College GPA Calculator
One Number, Weighted by How Much Each Class Counted
A straight average of letter grades misses something important: a 4-credit course should move your GPA more than a 1-credit seminar. College GPA is a credit-weighted average, which is why two students with the same letter grades can end up with different GPAs if their course loads were structured differently. This calculator applies the standard 4.0 scale and weights each grade by the credit hours attached to it.
The Formula
GPA = Σ(Grade Points × Credit Hours) / Σ(Credit Hours)
Grade points follow the standard 4.0 scale: A / 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.
A Worked Example
| Grade | Grade Points | Credit Hours | Quality Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 4.0 | 3 | 12.0 |
| B+ | 3.3 | 4 | 13.2 |
| B- | 2.7 | 3 | 8.1 |
| C | 2.0 | 2 | 4.0 |
| Totals | 12 | 37.3 | |
GPA = 37.3 ÷ 12 = 3.11
Where This Calculation Matters
- Scholarship renewal — many merit scholarships require maintaining a minimum GPA each term, making an accurate mid-semester projection genuinely useful before grades post.
- Academic standing — colleges use cumulative GPA thresholds to determine good standing, probation, and eligibility to continue enrollment.
- Graduate school applications — admissions committees weigh cumulative and major-specific GPA heavily, so tracking it accurately term over term matters well before senior year.
- Planning a course load — before registering for a difficult elective, running the numbers shows exactly how much a given grade in that class could move your overall GPA.
How to Use This Calculator
- Select the letter grade earned in each course, using up to six available course slots.
- Enter the Credit Hours for each corresponding course; any slot left blank is simply skipped.
- Select Calculate to see your GPA along with the full quality-points breakdown.
Related Calculations
See if a GPA meets renewal requirements with the Scholarship Renewal GPA Calculator, or plan ahead with the College Credit Hour Calculator.