GPA Calculator

Calculate your Grade Point Average — semester, cumulative, and weighted

2.3M+ Calculations Completed
More Accurate Than RapidTables
Mobile Optimized
Enter Your Courses
Embed This GPA Calculator on Your Website

Want to add this gpa calculator to your website? Get a custom embed code that matches your site's design and keeps visitors engaged.

Responsive design
Custom styling
Fast loading
Mobile optimized

What Is GPA?

GPA (Grade Point Average) is a standardized number that represents your overall academic achievement, typically measured on a 0.0–4.0 scale in the United States. Each letter grade maps to a specific grade point value — A=4.0, B=3.0, C=2.0, D=1.0, F=0.0 — and the credit hours for each course are factored in, giving more weight to classes you spent more time in.

There are two main GPA types you'll encounter: semester GPA (just the current term) and cumulative GPA (all terms averaged together). Many high schools also calculate a weighted GPA, where honors, AP, or IB courses count higher than standard classes — for example, an A in an AP course might count as 5.0 instead of 4.0. This calculator handles both standard and weighted systems.

How to Use the GPA Calculator

  1. Enter each course name (optional — just for your reference)
  2. Select the letter grade you received or expect to receive for each course
  3. Enter the number of credit hours the course is worth
  4. Click Calculate to instantly see your semester GPA and updated cumulative GPA

GPA Formula & Letter Grade Scale

GPA = Σ(grade points × credit hours) / Σ(credit hours) Letter grade scale (US standard): A+ = 4.0, 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 Example (3 courses): Math A (4 credits) = 4.0 × 4 = 16.0 English B+ (3 credits) = 3.3 × 3 = 9.9 Art C (2 credits) = 2.0 × 2 = 4.0 GPA = (16.0 + 9.9 + 4.0) / (4 + 3 + 2) = 29.9 / 9 = 3.32

Scales vary by institution — some schools use a 4.3 or 4.5 scale for A+, and others use a 5.0 scale for weighted AP/honors courses. Always confirm the exact scale with your school's official grading policy before making enrollment or academic decisions.

Real-World GPA Examples

Strong Semester: Four A's and One B

If you take 5 courses worth 3 credits each and earn four A's (4.0) and one B (3.0), your grade points total 57 divided by 15 credit hours, giving you a semester GPA of 3.80. That's a strong result that will noticeably lift a cumulative GPA under 3.5.

Raising a 2.5 GPA to 3.0 Over Two Semesters

Say you finished your first year with a 2.5 cumulative GPA across 30 credit hours. To reach a 3.0 after two more semesters (30 more credits), you'd need to average a 3.5 GPA each semester going forward. This calculator makes it easy to run those what-if scenarios before you register.

Weighted GPA for an Honors Student

In a weighted system, an A in an AP class counts as 5.0, an A in an honors class as 4.5, and a standard A as 4.0. A student taking three AP courses and two standard courses, all with A grades, would earn a weighted GPA around 4.60 — well above the unweighted 4.0 cap.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is considered a good GPA?
In the US, a 3.0 GPA is generally seen as the minimum for being competitive in college admissions or job applications. A 3.5 or above is considered strong, and a 3.8–4.0 is excellent. That said, 'good' is relative — graduate programs, medical schools, and top employers often have higher thresholds, while some vocational paths care far less about GPA.
What is the difference between weighted and unweighted GPA?
An unweighted GPA uses the standard 4.0 scale for every course — an A is always a 4.0 regardless of difficulty. A weighted GPA gives extra points for harder courses like AP, IB, or honors classes, so the scale can go above 4.0. Colleges usually recalculate your GPA on their own scale during admissions, so both numbers matter.
How can I raise my GPA?
The most effective strategy is to focus on upcoming high-credit courses, since they move your average more than low-credit electives. Retaking a course you failed or got a D in — if your school allows grade replacement — also helps significantly. Consistent B+ or A- performance over several semesters gradually pulls the cumulative average up, even if improvement feels slow at first.
What does cumulative GPA mean?
Your cumulative GPA is the overall average of all grades from every semester you've completed, weighted by credit hours. It's the number most commonly referenced by employers and graduate programs. Your semester (or term) GPA, by contrast, only reflects how you did in that single term — it can go up or down without necessarily changing your cumulative average much.
How do graduate schools evaluate GPA?
Graduate programs typically look at your overall cumulative GPA and your GPA in your major or relevant courses separately. Many programs set a minimum GPA (often 3.0) just to apply. Highly competitive programs — law, medicine, PhD programs — frequently expect 3.5 or higher. Strong research experience, letters of recommendation, and standardized test scores can partially offset a lower GPA, but it's harder to compensate the higher the program's selectivity.