- Enter each course name. This is optional but helpful for keeping track. Add as many courses as you need using the "+ Add Course" button.
- Select the letter grade for each course from the dropdown. Use the grade you received, not a projected grade. A+, A, and A- are all different values on the 4.0 scale.
- Enter credit hours for each course. Most college courses are 3 credits. Lab courses, seminars, and PE classes are often 1 to 2 credits. High-credit courses have more weight in your GPA calculation.
- Your semester GPA appears instantly in the donut chart. The color turns green above 3.5, blue above 3.0, and orange below 2.0.
- For cumulative GPA, check the "Include previous GPA" box and enter your GPA from prior semesters and the total credits completed. The calculator combines them correctly, weighted by credit hours, not just averaged.
GPA Calculator
Calculate your GPA for a semester or your cumulative GPA. Supports 4.0, letter grade, and percentage scales.
Courses This Semester
Semester GPA
3.49 (B+)
| Semester Credits | 15 |
| Quality Points | 52.3 |
| Semester GPA | 3.487 |
4.0 GPA Scale Reference
| Letter | GPA | % | Letter | GPA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A+ | 4.0 | 97-100 | ||
| A | 4.0 | 93-96 | ||
| A- | 3.7 | 90-92 | ||
| B+ | 3.3 | 87-89 | ||
| B | 3.0 | 83-86 | ||
| B- | 2.7 | 80-82 | ||
| C+ | 2.3 | 77-79 | ||
| C | 2.0 | 73-76 | ||
| C- | 1.7 | 70-72 | ||
| D+ | 1.3 | 67-69 | ||
| D | 1.0 | 63-66 | ||
| D- | 0.7 | 60-62 | ||
| F | 0.0 | 0-59 |
How to Calculate GPA
How GPA Is Calculated
GPA is the credit-weighted average of your grade points. Each letter grade maps to a fixed number of grade points on the standard 4.0 scale. Multiply each course's grade points by its credit hours to get quality points. Divide total quality points by total credit hours.
Quality Points = Grade Points × Credit Hours GPA = Total Quality Points / Total Credit Hours
- Grade Points = the numeric value of your letter grade (A = 4.0, B+ = 3.3, C = 2.0, etc.)
- Credit Hours = the weight of the course (typically 3 for lectures, 1 for labs)
- Quality Points = Grade Points × Credit Hours for one course
Example: English 101 (3 credits, A = 4.0) gives 12 quality points. Math 201 (4 credits, B+ = 3.3) gives 13.2 quality points. Total: 25.2 quality points / 7 credits = GPA of 3.60.
Never average your semester GPAs to get your cumulative GPA. That gives the wrong answer when semesters have different credit loads. Always divide total quality points by total credit hours.
What GPA Do You Need for Grad School, Scholarships, and Jobs?
The GPA you need depends entirely on what you're trying to do with it. There is no single cutoff that matters for everything, but there are clear thresholds worth knowing before your final semester.
| Goal | Typical Minimum | Competitive Range |
|---|---|---|
| Most graduate programs | 3.0 | 3.5 and above |
| Medical school (MD) | 3.5 | 3.7 and above |
| Law school (top 14) | 3.5 | 3.7 and above |
| Academic scholarships | 3.5 | 3.8 and above |
| Honors graduation (cum laude) | 3.5 | Varies by school |
| Major accounting firms | 3.0 | 3.5 and above |
| Federal government jobs | 2.9 (some positions) | 3.5 (honors appointments) |
If your current GPA is below your target and you have semesters left, the math works in your favor earlier in your college career. After 30 credit hours, a single semester of all-A's moves your GPA less than 0.2 points. After 90 hours, the same semester might move it 0.05. Act early. Use our grade calculator to find out exactly what scores you need on remaining assignments to hit your semester target. To model how a retaken course affects your overall GPA, adjust the credit hours and grade in the calculator above.
Frequently Asked Questions
In US colleges, a 3.0 GPA(B average) is generally the minimum for "good standing." A 3.5 or above is considered excellent and often qualifies you for honors recognition. For graduate school, many programs set a 3.0 minimum, with competitive programs like medical and law schools preferring 3.5 or higher. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the average college GPA in the US is about 3.15.