How this GPA calculator works
Your grade point average is an average of your grades, but not a plain one. Each grade is turned into grade points (an A is 4.0, a B is 3.0 and so on), and each course counts in proportion to its credits. A 4-credit lab science moves your GPA more than a 1-credit seminar, even if you got the same grade in both.
Type each course on its own line, pick the grade and enter the credits from your schedule or syllabus. The result updates as you type. If you are tracking more than one term, press Add semester and the calculator shows a GPA for each term plus your cumulative GPA across all of them. Already have a GPA on your transcript? Open Add your GPA from earlier terms, enter it with the credits it covers, and only list this term's classes.
Everything stays in your browser. Your courses are saved on this device, so when grades come out next term you can open the page and pick up where you left off. Use Copy share link to send the whole list to a parent or counselor, or Print summary for a clean one-page table.
The GPA formula
GPA = Σ (grade points × credits) ÷ Σ credits
The top of the fraction is your quality points: grade points multiplied by credits, added up across courses. The bottom is the number of credits that carry a grade. Pass/fail courses and withdrawals are left out of both.
Worked example
Here is a typical first-semester college schedule:
| Course | Grade | Credits | Points | Quality points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Composition | A- | 3 | 3.7 | 11.1 |
| Calculus I | B | 4 | 3.0 | 12.0 |
| Intro to Psychology | A | 3 | 4.0 | 12.0 |
| Chemistry Lab | C+ | 1 | 2.3 | 2.3 |
| Total | 11 | 37.4 |
37.4 quality points ÷ 11 credits = 3.40. Notice how the C+ in the lab barely dents the result, because it is worth only 1 credit, while the B in a 4-credit calculus class pulls harder.
College or high school?
College mode uses credit hours (usually 3 or 4 per class) and gives every course the same 4.0 scale. High school mode sets credits to 1 per class and adds a level column so Honors, AP, IB and dual-enrollment classes can earn extra weight. You then see both numbers: the unweighted GPA most colleges recalculate, and the weighted GPA your school may print on your transcript. If your school uses its own weights, change them under Grading options and weights, or use the dedicated high school GPA calculator.
Plus/minus grades, A+, and percent grades
Most US schools count an A- as 3.7 and a B+ as 3.3. Some use thirds (3.67 and 3.33), which matters at the second decimal. An A+ is capped at 4.0 at most schools; a minority, along with law school admissions, count it as 4.33. Set both under Grading options. If your report card shows percentages, switch Grades as to Percent and choose the scale your school uses. The GPA scale chart lists the common versions side by side.
Pass/fail, withdrawals and repeated courses
- P (pass) earns credits toward graduation but adds nothing to your GPA.
- W (withdrawn) and I (incomplete) are left out until they turn into a grade.
- WF (withdrawn failing) counts as an F at many colleges. Untick the option if yours treats it like a W.
- Repeated courses: many colleges replace the first grade with the retake (grade forgiveness), some average both, and a few keep the higher one. Give the retake the same course name and pick your school's rule. Law and medical school applications count every attempt; see the LSAC and AMCAS calculators.
Tips for a stronger GPA
- Protect the heavy courses. Extra study time in a 4-credit class is worth a third more than the same effort in a 3-credit one.
- Know your drop deadline. A W usually does not touch your GPA; an F does. Talk to your advisor before the deadline, not after.
- Check before finals. The final grade calculator tells you exactly what you need on each exam, so you can put your hours where they change a letter grade.
- Plan the climb. The raise my GPA calculator shows what you need over the next semesters to reach a target such as 3.0 for a scholarship or 3.5 for an honors program.
Questions students ask
What is a good GPA?
In high school the national average for graduates was 3.11 in the most recent federal transcript study, so a 3.5 or higher puts you well above average. In college, 3.0 is a common cut-off for scholarships, internships and graduate programs. See Is my GPA good? for more detail.
Do pass/fail classes count toward GPA?
Usually not. A pass earns credit but no grade points, so it leaves your GPA unchanged. A failing grade in a pass/fail class is sometimes counted as an F, so check your school catalog.
Should I round my GPA?
Report it the way your transcript shows it, usually to two decimals. Do not round 3.48 up to 3.5 on applications; schools see your transcript and a rounded number looks careless.
Why is my GPA different from my school portal?
The usual reasons are a different plus/minus scale, an A+ counted as 4.33, a repeated course handled differently, or weighted versus unweighted grades. Match the grading options to your school catalog and the numbers should agree.
Is my data saved or sent anywhere?
Courses are stored only in your browser on this device. Nothing is uploaded. Clearing your browser data or pressing Clear removes them.
Sources
Results are estimates for planning. Your school, college or testing organization calculates your official numbers. UpMyGPA is not affiliated with College Board, ACT, LSAC or the AAMC.