How to Calculate a GPA
By Tools Star Hub Editorial Team · Published · Updated
GPA on this calculator is total grade points divided by total credits, rounded to two decimals. On the letter scale it uses, A is 4 and B is 3. An A worth 3 credits and a B worth 3 credits is 6 credits, 21 grade points, and a GPA of 3.5. An A worth 3 credits and a C worth 1 credit is 4 credits, 14 grade points, and also 3.5. This is the scale built into the page. A school can use a different one.
A course with more credits moves the average more than a one-credit course. Adding the letters and dividing by the number of classes ignores that. Weighting by credits matches the way this calculator, and many transcripts, define the average. You still need the scale your school published if it is not the one listed here.
Which letter values does this page use?
A is 4, A- is 3.7, B+ is 3.3, B is 3, B- is 2.7, C+ is 2.3, C is 2, C- is 1.7, D+ is 1.3, D is 1, D- is 0.7, and F is 0. An unknown letter is rejected. The page does not treat A+ as higher than A, because A+ is not in this list.
Numeric mode accepts grade points you type, from 0 to 4.0. A number above 4 fails for that course. Use numeric mode when the transcript already shows points and you do not want the letter map.
How do credits change the result?
Each course adds credits to the denominator and credits times points to the numerator. The A and B example is 3 times 4 plus 3 times 3, which is 21, divided by 6, which is 3.5. The A and one-credit C example is 3 times 4 plus 1 times 2, which is 14, divided by 4, which is also 3.5.
A blank row is ignored. A row with a grade and no credits, or credits and no grade, is an error for that course number. Credits cannot be negative, and a single course cannot exceed 1,000 credits.
What is outside this average?
The page averages the rows you enter. It does not drop the lowest grade, replace a retake, or apply a school’s honors bump unless you type the points that already include that rule. Enter the courses that belong in the average you want.
Rounded to two decimals, 3.50 and 3.5 are the same displayed GPA. A long list can still hide a single low grade if the credits are small. Read the credit total as well as the GPA.
How to calculate a GPA
- Choose letters or numbers. Letters use the scale above. Numbers must be from 0 to 4.0.
- Enter each course’s grade and credits. Leave unused rows blank. A half-finished row is reported as an error for that course.
- Read credits, points, and GPA. GPA is total points divided by total credits, rounded to two decimals.
- Compare the scale with your school. If the school publishes different points for A- or B+, use numeric mode and type those points.
Example
A and B, three credits each
The totals are 2 courses, 6 credits, and 21 points. The GPA is 3.5.
A three-credit A and a one-credit C
The totals are 4 credits and 14 points. The GPA is 3.5 again, because the C has fewer credits.
Common mistakes
Counting classes instead of credits
Two classes are not equal when one is 3 credits and the other is 1. This page divides by credits.
A+ is not on this letter list
Type a number from 0 to 4.0 if you need a value this letter list does not name.
FAQ
- What is the GPA for an A and a B with 3 credits each?
- 3.5. That is 21 grade points divided by 6 credits. A is 4 and B is 3 on this page.
- Why is a 3-credit A and a 1-credit C also 3.5?
- The points are 12 plus 2, which is 14. Divided by 4 credits, that is 3.5. The C moves the average less because it has one credit.
- What letters are accepted?
- A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, D-, and F. Other text is rejected.
- Can I enter a 5.0 grade?
- Not in numeric mode. Grade points must be from 0 to 4.0 on this scale.
- Does the page fetch a transcript?
- No. It averages the rows you type, in the browser.
To average letter grades or grade points by credits, use the GPA Calculator. It uses the 4.0 letter map described above.
GPA is a weighted average, which is still a percent-style idea. See How to calculate a percentage.
For a date-based count that is unrelated to grades, see How to calculate age.