GPA Calculator
Calculate your cumulative grade point average quickly and accurately. Add your courses with their credit hours and letter grades to get your weighted GPA on a 4.0 scale. Perfect for high school and college students tracking academic progress.
How to Use This GPA Calculator
Add each of your courses by clicking "Add Course." Enter the course name (optional), the number of credit hours, and select your letter grade from the dropdown. Your GPA updates automatically as you add or modify courses. You can remove any course by clicking the X button next to it. For the most accurate results, include all courses from the semester or academic period you want to calculate.
What is GPA?
GPA (Grade Point Average) is a standardized measure of academic achievement used by schools and universities throughout the United States and many other countries. It converts letter grades into numerical values on a 4.0 scale, then calculates a weighted average based on credit hours. A higher GPA indicates stronger academic performance and is commonly used for college admissions decisions, scholarship eligibility, graduate school applications, and academic honors recognition.
Most educational institutions use the 4.0 scale, where an A equals 4.0 points and an F equals 0 points. Some schools use variations like a 5.0 scale for honors or AP courses, or a 100-point scale. This calculator uses the standard 4.0 scale with plus and minus grade modifiers.
GPA Formula
The GPA is calculated using this weighted average formula:
GPA = Sum(Grade Points x Credit Hours) / Total Credit Hours
For example, if you earned an A (4.0) in a 3-credit course and a B (3.0) in a 4-credit course, your GPA would be: (4.0 x 3 + 3.0 x 4) / 7 = 24/7 = 3.43
Standard Grade Point Values
The following grade point values are used in this calculator:
- A (4.0): Excellent - demonstrates superior understanding
- A- (3.7): Near excellent performance
- B+ (3.3): Very good - above average achievement
- B (3.0): Good - solid understanding of material
- B- (2.7): Above average with some gaps
- C+ (2.3): Average to above average
- C (2.0): Average - meets basic requirements
- C- (1.7): Below average but passing
- D+ (1.3): Poor but passing
- D (1.0): Minimum passing grade
- D- (0.7): Barely passing
- F (0.0): Failing - no credit earned
Why Credit Hours Matter
Credit hours represent the weight each course carries in your GPA calculation. A 4-credit course has more impact on your GPA than a 1-credit course. This is why performing well in higher-credit courses like major requirements is especially important for maintaining a strong GPA. Most full-time students take 12-18 credit hours per semester.
Tips for Improving Your GPA
- Prioritize studying for courses with more credit hours
- Seek help early through tutoring or office hours when struggling
- Consider retaking courses where you earned low grades if your school replaces the grade
- Balance difficult courses with ones you expect to do well in each semester
- Use this calculator to set realistic goals for each course