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Math & School
GPA Calculator — Weighted Grade Point Average on the 4.0 Scale
The credit-weighted average behind every American report card and transcript
Your GPA (grade point average) is the single number that sums up your academic record in American schools and colleges — and it's the number admissions officers, scholarship committees, and your own dean's-list eligibility all look at first. The catch is that a GPA is not a simple average of your grades. It is a credit-weighted average, so a 4-credit chemistry course counts twice as much as a 2-credit elective.
The math runs in three steps. First, convert each letter grade to grade points on the standard 4.0 scale: 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. Second, multiply each course's grade points by its credit hours to get that course's quality points. Third, add up all the quality points and divide by the total credit hours:
GPA = (total quality points) ÷ (total credit hours)
Here's a fully worked example. Say you took four classes this semester:
• English — A (4.0) × 3 credits = 12.0 quality points • Calculus — B+ (3.3) × 4 credits = 13.2 quality points • History — A− (3.7) × 3 credits = 11.1 quality points • Lab Science — C (2.0) × 1 credit = 2.0 quality points
Add the quality points: 12.0 + 13.2 + 11.1 + 2.0 = 38.3. Add the credits: 3 + 4 + 3 + 1 = 11. Divide: 38.3 ÷ 11 = 3.48 GPA.
Notice that a plain average of the four grades (4.0, 3.3, 3.7, 2.0) would be 3.25 — but because the C was only worth 1 credit and the higher grades carried more, the real GPA is a healthier 3.48. That weighting is the whole point, and skipping it is the most common mistake. Students average the grade points straight across and either under- or over-state their GPA.
A second trap is mixing up an "unweighted" 4.0 GPA with a "weighted" high-school GPA that gives extra points for Honors or AP classes (often on a 5.0 scale). This calculator uses the standard unweighted 4.0 scale that most colleges report. Enter a letter grade and the credit hours for each course, and you'll get your weighted GPA, your total credits, and your total quality points — the exact figures that land on a transcript.
📖 See also: How to Calculate a Tip (and Split the Bill)
Calculator
Fill in the fields and click "Calculate" for instant results.
📰 Formula
• Grade points per course: 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 • Quality points (per course) = grade points × credit hours • Total quality points = sum of all courses' quality points • Total credits = sum of all credit hours • GPA = total quality points ÷ total credits
📰 Formula
• Grade points per course: 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 • Quality points (per course) = grade points × credit hours • Total quality points = sum of all courses' quality points • Total credits = sum of all credit hours • GPA = total quality points ÷ total credits
🧪 Worked examples
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Example 2
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Example 3
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Example 4
⚠️ Common mistakes
- Averaging the grade points straight across instead of weighting by credit hours.
- Confusing the unweighted 4.0 scale with a weighted 5.0 Honors/AP scale.
- Forgetting to include the minus/plus on a grade (A vs A− is 0.3 points).
- Leaving out a failed course (an F still counts as 0.0 over its credits and drags the GPA down).
💡 Tips
- Higher-credit classes move your GPA the most — protect the grade in your 4-credit courses.
- An A− is not a free A: each minus costs you 0.3 grade points per credit.
- To raise a cumulative GPA, you need both high grades AND enough credits to outweigh the past.
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Copy the code below and paste it into the HTML of your site or blog.
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❓ Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate GPA?
Multiply each course's grade points (A=4.0, B=3.0, etc.) by its credit hours to get quality points, add up all the quality points, then divide by the total credit hours. GPA = total quality points ÷ total credits.
What is the grade-to-point scale on a 4.0 GPA?
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. This is the standard unweighted US scale.
What is a good GPA?
On the 4.0 scale, 3.5 and up is generally considered very good, 3.0–3.4 is solid, and 2.0 is the typical minimum to stay in good standing. A 3.5+ often qualifies for dean's list and many scholarships.
What's the difference between weighted and unweighted GPA?
Unweighted GPA caps every course at 4.0. Weighted GPA gives extra points for Honors or AP/IB classes (often on a 5.0 scale), so an A in AP Calc can be worth 5.0. This calculator uses the standard unweighted 4.0 scale.
What are credit hours?
Credit hours measure how much a course counts, usually tied to weekly class time. A typical lecture is 3 credits and a 1-credit lab counts for less. Higher-credit courses carry more weight in your GPA.
What are quality points?
Quality points are a single course's grade points multiplied by its credit hours. A B+ (3.3) worth 4 credits earns 13.2 quality points. Your GPA is total quality points divided by total credits.
Does an F count in your GPA?
Yes. An F is 0.0 grade points, but the course's credit hours still count in the denominator, so a failed class lowers your GPA. Retaking and replacing the grade is how many schools let you recover.
How do I raise my GPA?
Earn higher grades in higher-credit courses and take enough new credits to outweigh past low grades. Because GPA is credit-weighted, a few A's in 4-credit classes move it faster than A's in 1-credit ones.
How do I calculate my cumulative GPA across semesters?
Add up the quality points from every course you've ever taken and divide by your total credit hours across all semesters. Don't average your semester GPAs — that ignores the differing credit loads.