GPA Calculator
Your Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) is one of the most important metrics used by high schools, universities, and scholarship committees to evaluate your academic performance over time.
How is Cumulative GPA Calculated?
To calculate your GPA, each letter grade is assigned a numerical "grade point" (e.g., A = 4.0, B = 3.0). This number is then multiplied by the number of credit hours the class is worth to get your "Quality Points". Finally, your total Quality Points are divided by your total attempted Credit Hours.
Unweighted vs. Weighted GPA
This calculator computes an Unweighted GPA, which means every class is measured on the same 4.0 scale regardless of its difficulty. If you are taking AP (Advanced Placement) or IB (International Baccalaureate) courses in high school, your school may use a Weighted GPA scale out of 5.0, where an 'A' in an AP class is worth 5.0 instead of 4.0.
Frequently asked questions
Does a 'Pass/Fail' class affect my GPA?
Typically, no. If you take a class Pass/Fail (or Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory), earning a 'Pass' grants you the credit hours toward graduation, but those credits are excluded from your GPA calculation. However, at some universities, earning a 'Fail' on a Pass/Fail course will be calculated as a 0.0 in your GPA.
What is a "Good" Cumulative GPA?
This depends heavily on your goals. For most US state universities, a high school GPA of 3.0 (a 'B' average) is standard for admission. For highly selective Ivy League universities, the average unweighted GPA is often 3.9 or higher. For college students applying to medical or law school, a cumulative GPA above 3.7 is generally expected.
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See what you need to score on your final exam to secure that 'A'.