A GPA calculator turns your letter grades and credit hours into your grade point average — the number colleges, scholarship committees, and many employers ask for first. Each course earns quality points (grade value × credits); GPA is total quality points ÷ total credits. On the US 4.0 scale, an A is 4.0, a B is 3.0, a C is 2.0, a D is 1.0, and an F is 0.0, with plus/minus grades between.
Weighted GPA rewards rigor: honors courses get +0.5 and AP/IB courses +1.0, so GPAs can exceed 4.0; unweighted GPA caps everything at 4.0. Pick a course type per class here to support both. And because credits weight the average, cumulative GPA moves slowly — with 45 credits behind you, one semester only nudges it. Use the Cumulative tab to test exactly what semester GPA you need to hit your target.
How to use the GPA Calculator
- Add one row per course — pick the grade, credits, and course type (Standard, Honors +0.5, AP/IB +1.0).
- Click Calculate GPA to see your semester GPA, total credits, and quality points.
- Switch to the Cumulative tab and press "Use my semester results" to project your new cumulative GPA.
Quick GPA rules of thumb
- GPA = total quality points ÷ total credits — heavy courses move the needle most.
- Weighted bumps: Honors +0.5, AP/IB +1.0 on top of the standard 4.0 grade value.
- A row of B+ (3.3) beats flat Bs (3.0) by a tenth of a point per class.
Raising your GPA: what actually works
Because credits weight the average, your best lever is your heaviest courses — a 4-credit science class matters twice as much as a 2-credit elective. Retaking a failed course under a grade-replacement policy can erase the damage. For other everyday math, try the Percent Calculator or the Salary-to-Hourly Calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good GPA?
On the 4.0 scale, a 3.0 is solid, a 3.5 is competitive for scholarships and graduate school, and a 3.7+ puts you in contention at selective colleges. Weighted GPAs above 4.0 are common with honors and AP courses.
What is the difference between weighted and unweighted GPA?
Unweighted GPA caps every course at 4.0. Weighted GPA adds a bump — typically +0.5 for honors and +1.0 for AP/IB — so students in advanced classes can exceed 4.0. Pick a course type per class to switch between the two.
How do you calculate cumulative GPA?
Multiply your current cumulative GPA by completed credits to get existing quality points, add the new semester's points, and divide by total credits. The Cumulative tab does this math and shows your projected GPA instantly.
Do plus and minus grades (A-, B+) affect GPA?
Usually yes. On most 4.0 scales an A- is 3.7 and a B+ is 3.3, so plus/minus grades move your GPA noticeably versus flat letters. This calculator includes the full plus/minus scale for an accurate number.
Grades shown are estimates for personal planning. Your official GPA comes from your school's registrar.