: Retaking failed courses (if institution replaces grade) can restore GPA. Focus on high-credit courses for recovery—they have more impact.

Yes, use reverse calculation. Formula: Target Quality Points = (Target GPA × Total Credits) - Current Quality Points. Then: Required Average Grade Points = Remaining Quality Points Needed / Remaining Credit Hours. Example: Current GPA 3.2, 60 credits completed, want 3.5 overall, 60 credits remaining. Current quality points: 3.2 × 60 = 192. Target quality points: 3.5 × 120 = 420. Need: 420 - 192 = 228 quality points from remaining 60 credits. Required average: 228 / 60 = 3.8 average (need mostly A- grades). More realistic: if can average 3.5 (B+ average) in remaining courses: (3.5 × 60) + 192 = 210 + 192 = 402 total. Final GPA = 402 / 120 = 3.35 (close but not 3.5). Calculator helps: Add remaining courses with various grade scenarios, see resulting GPA, adjust until reach target. Strategic planning: Identify easier courses to boost average, balance difficult courses with easier ones, consider taking fewer courses per semester for better performance, and set realistic targets based on past performance. If target seems unattainable, may need to adjust goal or accept lower GPA.

Pass/fail (P/F) and credit/no-credit courses typically do not affect GPA—they don't contribute quality points or credit hours to GPA calculation. Example: Student takes 4 courses: 3 graded courses (12 credits, 3.5 GPA) + 1 pass/fail course (3 credits, Pass). GPA calculation: Only includes 12 graded credits, GPA = 3.5 (pass/fail excluded). Total transcript credits: 15 (includes pass/fail), but GPA based on 12 graded credits. Important considerations: Pass/fail courses still count toward degree requirements and total credits, but don't help or hurt GPA. Failing a pass/fail course (receiving "Fail") may count as 0.0 in some systems—check institution policy. Some programs limit number of pass/fail courses allowed. Graduate programs: Thesis, dissertation, internships often pass/fail—don't affect GPA but required for degree. Strategy: Use pass/fail for courses outside major (exploratory courses), courses you're unsure about (protect GPA), or required courses with challenging grading. Cannot use pass/fail for major requirements in most cases. Calculator note: When calculating GPA, exclude pass/fail courses from calculation (they don't contribute quality points). Include them in total credit count for degree planning but not GPA computation.