College GPA is a credit-weighted average. Each letter grade has a point value on the 4.0 scale, each course is multiplied by its credit hours to give quality points, and the GPA is total quality points divided by total graded credit hours. Registrars at universities such as Illinois, Maryland and Notre Dame describe exactly this method. This college GPA calculator applies it to your term: enter each course's grade and credit hours and it returns your semester GPA, your quality points and which credits were left out.
Pass/fail (P), withdrawn (W) and incomplete (I) courses usually earn credit or appear on the transcript without affecting GPA, so they are excluded automatically. An F counts as 0 points and its credits are included, which is why one failed course pulls a GPA down sharply. To combine this term with your previous record, use the cumulative gpa calculator. For high school transcripts, see the high school gpa calculator.
How to use the college gpa calculator
- Add a row for each course and choose its letter grade.
- Enter the credit hours shown in your course catalog or transcript (often 3 or 4; labs and seminars may be 1).
- Select whether your college counts an A+ as 4.0 or 4.33. Most count it as 4.0; check your registrar's grading page.
- Read your semester GPA and quality points. Pass/fail, W and I grades are listed as not counted.
Formula
Grade points: 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. Some schools omit A+, D+ or D−, or use slightly different values (e.g. A− = 3.67); your registrar's table is authoritative.
Worked example
A first-year student's fall term from the pre-filled rows:
- Calculus I, A− (3.7) × 4 credits = 14.8 quality points.
- English Composition, B+ (3.3) × 3 = 9.9.
- General Chemistry, B (3.0) × 4 = 12.0.
- Intro to Psychology, A (4.0) × 3 = 12.0.
- First-Year Seminar, P × 1 credit: earns credit but is not counted in GPA.
- GPA = (14.8 + 9.9 + 12.0 + 12.0) ÷ (4 + 3 + 4 + 3) = 48.7 ÷ 14 = 3.48.
Note how the 4-credit courses carry more weight: the A− in Calculus contributes more quality points than the A in Psychology.
Why credit hours matter so much
Because GPA is weighted by credits, a grade in a 4- or 5-credit course moves your GPA more than the same grade in a 1-credit course. In the example, replacing the B in Chemistry (4 credits) with an A would raise the term GPA from 3.48 to (48.7 + 4) ÷ 14 = 3.76, while improving the B+ in English (3 credits) to an A would only raise it to (48.7 + 2.1) ÷ 14 = 3.63.
Repeated courses and grade replacement
Many colleges let you retake a course and count only the newer grade (grade replacement or forgiveness), while others average both attempts. Policies differ, so check your registrar's rules before planning a retake.
Common 4.0 grade point scale
| Letter | Points | Letter | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| A / A+ | 4.0 | C | 2.0 |
| A− | 3.7 | C− | 1.7 |
| B+ | 3.3 | D+ | 1.3 |
| B | 3.0 | D | 1.0 |
| B− | 2.7 | D− | 0.7 |
| C+ | 2.3 | F | 0.0 |
Caveats and assumptions
- Grade point values and which grades count vary by institution. Your registrar's official calculation always wins.
- Transfer credits usually appear on your transcript but are often excluded from your institutional GPA.
- Graduate programs and some professional schools recalculate GPA using their own rules (for example, application services that include every attempt).
- This calculator gives a term GPA. Combine terms with the cumulative gpa calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate my college GPA?
Multiply each course's grade points by its credit hours, add those quality points, and divide by the total graded credit hours. 48.7 quality points over 14 credits is a 3.48 GPA.
What are quality points?
Grade points multiplied by credit hours. A B (3.0) in a 3-credit course earns 9 quality points.
Do pass/fail classes count in GPA?
Usually a pass earns credit but does not affect GPA. At many schools a failing grade in a pass/fail course still does not count, but some count it as an F; check your registrar.
Is an A+ worth more than 4.0?
At most U.S. colleges an A+ is capped at 4.0. Some institutions award 4.33; choose that option above if yours does.
Is a 3.5 GPA good in college?
A 3.5 is generally considered strong and often qualifies for honors lists, but expectations vary by school, major and the program or employer you are applying to.
Sources
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign — Office of the Registrar: Calculate Your GPA — quality points ÷ credit hours method
- University of Maryland — Office of the Registrar: GPA Calculation — grade point values and treatment of non-GPA grades
- University of Notre Dame — Office of the Registrar: Calculate GPA — worked GPA example
This calculator gives estimates for planning and education. Check measurements, local codes, supplier specs and your school's official policy before relying on a result. See our disclaimer and how we build and check calculators.