GPA Calculator — Calculate Your GPA Instantly
By using this GPA Calculator you can get your semester GPA or updated cumulative GPA in seconds. Enter your courses, letter grades, and credit hours. Works for high school and college.
What is a GPA?
GPA stands for Grade Point Average. It is a single number that represents your academic performance across all your courses. Schools calculate it by converting each letter grade into a point value and then averaging those values, weighted by the number of credit hours each course carries.
In the United States, GPA is measured on a 4.0 scale. An A earns 4.0 points. An F earns 0.0 points. Every letter grade in between has an assigned value. Your GPA is used by colleges for admissions decisions, by universities to determine academic standing, and by employers reviewing transcripts.
How is GPA Calculated?
The formula behind every GPA calculator is the same. For each course, multiply the grade point value by the number of credit hours. Add those products together. Then divide by the total number of credit hours taken.
Example: You take three courses this semester. English (3 credits, B+ = 3.3), Biology (4 credits, A = 4.0), and Math (3 credits, A- = 3.7).
Step 1 — Multiply grade points by credits: (3.3 × 3) + (4.0 × 4) + (3.7 × 3) = 9.9 + 16.0 + 11.1 = 37.0
Step 2 — Divide by total credits: 37.0 ÷ 10 = 3.70 GPA
The calculator above runs this formula instantly. Enter your grades and credit hours and it handles every step automatically.
GPA Scale — Letter Grades to Grade Points
This is the standard 4.0 GPA scale used by most high schools, colleges, and universities across the United States, Canada, and Australia.
| Letter Grade | Percentage Range | GPA Points | Standing |
|---|---|---|---|
| A+ | 97–100% | 4.0 | Excellent |
| A | 93–96% | 4.0 | Excellent |
| A− | 90–92% | 3.7 | Excellent |
| B+ | 87–89% | 3.3 | Good |
| B | 83–86% | 3.0 | Good |
| B− | 80–82% | 2.7 | Good |
| C+ | 77–79% | 2.3 | Average |
| C | 73–76% | 2.0 | Average |
| C− | 70–72% | 1.7 | Average |
| D+ | 67–69% | 1.3 | Below Average |
| D | 63–66% | 1.0 | Below Average |
| D− | 60–62% | 0.7 | Below Average |
| F | Below 60% | 0.0 | Failing |
Semester GPA vs Cumulative GPA
A semester GPA covers only the courses you took in one term. It resets each semester and reflects only that period’s performance. A cumulative GPA averages every course you have ever taken, weighted by credit hours, across your entire academic record.
Use the Semester GPA tab when you want to see how a current term’s grades affect your standing. Use the Cumulative GPA tab to combine your previous record with this semester’s results and see your updated overall average.
What is a Good GPA?
The answer depends on your goal. A 2.0 GPA is the minimum to remain in good academic standing at most US colleges. A 3.0 GPA (B average) is considered solid for most undergraduate programs. A 3.5 GPA or above puts you on the Dean’s List at many schools. Medical school and law school applicants typically need a 3.5 or higher to be competitive.
High school students aiming for selective universities generally need a GPA of 3.7 or above on an unweighted scale. Weighted GPA scales, which give extra points for AP or honors courses, can push that number above 4.0.
Weighted vs Unweighted GPA
An unweighted GPA treats every course equally. An A in gym class counts the same as an A in AP Chemistry. The maximum is 4.0. Most GPA calculators, including this one, calculate unweighted GPA by default.
A weighted GPA adds extra point value to advanced courses. AP courses typically add 1.0 point, making an A worth 5.0 instead of 4.0. Honors courses often add 0.5 points. Weighted GPA scales vary by school, so always check your institution’s specific policy when interpreting a weighted score.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the highest possible GPA?
On a standard unweighted 4.0 scale, the highest GPA is 4.0. This requires an A or A+ in every course. On a weighted scale that accounts for AP or honors classes, GPAs above 4.0 are possible, sometimes reaching 4.5 or 5.0 depending on the school’s grading policy.
Does a failing grade ruin your GPA permanently?
A failing grade (F = 0.0) has a significant downward effect on your GPA, but it does not ruin it permanently. Retaking a course and earning a higher grade replaces the F in many schools’ GPA calculations. The impact also depends on how many credit hours the failed course carried relative to your total credits completed.
How many credits does it take to raise a GPA significantly?
The more credits you have completed, the harder it becomes to move your GPA quickly. A student with 30 credits who earns straight A’s in a 15-credit semester will see a larger jump than a student with 90 credits doing the same. Use the Cumulative GPA tab above to model exactly how much your GPA will change based on this semester’s performance.
What GPA do you need for the Dean’s List?
Most US colleges require a semester GPA of 3.5 or higher to qualify for the Dean’s List. Some institutions set the threshold at 3.7 or require full-time enrollment (12+ credits). Check your specific school’s academic honors policy for the exact requirement.
Does my high school GPA affect college admissions?
Yes. High school GPA is one of the most heavily weighted factors in college admissions decisions. Most four-year universities report the middle 50% GPA range of their admitted students. Selective colleges typically admit students with unweighted GPAs of 3.7 or above. Community colleges and open-enrollment institutions generally accept students at all GPA levels.
Is this GPA calculator free?
Yes. This GPA calculator is completely free to use. No account, no payment, and no usage limit. Use it as many times as you need throughout the semester.
More Free Grade Calculators
Use these free tools alongside your GPA calculator to stay on top of your academic performance.