This college GPA calculator determines your grade point average (GPA) based on the letter or percentage grades and course credits.
This calculator returns the additional GPA needed to achieve the desired GPA.
This college GPA calculator helps students quickly figure out their Grade Point Average (GPA) based on grades and credit hours. Whether you're a freshman tracking your first semester, a junior planning for grad school, or a senior checking graduation requirements, knowing your GPA matters more than you might think.
In the U.S. education system, GPA is used for academic standing, internships, financial aid, scholarships, honors programs, and graduate school admissions.
GPA stands for Grade Point Average and represents the average value of grades, weighted by the number of credit hours for each course.
Each letter grade (A+, A, B-, C, etc.) is assigned a numeric value, and those values are averaged across all courses you take.
Most U.S. colleges use a 4.0 GPA scale, though some institutions also use weighted or modified scales.
Most colleges in the United States follow a standard letter grading system as shown below:
| Letter Grade | Grade Points |
|---|---|
| A+ | 4.33 |
| A | 4.00 |
| A- | 3.67 |
| B+ | 3.33 |
| B | 3.00 |
| B- | 2.67 |
| C+ | 2.33 |
| C | 2.00 |
| C- | 1.67 |
| D+ | 1.33 |
| D | 1.00 |
| D- | 0.67 |
| F | 0.00 |
The basic formula used to compute GPA is:
GPA = Total Quality Points ÷ Total Credit Hours
Let's break that down.
Step 1: Convert Letter Grades to Grade Points
Each letter grade is converted to a numeric value (A = 4.0, B+ = 3.33, C = 2.0, etc.).
Step 2: Multiply Grade Points by Credit Hours
This gives you quality points for each course.
Step 3: Add All Quality Points
Sum the quality points from all courses.
Step 4: Add All Credit Hours
Add up the total credits attempted.
Step 5: Divide Quality Points by Credit Hours
The result is your GPA.
Let's say a student takes the following courses in one semester:
| Course | Credits | Grade | Grade Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Math | 3 | A | 4.00 |
| English | 4 | B+ | 3.33 |
| History | 2 | C | 2.00 |
| Biology | 3 | A+ | 4.33 |
1. Multiply grade points by credits:
2. Total quality points:
3. Total credit hours:
4. GPA calculation:
Many college students want to know what their final GPA will be or what GPA they need in future classes to reach a specific academic goal. This is especially common when aiming for scholarship renewal, graduation honors, or graduate school admission.
To calculate your final GPA, you need just four pieces of information:
This formula tells you the average GPA you must earn in remaining courses to reach your target:
Required GPA = [(Target GPA × Total Credits After Graduation) - (Current GPA × Current Credits)] ÷ Additional Credits]
Where:
Student Details:
| Current GPA | 3.20 |
| Current Credits | 50 |
| Target GPA | 3.50 |
| Additional Credits | 60 |
Step 1: Calculate Total Credits at Graduation
Step 2: Calculate Required Total Quality Points
Step 3: Calculate Current Quality Points
Step 4: Find Required Future Quality Points
Step 5: Calculate Required GPA for Remaining Credits
The student must earn an average GPA of 3.75 in remaining courses to graduate with a 3.50 GPA.
Your GPA is more than just a number. It affects:
Many schools and employers use GPA cutoffs, such as 3.0 or higher, which makes accurate GPA tracking essential.
In the US, each course is assigned credit hours (also called credits or units). Credit hours reflect how much time you spend in class each week.
Examples:
GPA is weighted by credit hours, meaning higher-credit classes impact your GPA more.
This is your GPA for one specific term, such as the Fall or Spring semester.
This includes all courses taken throughout your college career.
Your cumulative GPA is calculated the same way, but it includes:
Our college GPA calculator can handle both automatically.
Most colleges use an unweighted 4.0 scale, but some programs may apply weighting.
Always check your school's academic policy to confirm which system they use.
While it varies by institution, here's a general U.S. guideline:
If your GPA isn't where you want it, you still have options:
Small improvements over time can make a big difference.
Higher credit totals make GPA changes harder.
That's why improving GPA is much easier in your freshman or sophomore year than during your final semesters.