Use this free GPA calculator — also known as a grade point average calculator — to compute your semester and cumulative GPA for college or high school.
How to use this calculator
Enter your prior cumulative GPA and total completed credits if you want to update your cumulative GPA.
Select the letter grade earned or expected for each course this semester.
Enter the credit hours for each course (typically 3 or 4 credits per class).
Read your semester GPA, total semester credits, and overall cumulative GPA in the result panel.
Use Share to save or send your grade calculation.
Formula & method
How Grade Point Average is calculated
Semester GPA = Total Grade Points ÷ Total Credit Hours · Cumulative GPA = (Prior Points + New Points) ÷ (Prior Credits + New Credits)
Grade Points for a course = (Grade Point Value) × (Credit Hours). Grade values: 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, F=0.
A weighted GPA factors in credit hours: a 4-credit course has a greater impact on your GPA than a 1-credit lab.
The standard 4.0 scale assigns A = 4.0, B = 3.0, C = 2.0, D = 1.0, and F = 0.0, with 0.3 additions or subtractions for pluses and minuses.
As you accumulate more total credits, individual course grades have a progressively smaller effect on your cumulative GPA.
Most graduate programs and honor societies require a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or 3.5.
Replacing an old grade (if your school allows grade forgiveness) recalculates your cumulative GPA by removing the previous course points.
How to interpret your result
Semester GPA vs. Cumulative GPA
Semester GPA measures your academic performance in the current term only, while Cumulative GPA combines all completed terms.
Grade Scale Standards
A 4.0 scale is standard across US colleges and high schools. Unweighted scales cap at 4.0, whereas honors/AP weighted scales can reach 5.0.
Academic Standing Targets
3.5+ is typical Dean's List / Cum Laude, 3.0+ is standard good standing, and below 2.0 often triggers academic probation.
Frequently asked questions
How do credit hours affect my GPA?
Credit hours act as weights. A grade in a 4-credit course counts for twice as much as the same grade in a 2-credit course.
What is the difference between weighted and unweighted GPA?
Unweighted GPA caps all courses at 4.0 regardless of difficulty. Weighted GPA adds extra points (e.g. up to 5.0) for AP, IB, or honors classes.
How do I raise my cumulative GPA?
To raise a cumulative GPA, your current semester GPA must be higher than your existing cumulative average. High-credit courses have the largest leverage.
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