Enter your current grade and select a target grade to see what you need on the final.
See how your GPA stacks up against average applicants at top universities.
How to Use This Calculator
1
Add Your Courses
Enter each course name, the credit hours, and the letter grade you received.
2
Review the Grade Points
Each letter grade is converted to grade points (A = 4.0, B = 3.0, etc.) and multiplied by the credit hours.
3
View Your GPA
The calculator divides total grade points by total credit hours to produce your GPA.
Key Terms
- Grade Point Average (GPA)
- A numeric representation of a student's academic performance, typically on a 0.0–4.0 scale.
- Credit Hour
- A unit representing one hour of class time per week over a semester; most courses are 3 or 4 credit hours.
- Quality Points
- The product of a course's grade-point value and its credit hours.
- Dean's List
- An academic honor typically requiring a semester GPA of 3.5 or higher.
- Weighted GPA
- A GPA scale that awards extra points for honors, AP, or IB courses (e.g., A in AP = 5.0 instead of 4.0).
Real-World Examples
Example 1
Semester GPA
Calculus (4 cr, A), English (3 cr, B+), History (3 cr, A-), Physics (4 cr, B)
GPA = 3.41 — a solid B+ average across 14 credits
Example 2
Minimum for Honors
Need 3.5 GPA with 15 credits completed at 3.4
Need an A (4.0) in a 3-credit course to raise cumulative GPA to 3.5
Letter Grade to GPA Conversion
| Letter Grade | GPA (4.0 Scale) | Percentage Range | Description |
|---|
| A | 4.0 | 93–100% | Excellent |
| B+ | 3.3 | 87–89% | Good |
| B | 3.0 | 83–86% | Above average |
| C+ | 2.3 | 77–79% | Satisfactory |
| C | 2.0 | 73–76% | Average |
Understanding and Improving Your GPA
How GPA Is Calculated
GPA is a credit-weighted average. A 4-credit course has more impact on your GPA than a 3-credit course. This means earning an A in a high-credit course (like a lab science) boosts your GPA more than the same grade in a low-credit elective. Strategic course planning can help students maximize their academic standing.
GPA in Graduate Admissions
Most graduate programs require a minimum GPA of 3.0, while competitive programs expect 3.5 or higher. However, admissions committees also consider the rigor of your courses, upward grade trends, and major-specific GPA. A rising trend across semesters can partially offset a lower overall GPA.
Weighted vs. Unweighted GPA
High schools may report both weighted and unweighted GPAs. An unweighted GPA caps at 4.0, while weighted scales award 5.0 for AP or IB courses. Colleges typically recalculate GPAs on their own scale, so the distinction matters less in admissions than students often assume.