GPA Calculator
Enter your courses, grades, and credit hours below. Toggle Weighted GPA to add Honors or AP bonus points.
Adds +0.5 for Honors and +1.0 for AP / IB courses.
| Grade | Credits | Course Type | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|
How GPA is Calculated
GPA stands for Grade Point Average. Each letter grade maps to a numeric value on the 4.0 scale (A = 4.0, B = 3.0, C = 2.0, D = 1.0, F = 0.0), with plus/minus variants in between.
Each course's grade points are weighted by the number of credit hours it carries, so a 4-credit course has more influence on your GPA than a 1-credit course.
The Formula
GPA = Σ(grade points × credits) ÷ Σ(credits)
Worked Example
Suppose you take two courses this semester:
| Course | Grade | Grade Points | Credits | Points × Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English 101 | A | 4.0 | 3 | 12.0 |
| Math 201 | B | 3.0 | 3 | 9.0 |
| Total | 6 | 21.0 |
GPA = 21.0 ÷ 6 = 3.50
Weighted GPA
A weighted GPA rewards challenging courses. Honors courses receive a +0.5 bonus and AP / IB courses receive a +1.0 bonus before the average is computed. This means an A in an AP class counts as 5.0 points instead of 4.0. Toggle the Weighted GPA switch above and choose a course type to see the effect.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is GPA and how is it calculated?
GPA (Grade Point Average) is a number that summarizes your academic performance on a fixed scale, typically 0.0 to 4.0 in the US. It is calculated by multiplying each course's grade points (A = 4.0, B = 3.0, etc.) by the number of credit hours, summing all those products, then dividing by the total credit hours. For example, an A (4.0) in a 3-credit course plus a B (3.0) in a 3-credit course gives (4×3 + 3×3) ÷ 6 = 3.50.
What is the difference between weighted and unweighted GPA?
An unweighted GPA treats every course equally on a 4.0 scale regardless of difficulty. A weighted GPA adds bonus points for harder courses — typically +0.5 for Honors and +1.0 for AP or IB courses — which can push GPA above 4.0. Colleges most commonly report unweighted GPA for comparisons, but many look at both to understand your course rigor.
How many credit hours should I enter for each course?
Enter the number of credit hours (also called credit units or semester hours) assigned to each course by your school. Most standard lecture courses are worth 3 credits, while lab-heavy courses may be 4 credits. You can usually find your course credit values on your class schedule, transcript, or course catalog.
What GPA do I need for graduate school or scholarships?
Requirements vary by program and institution, but a GPA of 3.0 or higher is commonly required for graduate school admission, with competitive programs often expecting 3.5 or above. Many merit scholarships require a minimum of 3.0 to 3.5. Use this calculator to estimate your current GPA and see how improving grades in remaining courses could affect your overall average.
Can I calculate GPA for just one semester?
Yes. Simply enter the courses and grades from that single semester. The calculator computes GPA over whatever set of courses you provide. For a cumulative GPA across multiple semesters, enter all your courses together, or weight by credit hours manually.
Why does my GPA not change much even when I improve one grade?
GPA is a credit-weighted average. If you have many completed courses, a single improved grade has a proportionally smaller impact on the total. The more credits you have already earned, the harder it is to shift your cumulative GPA quickly. Focus on high-credit courses for the biggest impact.