How to calculate my GPA
Understanding How to calculate my GPA is essential for every student. Your Grade Point Average (GPA) is calculated by dividing total grade points earned by total credit hours attempted. Use our free calculator below to compute your GPA instantly, or read our step-by-step guide.
Your GPA
Enter your courses and grades above to calculate your GPA.
What Is Needed to Calculate My GPA?
To calculate your GPA, you need each course's letter grade and credit hours, a grade point conversion table from 4.0 (A) to 0.0 (F), and the ability to multiply and divide - or a free online calculator to do it instantly.
- Three inputs per course: credit hours, letter grade, and grade point value
- No special software required - can be done on paper or in a browser
- Results accurate to two decimal places match the transcript GPA
- Applicable to any semester in progress, just completed, or on the transcript
- Supports both personal goal-setting and application GPA verification
Calculating your own GPA takes less than five minutes with an online tool. The inputs - credit hours and letter grades - are available from any student portal or grade report. The most common reason students under- or over-estimate their GPA is failing to account for plus/minus grade modifiers, which each shift the grade point value by 0.3 points.
How to Calculate My GPA Using a Calculator?
Open your course registration or grade report
This document lists every course, the credit hours, and the letter grade earned.
Enter each course name and credit hours
Use the exact credit hour number shown - do not approximate.
Select the letter grade received
Include the plus or minus modifier. A B+ is worth 3.3, not 3.0.
Add all courses for the term
Include every graded course. Excluded courses (audit, pass/fail) should not be included.
Read your GPA
The calculator shows your semester GPA. Enter prior GPA and credits to also see the updated cumulative GPA.
Worked Example
My term: Literature A (3cr, 12pts), Statistics B+ (4cr, 13.2pts), Lab B (2cr, 6pts). My GPA = 31.2 ÷ 9 = 3.47.
How to Verify Your GPA Calculation Is Correct
- Cross-check against the transcript - after calculating manually, compare the result to the GPA shown on the official document. Any discrepancy usually traces to a wrong grade point value or a missed course.
- Verify credit hours from the registrar - course syllabi occasionally list incorrect credit values; the official catalog is authoritative.
- Confirm plus/minus grades are included - a transcript grade of A- must be entered as 3.7, not 4.0.
- Check which courses are excluded - pass/fail and audited courses do not appear in the GPA denominator.
- Recompute after each semester - cumulative GPA updates every term, so recalculate after grades post to keep a current figure.
How to calculate my GPA - Step-by-Step Guide
Calculating GPA follows the same straightforward formula used by every high school and college in the United States. Two pieces of information are required for each course: the letter grade (converted to grade points) and the credit hours assigned to that course.
The GPA Formula
GPA = Σ(Grade Points × Credit Hours) ÷ Σ(Credit Hours)
Where Σ means "sum of all courses"
Step-by-Step Calculation
List all courses
Write down each course, its credit hours, and the final letter grade.
Convert grades to grade points
Use the standard 4.0 scale to convert each letter grade to a number.
Multiply grade points by credit hours
For each course, multiply the grade point value by credit hours to get quality points.
Sum quality points and credit hours
Add all quality points and all credit hours separately.
Divide to get GPA
Divide total quality points by total credit hours.
Grade Point Reference
| Grade | GPA Points | Percentage | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| A+ | 4.0 | 97–100% | Exceptional |
| A | 4.0 | 93–96% | Excellent |
| A− | 3.7 | 90–92% | Near Excellent |
| B+ | 3.3 | 87–89% | Above Average |
| B | 3.0 | 83–86% | Average |
| B− | 2.7 | 80–82% | Below Average |
| C+ | 2.3 | 77–79% | Satisfactory |
| C | 2.0 | 73–76% | Passing |
| C− | 1.7 | 70–72% | Near Passing |
| D+ | 1.3 | 67–69% | Below Passing |
| D | 1.0 | 63–66% | Minimal Pass |
| D− | 0.7 | 60–62% | Poor |
| F | 0.0 | 0–59% | Failing |
Grade point values per the standard US grading scale. Some institutions use A+ = 4.3 or omit plus/minus grades.
GPA Scale Variations by Institution Type
| Purpose | Minimum GPA | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard US Scale | 0.0 – 4.0 | Most US high schools and colleges. A = 4.0, F = 0.0. Plus/minus grades use intermediate values. |
| 4.3 Scale (A+ = 4.3) | 0.0 – 4.3 | Some schools award 4.3 for A+. The denominator in the GPA formula stays the same; only the A+ value changes. |
| Weighted Scale (AP/IB) | 0.0 – 5.0 | AP courses add +1.0, Honors add +0.5 to base grade point values. The scale exceeds 4.0. |
| Pass/Fail Courses | Excluded | P/F courses earn no grade points and are excluded from all GPA calculations. |
| Incomplete (I) Grade | Excluded | Incompletes are temporarily excluded from GPA. The grade converts once coursework is submitted. |
Common Mistakes When Calculating GPA
Calculating a simple average instead of credit-weighted average
Problem: Adding all letter grade point values and dividing by the number of courses treats a 1-credit PE class the same as a 4-credit Chemistry course.
Fix: Multiply each grade point by the course's credit hours first. Divide the sum of quality points by the sum of credit hours - not by the number of courses.
Using wrong point values for plus/minus grades
Problem: Assigning 3.0 to a B+ or 4.0 to an A− produces an inaccurate GPA. Plus/minus grades have specific intermediate values.
Fix: Use: A+ = 4.0, 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.
Including P/F courses in the GPA calculation
Problem: Pass/Fail courses do not carry grade points. Adding them to the numerator or denominator distorts the GPA.
Fix: Exclude P/F courses from the GPA formula entirely. They count toward total credits attempted for financial aid but not for GPA.
Using the wrong scale (4.0 vs. 4.3)
Problem: Calculating on a 4.3 scale when the school uses 4.0 (or vice versa) makes A+ worth 4.3 when it should be 4.0.
Fix: Confirm the institution's specific grading scale before calculating. Most US schools cap at 4.0 even for A+.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the formula to calculate GPA?
What do the letter grades equal in GPA points?
Can I calculate GPA without credit hours?
How do I calculate my GPA if I have plus/minus grades?
Related GPA Calculators
Explore more GPA tools tailored to your specific academic situation:
How to calculate GPA
Step-by-step guide to understanding GPA calculations
How do you calculate GPA
Step-by-step guide to understanding GPA calculations
How to calculate your GPA
Step-by-step guide to understanding GPA calculations
College GPA calculator
Calculate your college GPA on the 4.0 scale with credit weighting
GPA calculator college
Calculate your college GPA on the 4.0 scale with credit weighting
GPA calculator high school
Track your high school GPA for college admissions
High school GPA calculator
Track your high school GPA for college admissions
Cumulative GPA calculator
Average your GPA across all semesters combined