GPA Calculator

GPA = Sum(Grade Points × Credit Hours) ÷ Sum(Credit Hours). Grade points per letter grade (standard): 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. Example: 3 credit A (4.0) + 4 credit B (3.0) = (3×4.0 + 4×3.0) / (3+4) = (12+12)/7 = 24/7 = 3.43 GPA. Most colleges use this system. Some use +/- modifiers, others don't (flat A/B/C/D/F).

Unweighted GPA: All classes treated equally on a 4.0 scale regardless of difficulty. An A in AP Calculus = 4.0, same as an A in gym class. Weighted GPA: Harder courses get bonus points. Typical weighting: AP/IB courses: +1.0 (A=5.0, B=4.0). Honors courses: +0.5 (A=4.5, B=3.5). Regular courses: standard scale. Weighted GPA can exceed 4.0, often going up to 5.0. Colleges often recalculate GPAs using their own formula when evaluating applications. A 4.5 weighted GPA with many APs often looks stronger than a 4.0 unweighted.

Varies by institution: Highly selective (Harvard, MIT): 3.9+ unweighted, most applicants have 4.1+ weighted. Selective (Top 50): 3.7–3.9 unweighted. Competitive (Top 100): 3.5–3.7. Most 4-year colleges: 3.0+. Open enrollment community colleges: No minimum. Important context: GPA is just one factor. Test scores, course rigor, essays, extracurriculars matter too. A 3.5 with all AP/honors often outperforms a 3.9 with all regular courses at competitive schools. For graduate school: most programs want 3.0+ for master's, 3.5+ for top PhD programs.

Cumulative GPA = All grade points earned ÷ All credit hours attempted (across all semesters). It doesn't average semester GPAs — it aggregates the raw numbers. Example: Semester 1: 30 grade points / 10 credits = 3.0 GPA. Semester 2: 36 grade points / 12 credits = 3.0 GPA. Cumulative: (30+36)/(10+12) = 66/22 = 3.0 GPA. But: Semester 1: 30 points/10 credits = 3.0. Semester 2: 44 points/12 credits = 3.67. Cumulative = 74/22 = 3.36 — NOT (3.0+3.67)/2=3.34. Use this calculator for accurate aggregation.

Context-dependent, but rough benchmarks: 3.9–4.0: Dean's list / summa cum laude (top 5% typically). 3.7–3.9: magna cum laude. 3.5–3.7: cum laude, strong for grad school. 3.0–3.5: good standing, most grad programs require 3.0+. 2.5–3.0: average, may limit some opportunities. 2.0–2.5: academic probation risk at some schools. Below 2.0: academic probation. For specific applications: medical school MCAT-dependent but 3.7+ helps. Law school: aim for 3.5+ for top schools. MBA programs: 3.3+ for top 10 programs. Many employers no longer ask for GPA after 2–3 years of work experience.