GPA Calculator

Calculate your semester GPA or cumulative GPA — free, instant, no login required

Semester GPA Calculator

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Semester GPA (4.0 scale)
Courses: — Total Credits: — Quality Points: —

Cumulative GPA Calculator

Enter your current cumulative GPA and total credits earned so far, then calculate your semester GPA above first.

Please calculate your semester GPA above first, then come back here.
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New Cumulative GPA
Previous: — This Semester: — Total Credits: —

Frequently Asked Questions

GPA stands for Grade Point Average. It is a number that summarizes your academic performance on a scale from 0.0 to 4.0 in the United States. An A equals 4.0, a B equals 3.0, a C equals 2.0, a D equals 1.0, and an F equals 0.0. Your GPA is calculated by dividing your total quality points by your total credit hours.
A GPA of 3.0 or above is generally considered good at most U.S. colleges and universities. A 3.5 or higher is typically considered excellent and puts you on the Dean's List at many schools. Many graduate programs, scholarships, and competitive employers look for a minimum GPA of 3.0 to 3.5.
To calculate your GPA manually:

1. Convert each letter grade to a grade point value (A=4.0, B=3.0, C=2.0, D=1.0, F=0.0).
2. Multiply each grade point value by the number of credit hours for that course.
3. Add all those totals together (this is your quality points).
4. Divide by the total number of credit hours.

Example: An A in a 3-credit course = 12 quality points. A B in a 4-credit course = 12 quality points. Total = 24 quality points ÷ 7 credits = 3.43 GPA.
Semester GPA reflects only the grades you earned in a single semester. Cumulative GPA is the weighted average of all your grades across every semester you have completed. Transcripts show both, but most employers and graduate schools focus on your cumulative GPA.
The most effective ways to raise your GPA are: (1) Earn higher grades in future courses — more credits at a higher grade dilutes past poor performance. (2) Retake courses where you earned a D or F if your school allows grade replacement. (3) Take more credit hours per semester so recent high grades carry more weight. Even a small GPA increase requires sustained effort because past grades remain on your transcript.
Many schools use a plus/minus grading scale. For example, an A- = 3.7, a B+ = 3.3, a B = 3.0, a B- = 2.7. Our calculator supports plus/minus grades. Check with your school's registrar to confirm which scale they use, as some schools use a straight (non-plus/minus) scale where an A, A+, and A- all equal 4.0.
Most graduate programs require a minimum GPA of 3.0, with highly competitive programs (law, medicine, MBA at top schools) typically expecting 3.5 or higher. That said, GPA is one factor among many — strong test scores, research experience, and letters of recommendation can offset a lower GPA.

How to Use This GPA Calculator

Enter each of your courses along with the credit hours and your expected or earned letter grade. Click Calculate GPA to instantly see your semester GPA on a standard 4.0 scale. You can add as many courses as you need — most full-time students carry 4–6 courses per semester.

To calculate your cumulative GPA, enter your current cumulative GPA and total credits in the second section, then calculate your semester GPA first. The calculator will combine both to give you your updated cumulative GPA.

Understanding the 4.0 GPA Scale

The 4.0 scale is the standard grading system used at most U.S. colleges and universities. Each letter grade corresponds to a grade point value, and your GPA is the weighted average of those values based on credit hours.

Credit hours represent the "weight" of each class — a 4-credit science course with lab counts more toward your GPA than a 1-credit elective. This is why a GPA calculator that accounts for credits gives a more accurate picture than a simple average of your letter grades.