Your GPA so far
Scale: 4.0 · plus/minus onChange
Match your school’s grading scale. These settings apply to every GradeHelm calculator.
New cumulative GPA
Enter your current GPA and this term to see your new cumulative GPA.
Show the math
What do I need next term?
Overall GPA you want to reach
Credits you will take
Calculate a result first, then set a target.
How to use the cumulative GPA calculator
- Enter your current cumulative GPA and the number of credits it’s based on. Both are on your transcript or student portal.
- Enter this term’s GPA and credits. If you don’t know the term GPA yet, work it out with the GPA calculator first.
- High-school student with weighted GPAs above 4.0? Tick “These are weighted high-school GPAs” so values up to 5.0 are accepted.
- Read your new cumulative GPA. Use “What do I need next term?” to see the term GPA required to reach a target.
What is a cumulative GPA?
Short answer: your cumulative GPA is your grade point average across every term you’ve completed, weighted by credits. Your term (semester) GPA covers one term only. Cumulative GPA is the number on your transcript that colleges, scholarships and employers usually ask for, and it’s also called your overall GPA.
The cumulative GPA formula
You can’t simply average two GPAs, because each one is based on a different number of credits. Convert each GPA back into quality points first, add them, then divide by the total credits.
Cumulative GPA = (current GPA × current credits + term GPA × term credits) ÷ (current credits + term credits)
Worked example
You have a 3.20 GPA over 60 credits and earn a 3.80 over 15 credits this term.
- Quality points so far: 3.20 × 60 = 192.0
- Quality points this term: 3.80 × 15 = 57.0
- New cumulative GPA: (192.0 + 57.0) ÷ (60 + 15) = 249.0 ÷ 75 = 3.32
A strong term raised the GPA by only 0.12 because it’s 15 credits against 60. The more credits you’ve completed, the harder your cumulative GPA is to move.
What GPA do I need next term?
To reach a target, find the quality points you’ll need in total and subtract the ones you already have:
Needed term GPA = (target × (current credits + next credits) − current GPA × current credits) ÷ next credits
With a 3.20 over 60 credits and 15 credits next term, reaching a 3.30 needs (3.30 × 75 − 192) ÷ 15 = 3.70. Reaching a 3.50 would need a 4.70, which isn’t possible on a 4.0 scale in one term. The calculator tells you when a target can’t be reached and shows the highest GPA you could get instead.
How fast can you raise a cumulative GPA?
| Credits completed | GPA now | Next 15 credits at 4.0 | New GPA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 3.00 | 4.00 | 3.33 |
| 60 | 3.00 | 4.00 | 3.20 |
| 90 | 3.00 | 4.00 | 3.14 |
| 120 | 3.00 | 4.00 | 3.11 |
Ways to raise a cumulative GPA, based on the math:
- Start early. Each good term counts most when you have few credits behind you.
- Weight your effort by credits. A 4-credit class moves your GPA more than a 1-credit class with the same grade.
- Check your retake policy. If your school replaces the old grade when you retake a class, retaking a low grade can raise your GPA more than a new class would.
- Plan with real numbers. Use “What do I need next term?” in the calculator to see whether your target is reachable, and how many terms it might take.
More examples and strategies: how to raise your GPA. To plan with quality points instead, see what are quality points?.
Frequently asked questions
Can I just average my semester GPAs?
Only if every semester had exactly the same number of credits. Otherwise, a simple average gives the wrong answer. Weight each GPA by its credits, as this calculator does.
Is cumulative GPA the same as overall GPA?
Yes, usually. Both mean the GPA across all your completed terms. Some transcripts also show a major GPA, which counts only the courses in your major, so check which one an application asks for.
Do pass/fail or withdrawn classes affect my cumulative GPA?
Usually not. Pass/fail and withdrawn (W) classes normally have no grade points, so they don’t change your GPA, although a withdrawal may still appear on your transcript. Policies vary, so check your school’s rules.
Does my high school GPA carry over to college?
No. Your college GPA starts from zero with your first college term. Your high school GPA stays on your high school transcript and is used for admissions.
Do transfer credits count in my cumulative GPA?
Often they count toward your degree but not your GPA. Many colleges calculate GPA only from courses taken at that college. Check your registrar’s policy.
What if I retake a class?
Policies vary: some schools replace the old grade, some average both and some count both. If your school replaces the grade, subtract the old class from your current GPA (or recalculate from scratch with the GPA calculator).