Enter your course name, letter grade, and credit hours for up to 8 courses to calculate your GPA. Your semester GPA and total credit hours are displayed instantly, along with a breakdown of grade points earned per course. Switch to the Cumulative GPA section to factor in your prior GPA and credits for an overall average.
Semester GPA
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Cumulative GPA
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Semester Credit Hours
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Total Credit Hours
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Grade Points This Semester
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Academic Standing
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GPA is calculated by multiplying each course's grade points by its credit hours to get quality points, summing all quality points, then dividing by the total number of credit hours. For example, an A (4.0) in a 3-credit course contributes 12 quality points. Divide total quality points by total credits to get your GPA.
The 4.0 scale is the standard grading system used by most U.S. colleges and universities. An A earns 4.0 grade points, a B earns 3.0, a C earns 2.0, a D earns 1.0, and an F earns 0.0. Schools using plus/minus grading add increments of 0.3 (e.g., A- = 3.7, B+ = 3.3).
Semester GPA reflects only the courses taken during a single term, while cumulative GPA is the overall average across all semesters completed. Cumulative GPA is typically what appears on transcripts and is used by employers and graduate schools when evaluating applicants.
The most effective strategies are earning higher grades in future courses, retaking courses where you earned a low grade (if your school allows grade replacement), taking a heavier credit load of courses you excel in, and avoiding withdrawals or incomplete grades. The earlier in your academic career you improve, the greater the impact since more prior credits dilute the effect of each new semester.
In most cases, a W does not factor into your GPA calculation since no grade points are assigned. However, multiple withdrawals can affect your academic standing, financial aid eligibility, and may raise concerns for graduate school admissions. Always check your institution's specific policy.
Honor thresholds vary by school, but common benchmarks are: Cum Laude (3.5+), Magna Cum Laude (3.7+), and Summa Cum Laude (3.9–4.0). Some institutions also factor in class rank rather than using fixed GPA cutoffs.
The more credit hours you've already completed, the harder it is to move your GPA with a single semester. For example, if you have 90 credits at a 2.5 GPA, earning a 4.0 in 15 credits raises your cumulative GPA to about 2.73. Earlier in your studies, each semester has a much larger proportional effect.
The core calculation is the same, but high school GPA may use weighted scales for AP or IB courses (e.g., a 5.0 maximum). This calculator uses the standard unweighted 4.0 scale. If your school uses a different scale or weighting system, adjust your grade point values accordingly before entering them.