Your courses
Scale: 4.0 · plus/minus onChange
Match your school’s grading scale. These settings apply to every GradeHelm calculator.
Semester GPA
Add your courses to see your GPA.
Show the math
What do I need next term?
Overall GPA you want to reach
Credits you will take
This plan counts only the classes entered above. To plan with your whole transcript, use the cumulative GPA calculator.
Calculate a result first, then set a target.
Add this term to your cumulative GPA · High school (weighted) GPA
How to use the GPA calculator
- Add one row per class. The course name is optional; it only helps you keep track.
- Choose the letter grade, or tick “Enter percentages instead of letters” and type the percentage. The percentage to GPA calculator explains the conversion.
- Enter the credits (credit hours or units) for each class. If your school doesn’t use credits, enter 1 for every class.
- Your GPA updates as you type. Open “Show the math” to see the working, and use “What do I need next term?” to plan ahead.
Not on the standard 4.0 scale? Click the scale button at the top of the calculator to switch to a 4.3 or 5.0 scale, turn plus/minus grades off or change the percentage cutoffs. Tick “Remember my entries on this device” and every GradeHelm calculator on this device will use the same scale.
The GPA formula
Short answer: GPA (grade point average) is the credit-weighted average of your grade points, usually on a 4.0 scale where an A is 4.0, a B is 3.0 and a C is 2.0. To calculate it, multiply each class’s grade points by its credits, add the results, and divide by your total credits.
Your GPA is a credit-weighted average of grade points. Each class contributes its grade points multiplied by its credits (its “quality points”), and the total is divided by the total number of credits.
GPA = Σ (grade points × credits) ÷ Σ credits
Classes with more credits count for more. A 4-credit A moves your GPA further than a 1-credit A. What are credit hours? and what are quality points? explain both parts of the formula with examples.
Worked example
A student takes four classes in one semester:
| Class | Grade | Grade points | Credits | Quality points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biology | A | 4.0 | 4 | 16.0 |
| Calculus | A− | 3.7 | 4 | 14.8 |
| English | B+ | 3.3 | 3 | 9.9 |
| History | A | 4.0 | 3 | 12.0 |
| Total | 14 | 52.7 |
52.7 quality points ÷ 14 credits = 3.764…, which rounds to a 3.76 GPA. GradeHelm calculates at full precision and rounds only the number it displays (half up, to two decimals).
Letter grade to GPA (4.0 scale)
| Letter | Grade points | Typical percentage |
|---|---|---|
| A+ | 4.0 | 97–100% |
| A | 4.0 | 93–96% |
| A− | 3.7 | 90–92% |
| B+ | 3.3 | 87–89% |
| B | 3.0 | 83–86% |
| B− | 2.7 | 80–82% |
| C+ | 2.3 | 77–79% |
| C | 2.0 | 73–76% |
| C− | 1.7 | 70–72% |
| D+ | 1.3 | 67–69% |
| D | 1.0 | 63–66% |
| D− | 0.7 | 60–62% |
| F | 0.0 | Below 60% |
See the full GPA scale and conversion chart for 4.3 and 5.0 scales.
College GPA vs high school GPA
The math is the same: a credit-weighted average of grade points. The usual differences are in the inputs.
- Credits. College classes carry credit hours or units, often 1–5. High schools often give 1 credit per full-year class and 0.5 per semester class, or use no credits at all.
- Weighting. College GPA is usually unweighted. High school GPA is often weighted, with a bonus for Honors and AP/IB classes.
- Scale. College GPA is usually on a 4.0 scale, sometimes with A+ = 4.3. A weighted high school GPA can go above 4.0.
For college GPA, use this calculator with your credit hours. For weighted high school GPA, use the high school GPA calculator, which shows weighted and unweighted GPA side by side. To find the official GPA on your record, see how to check your GPA.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate my GPA?
Multiply each class’s grade points by its credits, add those numbers together, then divide by your total credits. For example, an A (4.0) in a 3-credit class and a B (3.0) in a 4-credit class give (12 + 12) ÷ 7 = 3.43.
What GPA is an A, a B or a C?
On a standard 4.0 scale, an A is 4.0, a B is 3.0 and a C is 2.0. With plus/minus grades, a B+ is 3.3 and a B− is 2.7. See the chart above for every letter.
What is a good college GPA?
It depends on your goals. A 3.0 is a B average and is a common minimum for scholarships, internships and graduate programs. Many colleges set dean’s list or honors at around 3.5, but the cutoffs vary, so check your school’s own rules. See what is a good GPA? for a chart.
Is this a semester GPA or a cumulative GPA?
It’s whatever you enter. Put in one semester’s classes for a semester (term) GPA, or every class you’ve taken for a cumulative GPA. If you already know your cumulative GPA and credits, the cumulative GPA calculator is quicker.
What if my class has no credits?
Enter 1 credit for every class. All classes then count equally, which is how many high schools calculate GPA.
Do pass/fail classes count in GPA?
Usually not. Pass/fail, withdrawn and audited classes normally carry credits but no grade points, so most schools leave them out of GPA. Don’t add them here unless your school counts them.
Why doesn’t my result match my transcript?
The most common reasons are a different scale (A+ worth 4.3, no minus grades), repeated courses where only the newer grade counts, and rounding. Set your school’s scale and check your handbook’s rules for repeats.